15 Facts about Elizabeth Taylor

I love Elizabeth Taylor. As a child I was bewitched by her performance in National Velvet. My Mum told me she was "the most beautiful woman in the world". Indeed, one thing that keeps being mentioned during all the press following her death is that she had a beauty that stopped people men and women, in their tracks, rendered breathless.

The other thing people say is that she had a fantastic, bawdy sense of humour. Not only was she stunning and funny, but she was strong and a tireless advocate for her friends and AIDs research. In a recent interview, she said that she wanted to be remembered for her strength. I'm sure this will be the case.

Here are 15 facts you may or may not know about the fabulous Elizabeth Taylor.

1. She was a talented hair stylist who cut friend’s hair, and her own when her stylist was unavailable

2. She converted to Judaism in 1959, before marrying Eddie Fisher

3. She hated being called Liz, because it sounded like a hiss

4. She was married 8 times, to Richard Burton twice

5. Her first husband was Conrad ‘Nicky’ Hilton Jr, Grand Uncle of Paris (whose father was immortalised on Mad Men Seasons 3 and 4.) They divorced after 9 months.

6. She was one of the first celebrities to advocate AIDs research when it was still a much feared disease, after her friend Rock Hudson died in 1985 (she founded the Elizabeth Taylor HIV/AIDS Foundation in 1991). She has raised over $100 million for AIDs research.

7. She really did have violet eyes, and a genetic mutation meant she had a double set of eyelashes

8. In the 1980s Schering-Plough developed violet contact lenses inspired by her

9. She loved Twitter and started an account in 2010, as @DameElizabeth. She Tweeted on 23th July, 2011: "Hold your horses world. I've been hearing all kinds of rumours about someone being cast to play me in a film about Richard and myself", followed by "No one is going to play Elizabeth Taylor, but Elizabeth Taylor herself."

10. She wore perfume very day

11. She was great friends with Michael Jackson and Godmother to his children Paris and Prince Michael

12. She and Michael bonded over their lack of a childhood, and would often don disguises and go to the movies together

13. She was the voice of cartoon Maggie Simpson’s first world

14. Her perfumes “Passion", "White Diamonds", and "Black Pearls" earn an estimated US$200 million in annual sales. Her next perfume, “Violet Eyes” had its name chosen by her Twitter followers

15. She owned some of the moors expensive jewellery in the world , including the 33 carat Krupp diamond and the 69 carat pendant both given to her by Richard Burton

Elizabeth inspired countless women, stylists, designers and artists with her look and her style. Here are but a few.

Wheels & Dollbaby, inspired by Elizabeth's hour-glass, traffic stopping curves!

Alexander McQueen's MAC range, inspired by Elizabeth in Cleopatra

I love this shoot by Ellen Von Unwerth, inspired by Elizabeth Taylor and Cleopatra



Rest in Peace Elizabeth

1932 - 2011

A bit of a frill - Burlesque!

Burlesque first came into my consciousness in the mid 90s when Carmen Electra started performing with the Pussycat Dolls, a troupe who performed a lot at Johnny Depp’s club, The Viper room in LA. I’d see pics in the local rags of Carmen all dolled up in amazing outfits dancing with these amazing looking women call the Pussycat Dolls.
I knew that Burlesque had something to do with 18th century circus/vaudeville acts and involved risqué dance and comedy. Infact, the term dates back to the 15 Century when relating to Chaucer’s bawdy Canterbury Tales (that I had to study at Uni!) Pretty much what we’d call ‘toilet humour’, akin to Benny Hill! Double entendres, women with big boobs, dirty jokes & saucy tales, bordering on the vulgar. In the late 19th Century the Moulin Rouge in Paris became part of some Burlesque Troupes throughout Europe and became popular within music halls and the Vaudeville scene.
Burlesque dancers performed alongside other types of acts including musicians, comedians, trained animals, magicians, female and male impersonators, acrobats and jugglers. Burlesque dancers dressed up in elaborate, over the top outfits and their risqué numbers which involved stripping down to tantalize the audience, but not appear fully nude. Music and lighting is typically saucy and dramatic and props such as fan, feather boas and hats are strategically used as props in the routines. The goal was to tease and titillate, in a showy, artistic manner.

The Great Depression in the US had seen a rise in Burlesque punters who wanted to be entertained, but not have to pay for expensive Broadway shows. Inspired by the Folies Bergère and Moulin Rouge in France, Billy Minsky and his brother Abe opened Minsky’s Burlesque in New York which ran from 1912 to 1937, including the celebrated Gypsy Rose lee. Other Burlesque stars continued to emerge – Fanni Brice, Mae West, Josephine Baker, Sally Rand, Blaze Starr and Lili St. Cyr.

