Barbi Benton - January 28, 1950

Barbi Benton (born January 28, 1950 as Barbara Klein) is an American model, actress and singer. She was featured on the cover of Playboy several times (initially credited as Barbi Klein) and in nude photo layouts in the March 1970, December 1973, and January 1975 issues, although she was never one of the magazine's "Playmates of the Month". Benton is known for her years as a regular on the country music series Hee Haw, appearing in comic skits with other cast members. 

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Fashion In Film Friday - The Notorious Bettie Page

You can't stake claim to having knowledge of all things vintage without knowing who Bettie Page was.  Page, born in Nashville in 1923, became infamous in the 50's for her scandalous fetish modeling photos that catapulted her into pin-up queen status. She was even one of the first Playboy playmates to grace the centerfold spot of Hugh Hefner's now popular mag.  Her career was short lived as she retired in 1959 turning to her spirituality and even working with evangelist Billy Graham.  

In 2005, a movie was released titled, 'The Notorious Bettie Page' which was in part biographical, starring Gretchen Mol as the vintage pop culture icon.  The film starts at the early beginnings of Page's life when she was a young woman chronicling her life that begin with sexual abuse in her childhood, a failed wartime marriage and a gang rape in her early 20's.  It also gives the intricate details into how she became an unconventional model at a time when it was beyond taboo.  Bettie's signature black hair styled with the full bangs became her trademark and a much sought after hairstyle that is even being seen in current day trends with stars such as Katy Perry, Petra Nemcova & Beyonce, opting for the retro do.

Bettie Page was the ultimate style icon who made pointy bras the 'in thing' as well as pointy toed stilettos.  She taught women to embrace their sense of sexuality with a no holds barred approach to wearing corsets and thigh high hose.  There was definitely no shame in her game and she made no excuses for herself.  The woman reeked 'confidence' in spite of her troubled past.  

Bettie Page fashion is alive and well amongst the rockabilly community and die hard fans & Las Vegas which hosts the annual rockabilly event 'Viva Las Vegas' is even home to the Bettie Page Store that carries nothing but vintage inspired designs made famous by the legend.  You can even purchase online at www.bettiepageclothing.com

In 2003, the elderly pin up maven made an appearance at Playboy's 50th Anniversary party as seen here along with the late Anna Nicole Smith & Pam Anderson.  In 2008 at the age of 85, Bettie Page passed away due to complications from pneumonia preceded by a heart attack that had left her in a coma.

In 1998, she agreed to an interview with Playboy Magazine and was quoted as saying in reference to her early career... "I never thought it was shameful.  I felt normal.  It's just that it was much better than pounding a typewriter eight hours a day, which gets monotonous."

                                        "A humble headstone"


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MOD Monday - Joey Heatherton

It's hard to believe that the pouty sex kitten with the signature blond shag, Joey Heatherton, will be turning 67 this September 14th 2011.  Heatherton's popularity spanned a decade from the mid sixties to the late seventies and she is definitely known for being a part of the 'mod generation'.

Born Davenie Johanna (i.e. Joey) Heatherton in New York in 1944 to veteran song and dance man Ray Heatherton, she went on to become a singer/dancer/actress, but her career only lasted the short length of a decade and she had only appeared in about a dozen films before it fizzled out.  She was also a regular on popular shows of that time such as The Perry Como Show, Dean Martin Show, The Ed Sullivan Show and This Is Tom Jones. 

She was Bob Hope's side kick accompanying him overseas in support of the serving troops, performing and entertaining sailors aboard the USS Ticonderoga  in Vietnam, December of 1965 & in Thailand in December of 1967.  

She became a pop culture icon most remembered for her servitude to the military but claimed her fame for her overt sex appeal, preceding the footsteps of her fellow sex symbol Farrah Fawcett by posing for Playboy while in her 50's, appearing in the April 1997 issue of Hugh Hefner's popular mag.

