Our epic new edit, Ladyland is inspired by the 70s and the iconic women who rocked the decade in style. With that in mind, this week, we’re rounding up our favourite muses from the golden age of change.
Read on and get ready to feel liberated…
Bianca Jagger
As the wife of a Rolling Stone and a friend of Andy Warhol, Jagger was a key part of the movers and shakers of the ’70s club scene. Wearing Halston’s studio to club nights, she was a glamour icon but it was her incredible ivory suits that became her signature look everyone wanted to copy. Whilst Bianca was a fashion muse that inspired an era, we love her passion for social activism which showed she was so much more than ‘Mick Jagger’s Wife’. In 1979 she was part of an International Red Cross delegation that visited Nicaragua after the Somoza regime was overthrown. Since then, she has collaborated with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, as well as forming her own charity, the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation.
Jerry Hall
Jerry booked a one-way ticket to France at the age of 16 and was quickly discovered on a beach in St. Tropez. Within weeks, she was being photographed by Helmut Newton and went on to appear on the cover of every major fashion magazine. A Vogue favourite and Studio 54 regular, Hall’s beauty captured the eye of rock stars including Bryan Ferry and Mick Jagger. The star of some of the most iconic images of the decade, Jerry has remained a glamourous figure and broke the age mould by continuing to grace covers even into her 60s. More than just a pretty face, she’s also in touch with activism and recently teamed up with her gorgeous daughters, Lizzy and Georgia May Jagger, to support the Equal Rights Amendment.
Grace Jones
Our list wouldn’t be complete without the incredible Grace Jones. After signing with Wilhelmina Models in 1966, Jones moved to Paris in 1970, where her modelling career truly took off. Parisian fashion houses jumped for Jones' androgynous and mysteriously bold appearance, leading to her walking the runways for Yves Saint Laurent, Claude Montana, and Kenzo Takada, as well as appearing in Elle and Vogue. Breaking barriers by being one of the first black supermodels. Looking to evolve, Grace transitioned from modelling into music and acting – releasing 10 albums and even starring in a James Bond film. With the likes of Rihanna, Lorde and Lady Gaga citing her as an inspiration, it was no surprise that in 2016, Billboard Magazine ranked her as the 40th most successful dance artist of all time!
Cher
For decades the Queen of Pop has been turning heads with her sparkling and risqué outfits. The 70s marked a turning point for Cher who, on the brink of divorce from her husband, Sonny began to experiment with her style, working with Bob Mackie to create some of the most memorable looks of all time. Who could forget her bikini top, sarong and cape look at the 1974 Oscars or the feature and crystal encrusted see-through gown she donned for the Met Gala. The naked dress created an incredible stir and inspired replicas for decades to come. Throughout her life Cher has explored the edge and lived her life being fiercely herself. “I've never compromised who I am, not ever,” expands Cher. “If I've gotten anywhere in my life it has been on my own merits.” During six decades in the public eye, Cher has never been where a woman was expected to be. A trail blazer, a game changer, and the queen of reinvention.
Diane Von Furstenberg
Diane was a trail blazer. Having married her first husband Prince Egon of Furstenberg in 1969, you’d be forgiven for thinking she’d have simply become a housewife given the gender stereotypes that had reigned supreme throughout the 50s and 60s. However, Diane was not one to confirm. She launched her own-name fashion label in 1970 citing "The minute I knew I was about to be Egon's wife, I decided to have a career. I wanted to be someone of my own." She achieved her dream in style, launching her signature wrap dress in 1973 which continues to be a wardrobe staple even today for women worldwide.
We hope these wonderful women inspire you to have the confidence to dance to your own beat, forge your own path and showcase your unique style.