Tag / throwback

by Lexine

Gia

I first heard of Gia Carangi in 1999, in the book Models: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women by Michael Gross. That led me to finding an old Vanity Fair article on her, which led me to getting her biography Thing Of Beauty by Stephen Fried. Safe to say, I was fascinated by her. She had a look that drew me in, but she led a life that made me sit down and read all about it. A rough childhood that saw abuse, neglect, and a divorce from her parents. An adolescence where she would discover her true self (and sexuality). A fast rise in the modeling industry–a feat considering that blue-eyed blondes a la Christie Brinkley and Jerry Hall were the standard. A top model by nineteen, only for her vices and inner demons to get the best of her, resulting in her freefall from the industry by 22. She would be one of the first notable women to perish from AIDS in 1986 at just 26 years old. Yet amidst all the cautionary tales about models, hers still remains one of the more memorable.

I actually read about Gia first before watching her biopic starring Angelina Jolie. And seeing that she was openly bisexual intrigued teen me then, as I had begun questioning my own sexuality at the time. I knew I was attracted to guys, but girls started piquing my interest. (The movie was a double whammy for me when I would also find out that Angelina herself was also Bi.) I’d eventually come out as Bi in my early 20s, and to this day, Gia is one of my Bicons. She was attractive, problematic, and tragic, which all made her to be iconic in my book.

Today would’ve been Gia’s 66th birthday. 🕊️ And while I knew she was a major Blondie fan, TIL she appeared in the “Atomic” music video!

 

by Lexine

A Friendly January

The cast of Friends, on US magazine, January 1996

When I started posting vintage magazine covers here, I didn’t have a January entry as I started this thing in February. It didn’t take long to find a cover to complete the year of entries, and seeing this image has me thinking two things. One: remember when US magazine was a monthly entertainment title and not the tabloid rag that it devolved into? And two: that cover is as mid-1990s as you can get. I can smell the CK One perfume insert from here.

Also, RIP Matthew Perry. 😦

Credit for the image goes to this eBay listing, which has more pics of what’s inside

by Lexine

By George

Cindy Crawford on the debut issue of George magazine, October/November 1995. 

There was something both fun yet absurd about George magazine. I understood why the magazine wanted to marry politics with celebrity/pop culture stuff of the time, but given what became of politics since its debut issue 30 years ago, maybe they should’ve left politics as usual aka boring, but functional and for the people. I have one back issue (the February/March 1996 issue, to be exact, and I’ll try to find a scan/post on this soon) that talked about how each of the 1996 would-be presidential candidates would benefit from some plastic surgery. Only in this country did (and still do) we need our politics to go the sensationalist, tabloid-esque route to get people’s attention, even if the issue at hand does not benefit the average American. Like, OK, Bob Dole would look better with “$6K veneer caps”. And what was his stance on universal health care again? 

However, I cannot tell a lie: George had some fire covers, their debut issue included. Cindy Crawford as George Washington in a midriff-baring outfit is just genius. Her wig game was even on-point! 

by Lexine

Category Is: Women’s Fall Fashion, 1995

US Vogue cover, September 1995

Shalom Harlow and Amber Valetta on US Vogue, September 1995. 

I was too young to remember what the average woman was wearing 30 years ago. (I was eleven and was more focused on building my pog collection than what Vogue wanted me to wear that season.) It’s a given that the well-to-dos had the latest from the Paris and Milan runways, but I don’t recall my mom or aunts or teachers sporting Gucci’s silk shirts or Calvin’s satin dresses. For those who still own one or a few of those pieces from that season, I legit envy them because those clothes are classy and ageless. Some 90s pieces look dated, but almost everything from Fall 1995 could be worn today and still be stylish. Cases in point: 

Outfits from Calvin Klein’s Fall 1995 show

Ralph Lauren’s Fall 1995 show

Dolce & Gabbana, Fall 1995

Yves Saint Laurent ready-to-wear, Fall 1995

And since pics won’t do justice, three of my favorite collections from that season…

OK, Mugler’s collection may not be for everyday wear (unless you’re Bai Ling), but everything about that show remains STUN to this day! 

by Lexine

September’s Star Face

Yasmin LeBon on the cover of the premier issue of US Elle magazine, September 1985

Though Elle magazine had been in existence since 1945, the publication was only sold in France before expanding to other countries in the 1980s, with the States getting its own edition in September of 1985. Their minimal use of cover blurbs and promoting models of color on their covers were big reasons why I once favored Elle more than Vogue, especially in the 90s when Vogue gave the same two or three white models a cover four times a year. And while many 80s fashion mag covers look dated nowadays, the simplicity of this cover (simplicity in 80s fashion?), with that pop of yellow in a backdrop of black and Yasmin giving FACE, makes it quite the timeless image.

by Lexine

Throwback: Aretha Franklin Concert, 2015

Happy 10th (and five days) anniversary to when I got to see THE Queen Of Soul Aretha Franklin perform live! 🤩 The show took place three years before her passing, and it was my one and only time I got to see her. To hear her sing (the mic was definitely ON) remains a moment I’ll forever be grateful to witness. I still vividly remember seeing a lady two seats down from me bawling with emotion while Aretha belted a lovely gospel song. Babyface (lower left pic) also opened for her, and I’m always down for some classic Babyface. Two icons in one night, and I only paid a little over $50 for it! 😱

by Lexine

A Christina Summer

Christina Aguilera on Rolling Stone magazine, Double Issue, July 2000

This cover is oh-so 2000. The first Best New Artist Grammy winner of the new millennium on the cover, wearing low-rise bottoms and a playful smile with a CD player in tow, and headlines on Napster (IYKYK) and Slipknot. And if you’re wondering, yes, a Boy Scout can be gay. 

Seeing that Christina has been reviving her Genie In A Bottle days lately, from bringing back her wardrobe from that era to revamping her debut album on its 25th anniversary last year, I wonder if she’ll do something for the 25th anniversary of her first Rolling Stone cover this month.

Also, I want her shirt! 

by Lexine

Strike A Pose For June

Madonna, photographed by Herb Ritts for Interview magazine, June 1990

Once upon a time, magazine covers featured celebrities with some actual talent and substance, and everyone and their grandparents knew who they were. Some celebs got bold in their portraits, and no one took more brazen pics than Madonna herself. This could very well be my favorite mag cover of hers. It just POPS. You don’t get more in-your-face than grabbing your crotch. That a female celeb did *that* made it more ballsy; I bet the incels and prudes in 1990 sent hate mail to Interview then. I can’t imagine what the reaction would be if, say, Taylor Swift or Sabrina Carpenter struck the same pose on a mag cover these days. Although it would be pretty cool if either of them did that.

The editorial and her interview is also worth a look!