Star of the Month: Josephine Baker

There always comes a point in October when I have a mini panic attack trying to figure out costume ideas for Halloween. What is accessible? Not too difficult to achieve, but not too basic? Luckily this year, costume options narrowed down fairly quickly for me. Every year one of my good friends always throws a memorable party for his birthday that happens to fall a few days before Halloween. This year the theme is to dress as someone from the past. A ton of ideas went through my head, but then it clicked--JOSEPHINE BAKER!

Josephine Baker is one of my biggest icons for her bravery, charm, style, talent, and that certain je ne se quois that she possessed. I hate when she is written in books and articles as an "entertainer." Why not list all of her talents? She was an actress, singer, dancer, and comedian as well as an activist and French Resistance agent. She lived in Paris, France for a great deal of her life and career, but moved back to the United States later in her life. She refused to perform in places where black audiences were not allowed attendance (despite being offered huge amounts of money for these performances). She spoke out on this as well as her own mistreatment in America through articles and talks at various universities and marches. She worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King and contributed greatly to the Civil Rights Movement.

Josephine Baker is often credited as being the first African-American to become a world famous entertainer and to star in a major film--Zouzou (1934). This film included one of her most famous dances in which she dances with her shadow! She broke many boundaries and performed in ways that African Americans generally were not allowed to. She photographed and performed topless or with near to nothing on and really embraced her sexuality.

My favorite film of hers is Princess Tam Tam (1935). If you've never watched this gem, I recommend you do! The storyline is a precursor for films such as, Pygmalion (1938) or My Fair Lady (1964), but Jo Baker makes it all the more reason to watch. She has a dance number and sings in the film. If you're curious to hear her singing, you should listen to her beautiful song "Paris, Paris," (here) I first heard this lovely song in the film Touki Bouki (1973). I consider her to to be one of the most entertaining and talented women of all time!

When mentioning Josephine Baker, one of the first images that comes to most people's mind is the banana skirt look. While I think this is iconic and deserves to hold all of the attention it does, I personally believe she has a lot of other very fabulous looks that I think could translate into a marvelous costume. This particular late 1920s/early 1930s look is one that I think I could achieve easily by buying a silk or satin long slip and robe/kimono. Then add marabou trim to give a more lux/Josephine Baker feel to it! For hair---a finger wave wig will achieve a similar look! So far as makeup, there are a few colored images of her where you can really get a sense of her eyeshadow palette, lipstick color, and blush.

I think that Josephine Baker is the perfect person to emulate for Halloween and I am so excited to share with you guys my costume when Halloween arrives!

Here are a few more gorgeous and iconic photographs of her. I'll see you next Friday!

I do not own any of the photographs in this post.