I found this Tribute to Josephine Baker on YouTube. The person did a great job of pulling together the clips from about four JB movies. I own them all, but this is a great way to show various aspects of the Icon. Good Job!

Josephine the Charleston Queen

I knew nothing about the DC Tweed Ride until my friend Adrian Loving informed me.  It is a glorious bike ride through the streets of D.C. with riders wearing  vintage clothing...some riding vintage bikes and the like.  So when I looked at the Dandies and Quaintrells website I knew it was a great idea!  Looking at the pictures reminded me of a time gone by and a famous woman who was a popular figure but not so much in the U.S. So maybe folks don't know)  The pictures on the site showed me that the Tweed Ride participants gathered at a local pub to dine, chill and dance.  So when I saw pics of some of them doing the Charleston, I knew I had to be at the next event  to tell folks about the Queen of the Charleston - Josephine!

Keri Hilson - Pretty Girl Rock

beyonce live on fashion rocks deya vu

Overnight Sensation!

Today in History, October 2, 1925 was the defining moment for Josephine Baker.  Her performance at the Theater Des Champs Elysees made her an instant success!

Pink Feathers

It was October 2, 1925. Josephine Baker returned to the stage riding upside down on the back of Joe Alex. She wore only pink feathers... a ring of feathers circling her neck and ankles. Today in 2011 feathers are so popular and can be seen everywhere in fashion.

Anastasia - Paris Holds the Key (To Your Heart)

Princess Tam Tam

Now considered a rare showcase of Josephine Baker's talents, Princess Tam Tam aired on TCM (cable tv) tonight. Though there were some negative references and sterotypes in this film, it was afterall,1935! If she had been in a U.S. film she would have been "the help" instead of a glamorous celebrity in opulent-looking gowns. Go Jo! Groundbreaking!

Midnight in Paris

If you saw the movie "Midnight in Paris" you will know that many scenes were set in Paris during the 20s 30s and 40s. (spoiler) I was delightfully surprised that Josephine Baker was referenced. But maybe you missed it... Woody Allen mentioned Bricktop,a woman who had a nightclub where ex-patriots hung out. If you are not a student of everything JB like me, you wouldn't get it. Many names of writers and some musicians were menitoned...but Josephine Baker's name was not. Yet there was a glamorous woman with the hair and pearls a'la Baker. I was happy to see her. But should her name have been mentioned?
P.S. I loved the movie!

I know I defended my thesis, but I keep seeing reasons that prove my point and lead me to new ones!

Josephine Baker is so relevant! Photo of her on inside cover and page 60 of June Ebony Magazine!

Alexander Calder famous sculptor who captured Josephine in wire back in the day has a show currently on view in DC at the National Gallery of Art
until August 4th! Check out the Original Diva!

New Product!

Check out the hottest new item in the BBS product line!   A gorgeous vintage umbrella

featuring Josephine Baker in beautiful costumes from the 20's to the 1970's.

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.