Gypsy Rose Lee (19911-1970)

Natalie Wood as Gypsy Rose Lee
Josephine Baker (1906 - 1975)
Sally Rand (1904 - 1979)
Lili St. Cyr (1918 - 1999)

In the late 90’s and the 2000s, Burlesque had a renaissance. This was largely spearheaded and launched into pop culture by the Pussycat Dolls and Miss Dita Von Teese. The Dolls were founded in 1995 in LA by dancer & choreographer, Robin Antin and her friend, actress Christina Applegate.

The Pussycat Dolls appeared in Charlie’s Angels – Full Throttle in 2003 and in the same year, the singing group The Pussycat Dolls was launched.

Dita Von Teese, aka Heather Renée Sweet began life as a blonde from Michigan. She studied ballet, and found a job at a lingerie store, obsessed with the pretty lacy underwear. She became besotted with 50’s pin-up and fetish model Bettie Page, with her glamorous raven black hair and amazing lingerie. In 1990 at age 18, she started stripping but frustrated at the lack of originality and glamour she found, she who dyed her hair raven black and reincarnated herself as Burlesque superstar Dita Von Teese. Her corsets, stockings, suspenders and beehive proved a huge hit with the punters! Stripping segue-wayed into glamour and fetish modelling and in 1992, she became a Burlesque performer. Dita began dating goth rocker Marilyn Manson in 2001 and they married in 2004, Dita is a stunning ultra violet Vivienne Westwood gown. Her beautiful nuptials and appeared in this stunning editorial shot by Steven Klein in American Vogue in 2004.
She became a fashion icon, known for being able to merge looking sexy, classy and stylish without looking cheap and trashy. She is known for her 50’s style aesthetics and is invited to front row at Fashion Weeks throughout the world, Designers adore her, and women are fascinate by her.

Dita Von Teese by Steven Klein, Vogue Italia 2005

Her Martini Glass routine is world famous, and Cameron Diaz performed a tribute to the routine in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle.
Dita Von Teese in Agent Provocateur’s Lost Control video,

There is also UK’s answer to Dita, Immodesty Blaize doing her thing. Burlesque seems to be everywhere these days.
Many fashion labels are inspired by Burlesque, most obviously Wheels & Dollbaby, and Agent Provocateur.

Wheels & Dollbaby founder Melanie Greensmith in Australian Harpers Bazaar

My pic Agent Provocateur in Mercer St, Soho, New York

I must say, the Pussycat Dolls lingerie line by La Senza (called Shhh) is very cute!! The release of the new movie Burlesque will bring a renewed fervor into the fashion world. Can't wait to see this! Christina. Stanley Tucci. CHER! Glamorama!

I already have some of OPI's fabulous movie inspired range – 'Ali’s Big Break', an amazing deep iridescent red.
Personally, I’ve always liked a bit of Burlesque in my fashion from time to time - I've long been a Wheels & Dollbaby fan, whose brand combine 50's, Burlesque and a bit of Rockabilly to create beautiful, sexy clothes that stand out from the pack.
Dita is a fan, and has modeled for them - natch!
But there is a fine line between styley cool Burlesque, and falling into tacky & cheap looking. Or worse - mutton dressed as lamb! Eek. There needs to be, as they say on Project Runway, a level of "taste"! I think the right coverage, and tailoring is key – outfits that fit you like a glove and play up your curves. And I still adhere to the old mantra of showing either boobs or a lot of leg – but not both at the same time! Here are a few simple ways to bring Burlesque into your look:

Red lippie is the best and easiest way to add a bit of Burlesque glam to your look. Fair toned skins suits blue-based lippies like cherry or plum. Warmer, olivey complexions suit more brown or orange based reds like coral, or tomato. Dita champions Ruby Woo lippie by MAC.

A strong eye with black liquid liner and 'flicks' a la Dita is a sexy look. Check out my previous Blog here for tips on liquid liners.
A tight pencil skirt with a flash of a black lace bra under a tailored white shirt brings some of that naughty 50's style Varga girl sensibility into your look. Burlesque is all about naughty. Think Joan from Mad Men or the 'Sexy Secretary' look.

Secretary Chic by LoulouBlue

A leopard print accent looks cool - a scarf, bra or a cardy if you are not bold enough to go into a dress or coat!

Frills. And I don't mean shapeless meringue frou frous - more a bit of a frill on a deep neckline tee, shirt, or trim of a pencil skirts. Love the name of this 'Pink Trim Cake Ruffle Scoop Dress).
For more tips, check out Rachel Zoe’s practical advice about bringing a bit of Burlesque to your look!

Britpop Cool

Reading the latest RUSSH magazine at Christmas time, I stumbled across this article which totally took me back to be obsession with Justine Frischmann, how much I LOVE her style, and all things Britpop - especially those cool Britpop band-girls.



