carla rey
VFG Member
Get the Look: Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker (1906-75) was the first African American to rise to the world’s stage. Born into poverty, she dropped out of school to work to support her family at a young age. She danced as a street performer and joined a vaudeville troupe. Her big break came when she was discovered and worked as a chorus line dancer on Broadway.
In 1925 Baker toured in Paris, where she performed distinctive and often provocative dances, wearing creative, eccentric and sometimes wild costumes. She was an immediate and huge success—Paris loved her and she loved Paris. Her fashion, both on and off-stage, was sensational. Paul Poiret and Madeleine Vionnet dressed Josephine Baker. Her Jean Cocteau-designed banana skirt (worn with little else) was probably the most famous costume, but she also wore sleek and stunning gowns, stage-worthy feathers, dramatic baubles, elaborate headdresses, and beading and sequins galore.
Horrified by the brutal racism she encountered in the U.S. of the 1930s, Baker remained in France. She joined the French Resistance in WWII, smuggling messages in her sheet music. She returned to the United States during the 1950s and 60s, always working to combat segregation. Baker adopted 12 children from all over the world—her Rainbow Tribe. She was a speaker at the 1963 March on Washington. She died not long after performing a show that celebrated her 50 year-long career. Twenty thousand people flooded the streets of Paris during Josephine Baker’s funeral.
In 2012, Time magazine named Baker one of the top 100 all-time fashion icons. Beyoncé performed in a banana skirt in 2006, and in 2014 Rihanna appeared in a see-through rhinestone-laden dress and head wrap—another homage to Baker. Designers are periodically inspired by her looks.
For this week’s parade, the VFG channels this cultural and fashion icon’s style, from the Jazz Age through the Civil Rights era. Look for vampy, fabulous and amusing gowns, jewelry, and hats, as well as military and military-inspired looks. Who knows, there may even be a banana skirt!
Josephine Baker (1906-75) was the first African American to rise to the world’s stage. Born into poverty, she dropped out of school to work to support her family at a young age. She danced as a street performer and joined a vaudeville troupe. Her big break came when she was discovered and worked as a chorus line dancer on Broadway.
In 1925 Baker toured in Paris, where she performed distinctive and often provocative dances, wearing creative, eccentric and sometimes wild costumes. She was an immediate and huge success—Paris loved her and she loved Paris. Her fashion, both on and off-stage, was sensational. Paul Poiret and Madeleine Vionnet dressed Josephine Baker. Her Jean Cocteau-designed banana skirt (worn with little else) was probably the most famous costume, but she also wore sleek and stunning gowns, stage-worthy feathers, dramatic baubles, elaborate headdresses, and beading and sequins galore.
Horrified by the brutal racism she encountered in the U.S. of the 1930s, Baker remained in France. She joined the French Resistance in WWII, smuggling messages in her sheet music. She returned to the United States during the 1950s and 60s, always working to combat segregation. Baker adopted 12 children from all over the world—her Rainbow Tribe. She was a speaker at the 1963 March on Washington. She died not long after performing a show that celebrated her 50 year-long career. Twenty thousand people flooded the streets of Paris during Josephine Baker’s funeral.
In 2012, Time magazine named Baker one of the top 100 all-time fashion icons. Beyoncé performed in a banana skirt in 2006, and in 2014 Rihanna appeared in a see-through rhinestone-laden dress and head wrap—another homage to Baker. Designers are periodically inspired by her looks.
For this week’s parade, the VFG channels this cultural and fashion icon’s style, from the Jazz Age through the Civil Rights era. Look for vampy, fabulous and amusing gowns, jewelry, and hats, as well as military and military-inspired looks. Who knows, there may even be a banana skirt!
