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Iconic “It” Girl: Edie Sedgwick

Besides the Roaring 20’s, the Swinging 60’s have to be another fabulous era in history I unfortunately missed out on. There are a slew of actresses and models from the 60’s that influence me fashion-wise today in how I dress and interpret fashion.

It is, however, one gamine beauty whose 15 minutes of fame is having a recent resurgence in the fashion world and whose demise was tragic as well as romantic. This is none other than Andy Warhol’s muse Edie Sedgwick.

Although Edie Sedgwick came from an old money family and should have lived the life little girls only dream about, she was faced with mental illness, two brothers who committed suicide, a rather psychotic and unstable father, sexual abuse, eating disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, and forcible rehabilitation.

This was all hidden by the image of a smiling face with beguiling eyes and short bleached hair, a lean dancer-esque figure and a style no one else could have possible thrown together.

For one to be and dress like Edie Sedgwick one would, of course, first sacrifice their hair and its pigment to the style gods; that is first and foremost.

Then include the following into their wardrobe:

1) Opague black tights—wear mostly with short shift dresses to show off those gams.
2) An array of gaudy heirloom “cost a fortune” jewelry; rings, bangles and of course, what Edie was most famous for, long chandelier “shoulder duster” earrings. Sometimes the earrings are all she wore. Of course, if you did not have an heiress Grandmother like Edie did, go over to a vintage shop or H&M and stock up on Bohemian finds. In a gold caste always—eastern inspired works too.
3) Ballet flats! Black. Edie was often video taped arabesque-ing around The Factory in a black Leotard, tights, a tight sweater and flats to keep in shape; emulate.
4) In lieu of ballet flats, dancewear! American Apparel has great leotards in an assortment of colors. Edie liked leopard and black! Leggings with baggy striped boat-neck shirts over them worked as well! Paired with black boots with a small heel and you have your Edie! She loved stripes and boat necks! Edie also liked just flats in general with her cigarette pants.
5) Furs! Faux si vous plait! Edie’s were probably all real, but she wore luxurious fur coats while out in cooler months and they made her petite frame look even teenier.
6) Minidresses, miniskirts…mini. Edie liked to show off her legs because she had pretty ones. Pair your opague black tights and flats with a bohemian minidress and you will be a dead ringer for Miss Sedgwick.
7) Black heavy eyeliner, kohl pencil, shadow and mascara…apply and repeat.
8) LOOKS TO AVOID: CHAIN SMOKING CIGARETTES, BOOZE PASTED TO THE HAND, AND HEROIN NEEDLE IN THE PURSE.

Edie, unfortunately, was a very sick girl who hid her issues under a fashionable and free-spirited shell. She died of a barbiturate overdose at age 28. She blew through her inheritance in six months and although shot to stardom as one half of the platonic Andy-Edie power couple, they went their separate ways after only one year. They never reconciled before her death.

Although, with every girl who sports leggings and ballet flats, big furs and big earring today, a bit of this super fabulous young lady lives on. No one then could have imagined her impact on cosmopolitan fashion now. Her beatnik, Factory style and spirit are very much alive.

All love,

Kristen