I was living in London at the tail end of the Britpop explosion in 1997 - 1999, and loved every minute of it. (I was Team Blur). My cohorts & I submerged ourselves in the Indie scene (- and a lot of Stella). We hung out in Camden, hoping to spot Alex James or Jarvis Cocker, met the young unknown boys from Travis at the Dog Star in Brixton & subsequently saw them at some University gig (Fran Healy has the most beautiful voice), saw Blur at the Brixton Academy (where Damon performed with a broken ankle), Muffin Spencer from Brassy at Barfly & Idlewild at a Uni gig, saw the Manic Street Preachers at Wembley Arena and - on a very unfortunate night in - subsequently missed meeting Graham Coxon, when my flatmates bumped into him out on the town.





The Blur gig @ the iconic Brixton Academy (December 11, 1997) was one of my faves. Damon was on form (despite said broke ankle) and Alex was the epitome of a sexy, swaggering rock God, fag in mouth throughout the duration of the show. Check out their new doco, No Distance left to Run.



I loooooved was Elastica! I them back in the day, and thought that Justine Frischmann was the coolest chick ever. She showed how sexy you could be in just jeans, docs and a hoodie. As much as I love getting blinged up with make-up and 6 inch heels, I also love and live in jeans and Tees. With her tomboyish mod-style look, floppy black fringe, black leathers and slightly plumby accent, Justine was the epitome of Brit Indie cool. Her look aped her boyfriends Brett Anderson and Damon Albarn - cropped asymmetrical haircuts with the long fringe in face, stovepipe jeans, skinny tees, leather jackets - edgy, pale, British, cool. Very Hedi Slimane...





OK maybe not ALL of her boyfriends - "I did briefly see Guy Ritchie at college (he was a useless little sod - a layabout - I didn't feel he'd ever be anything)" The Independent, 14 June 2000





Justine helped found another fave band, Suede, with her then boyfriend Brett Anderson. Justine left Suede when their relationship crumbled - and she took up with indie darling Damon from Blur. The split with Damon was the inspiration for the beautiful Blur album 13, written about their breakup. 'Tender', still being one of my favourite love songs - listen to it here.



A rare, non-tomboyish shot:





Justine pics from Last FM



I must say, 'Animal Nitrate' but Suede is still one of my favorite songs from that era. How cool was Brett, sauntering about in those skinny pants and tight black shirts. Russell Brand must have been taking notes. Funny how you get lyrics mixed up, I always thought he was singing "Only twenty ooooone, oooone". Is actually "Oh it turns you oooon, oooooon".



But nothing beat Elastica's guttural, pulsating hit, 'Connection' - a riff ripped off from the Wire's 'Three Girl Rumba" - but awesome none the less!







Love this pic of Donna from Elastica too. Rock star cool.





I read Pearl Lowe's fab book 'All That Glitters', a fascinating peek into her Britpoppin' world of bands, musos, models, gigs, drigs, partying & generally running amok in London in the early 90's, with a few famous names thrown in to boot. She was in a band called Powder, looking very cute here, like a little Goth China Girl.







Pearl married Danny Goffey from Supergrass (natch), beat her drug habit and now has a successful fashion range of gorgeous Victorian-style lace dresses, lace curtains and soft furnishings. Check out her beautiful website here.



Pearl & Danny's lush country manors are frequently showcased in the likes of Hello! magazine. They are happily ensconced in country-manor life, and pregnant with number FIVE! An addition to Daisy 21, Alfie, 13, Frankie, 10 and four-year-old Betty. I love how Pearl has gone from absolute crazy party girl hanging out with musos on the path to oblivion, to stylish Mum living in the country, with a successful career and marriage. see - you CAN have it all! What a life.



"Her office, in one of the three ground-floor receptions, is impeccably neat. Elsewhere, however, things are more rock’n’roll. In a ground-floor bathroom there are snapshots of Kate Moss, lolling over her then boyfriend Jefferson Hack, a youthful Rhys Ifans, the snake-hipped Primal Scream singer Bobby Gillespie and Supergrass on stage at Glastonbury"

From Pearl Lowe: From wild child to earth mother, The Sunday Times, October 11, 2009



"Despite the move to the country, and Lowe cleaning up, they haven't quite dropped the hi-octane lifestyle: during one of Lowe's clean periods in 2002, Carl Barat and Pete Doherty came to stay with them when they were still living in north London. Surely not the ideal post-rehab guests? "Aww, it was fun looking after them," she says maternally."

The Guardian, July 9, 2007



I adore Pearl's house - 'Biba modern' style. These pics are from New Woman magazine:







Pearl's stunning daughter Daisy (to Gavin Rossdale from Bush - now known as Mr Gwen Stefani) is doing remarkably well with modeling, due to sultry, doe-eyed good looks and curvaceous figure.







Pearl Lowe pics from thh Daily Mail & Hullo UK



Daisy pics from W Magazine March 2001

Agent Provocateur RTW 2008

Steven Klein for Vogue Italia 2007

Wheels and Dollbaby campaign , 2008