Femme Fatale, or Deadly Woman in French, is a mysterious and seductive woman, originating in film noir. She is mostly associated with betrayal and malicious intentions. Her origins date back to Jezebel, the Sirens, and the Sphinx. Today the concept has morphed into a mature, but provocative woman in total control of herself and the situation at hand. Here are a few rocking femmes that have been inspiring through the decades.
1960’s: Nico, the New York Femme Fatale
Nico sang with New York based band the Velvet Underground on their debut 1967 album. Nico created a poised and arcane image to go along with the abrasive and rough Lou Reed. With her deep, but eerie voice, she was an exotic and mystifying character in the Warhol scene in 1960’s New York.
1970’s: Betty Davis, the Funky Femme
Not a well known funk artist but this feisty femme took Bowie’s fashion antics, Sly Stones growl, Prince’s dirty mind (though it was a decade before his time) and Tina Turner’s sexual confidence; she put it all in a blender and pressed “funkify”. This lady is gnarly awesome, and an obvious Femme Fatale of the 1970’s. Here I have featured a flower meets funk collage of her look.
1990’s: The Fake Catholic Fatale
This tailored image is a post grudge, pre Spice Girls look influenced by the wicked Catholic school girls “The Craft”. This look includes, but is not limited to the characters portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar in “Cruel Intentions” and Uma Thurman in “Pulp Fiction”. (Maybe I’ll do a spread on sophisticated closet drug addicts next time?)
Until next time, - Shelley
No comments:
Post a Comment