Anita Pallenberg and Her Iconic Bohemian Style

 Sometimes there is someone who comes along and captures a moment in time so well, through their fashion, their art or their music for instance that they transcend their own era to become an icon. For many, model, actress and one time partner of Rolling Stone Keith Richards, Anita Pallenberg among her many other talents was known for her incredible sense of style in the 60s and 70s.

Over the period of two decades, Pallenberg, along with her friend and fellow actress/singer Marianne Faithful, laid the ground rules for bohemian rock fashion, whether it be wearing a boa with a mini dress and low slung belt (a look Kate Moss emulated for one of her many famed Glastonbury outfits) to a white fedora with feather worn with a smart double breasted blazer. Anita had that effortless cool that so many try to emulate, but so few manage to achieve. 

Her particular brand of rock'n'roll fashion can still be seen on the streets and festival fields of today - testament to her timeless appeal. 

Here are a few of my favourite looks from one of rock's favourite muses and trailblazers. 

Seen here with Keith Richards at the premiere of The Beatles Yellow Submarine, Anita had a particular knack for clashing opposing separates and creating a perfect whole: a white fedora with a feather, a silk pussy bow blouse and a smart blazer come together to create sartorial elegance where there should be none. Whereas others would be drowned by the power of each piece, Anita wears it with a huge grin and somehow carries it off perfectly.

Brian Jones had a tendency to look like a Harlem pimp in his OTT outfits that drowned his small frame. Here Anita completely steals the show in a simple classic - black flares and glittery top. Here it's her accessorising that perfectly finishes off the outfit - two chain belts and black wide brim hat perfectly add that extra bling to what is otherwise a simple (but perfect) outfit. 

Anita with Keith Richards again. Anita rocks here leopard print flares and crumpled silk blouse worn with a wide leather belt. The oversized blouse looks like it could have been Keiths  -Anita had a knack for pulling off louche separates.

Have a couple rocked up to a court appearance looking more cool than Keith and Anita here? Keith's three piece suit worn with 70s shaggy hair and open neck shirt and Anita's black flared jumpsuit are a power move. Accessorised with another Fedora, an armful of bangles and high heeled suede boots, Anita looks effortlessly put together. Obviously the judge thought so too, as neither were jailed.

Anita is seen here on the right, with Marianne Faithfull before a flight to Tangiers. The long sleeve mini dress and low slung belt were copied pretty much like for like by Kate Moss at Glastonbury, only swapping the leather boots Anita wore for wellies and leaving off Anita's boa. The look for Kate was one that defined festival fashion in Y2K, however, who knew the look was in fact forty years old?  

If anyone else tried to pull off head to toe paisley and topped it with a patterned crochet waistcoat, they'd be quickly directed to the nearest Boots the Opticians. But Anita somehow manages to give it an edge with some lacy tights, a cool ring and a faraway gaze. Some people just have it. 

Seen here with oldest son Marlon at Heathrow Airport about to set off on tour with the Rolling Stones. The baker boy hat, relaxed blouse and skinny pinstripe trousers with statement belt - Anita had airport chic all sewn up. Undoubtedly part of Anita's appeal is looking amazing in photographs, and here Anita and son look like a 1960s, rock and roll Madonna and Child. 

Seen here on the runway at Pam Hogg in September 2016 aged 72, Anita looks like a true goddess in her gold ensemble worn with aviator shades and matching heels. She originally wasn't supposed to be part of the show, but the woman who was meant to wear the gold outfit was too ill to walk. Being a true trooper, Anita took her place - walking stick and all. This was to be her last public appearance as she sadly died 9 months later.

Who Were the Influencers of the 1960s?

 There’s no denying the 60s were one of the most stylish decades ever. There is a reason shows like Mad Men, Masters of Sex and The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel all make us want to hop into a time machine and steal the characters’ wardrobes (and furniture).

If buying into a certain prim look à la Dior was a big hit for 1950s fashion, the sartorial rule book was completely thrown out in swinging sixties. From Brigitte Bardot‘s beehive to Mary Quant’s geometric prints, every 1960s fashion icon contributed their own signature style to the decade (a theme that continued well into 1970s fashion and beyond). It was the era of the girl group, the gamine supermodel and the original IT-girls, who are still inspiring this generation’s Alexa Chung et al.

The sixties still provide designers of today with endless inspiration, from Hermès’ enduring Birkin bag (which FYI is a better investment than gold), to Dior’s feminist take on Edie Sedgwick’s Factory Girl style (and just look at the familiar trends popping up for SS18).

After a decade of cinched waists, full skirts and impeccable hair and makeup, many fashion traditions were broken in an act of rebellion, mirroring the momentous social and political changes of the decade. It was the era where no skirt was too short and no beehive too high. Today, we can thank the decade for culottes, geometric prints and boxy silhouettes.

From the sixties’ answer to street style stars to the key fashion designers, consider this everything you need to know about the style defining era.

Edie Sedgwick’s 1960s fashion

Edie Sedgwick and Andy Warhol

The wealthy socialite, toast of the New York art scene and a certain Andy Warhol’s muse, Edie Sedgwick was the original IT girl. The essential ingredients of her good-girl-gone-bad aesthetic were lashings of eyeliner, chandelier earrings, mini mod dresses with sheer black tights and a crop of platinum hair – one day to be celebrated by Sienna Miller in the film Factory Girl.Twiggy’s 1960s fashion

Twiggy's 1960s fashion

Twiggy in the 1960s

No 1960s fashion round-up would be complete without mentioning Twiggy, real name Lesley Hornby. Bob hairstyles were huge for 1920s fashion, but this girl cemented an even short hairstyle‘s place in history – the pixie crop. One of the greatest muses of all time, Twiggy quickly rose to supermodel fame, thanks to her paint ’em on thick eyelashes and the boyish style celebrity hairdresser Leonard chopped for her in ’66. Almost overnight she became the face of the decade; instantly recognisable, she’s been immortalised on everything from Andy Warhol screen prints to M&S shopping bags.

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