Baker By Shawn Promo

Prada's Spring Line is inspired by Josephine Baker

What most people know and some remember about Josephine Baker is her dancing the Charleston while wearing a skirt of bananas. This image is apparent in Miuccia Prada’s spring 2011 fashion line. Prada’s line is clearly motivated by the early imagery of Josephine Baker created by famed artist Paul Colin.

In the fashion show each model strutted down the runway sporting the marcel curl hairstyle that Baker made famous. One colorful garment was clearly inspired by the Colin image of Baker in the banana skirt. Apart from that beautiful dress, the line features outfits with a motif of monkeys and bananas. Monkeys? Really?

This savage imagery is one that Josephine Baker worked hard to separate herself from. She re-invented herself and became a glamorous, sophisticated woman. Did the Devil make Prada do it? If Prada had done just a little more research, she would know that Josephine Baker was also famous for being portrayed in art and photography with her pet cheetah. Josephine would strut down the Champs Elysees in her finery while the cheetah pranced ahead in a diamond choker! Perhaps that animal could have been used in the motif of Prada’s garments

Read the full article at www.ammomag.com   click on Editorials and Features and scroll down to the picture of Josephine Baker for the entire article.