The last movie she appeared in that had any acclaim was the 1990's cult classic "Cry Baby' featuring Johnny Depp.  Heatherton portrayed Milton's mother in the film.  Unfortunately, after successfully creating a legacy for herself having had a second in the limelight, Joey Heatherton fell into the Hollywood stereotype by succumbing to a life threatening drug addiction as well as an eating disorder when her star status died down.  

: ioffer.com , allposters.com , poundthebudweiser.com , texags.com , americanphotoarchive.photoshelter.com , naderlibrary.com, mikethemakeupguy.blogspot.com,  

Farrah Fawcett...In The News Again?

Farrah Fawcett is in the news today in spite of the fact that she passed away close to two years ago.  Her ex long time lover Ryan O'Neal has come forward to claim that he believes the stress from their tumultuous relationship brought on her illness and ultimately cost her her life.  I personally think that idea's a bit out there, but reading the article gave me my inspiration for todays post.

Farrah Fawcett was an American born actress and stated to have also been an artist although I had never heard of her stating any fame from it.  The only art I knew she was involved with, centered around the photo shoot she agreed to do for Playboy when she hit her fifties in the 90's.  Having turned down anything that had to do with being nude in movies and the media throughout her career, this came as a complete shock to her fans!  That spread was the best selling issue ever, topping out at over 4 million sold.

    
In her early career, Farrah started out in commercials & she was a spokes model for Breck shampoo, Noxema, Ultra Brite toothpaste & the 1975 Mercury Cougar.  She then went on to further her acting career landing a role on the popular hit show of the late seventies, 'Charlie's Angels' opposite Jaclyn Smith & Kate Jackson.  It wasn't until 1976 when she posed for the infamous red swim suit poster, that she became an overnight sex symbol.  That poster sold over 12 million copies world wide & the only overtly sexual aspect of the photo was that her headlights were on ah ha! 

She was also considered to be in the top 100 most influential fashion icons of the seventies with her skimpy clothes, big smile and mass of blond curls.  It was even suggested that she deserves some major kudos for inspiring the glamazon Victoria's Secret "Angel" look since her legendary hairstyle has been mega duped on the catwalk.

Unfortunately, I can't help but remember how in the end of her career, she became a bit wacky and eccentric with her flighty antics during talk show interviews & other televised media events.  I think this was due majorly in part to the fact that Farrah was having an issue with the idea of growing old.  It was evident in the bad nip/tucks, that she was chasing time and wasn't interested in the concept of aging gracefully...

All of that changed in the end as Farrah let go of worrying about esthetics or how the world saw her physical self when she let us all see her battle with cancer in a very raw and intimate account of her day to day struggle with the disease that ultimately ended her life.  She redeemed herself in the public eye and left behind her a legacy of strength, dignity and grace that will never be forgotten.


: ioffer.com , babble.com , rockthe411.com , leninimports.com , manshappy.wordpress.com 

RED...The Power Color!

"Scarlet, rose, crimson or just plain red...call it by any name, it will always be considered the color of romance and rage! Red is the most emotionally intense color to wear if you want to draw attention to yourself on any given occasion.  It's often always associated with energy and desire and the frequent wearer of the color 'red' usually has an unspoken aura of heightened sensuality...


In 1953, the very first issue of Hugh Hefner's 'Playboy Magazine' featured the infamous Marilyn Monroe as the centerfold and it comes as no surprise that the backdrop for the photo shoot was 'red'.  It is said, that when used in advertising, the color red evokes feelings of eroticism. 

Vintage screen stars, Sophia Loren and Elizabeth Taylor were best known for their pouty red lips and the seductive statement making shade for evening wear... These vampy vixens were way ahead of their time, putting sexy off the charts!

The legendary designer Valentino who has been in the business of fashion for over forty five years, has used so much of the color scarlet in his collection's that his fans named it after him...'Valentino Red'. 

Sandra Bullock in Vera Wang at the 2011 Academy Awards...

Burlesque queen Dita Von Teese in Zac Posen...

Red, most definitely still dominates to this day in regards to fashions, from evening wear, right down to rain slickers and let's not forget the red lipstick!  Red is always going to be the color of POWER!

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