Welcome to our series exploring the crème de la crème of personal image, those rare birds who've turned their essence into pure visual ecstasy. Each story is dedicated to a unique visionary who's pushed the boundaries of self-expression and mastered fashion alchemy. All these heroes are completely different, and the only quality they share in common is that they have an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind presence. For our premiere, let me unveil our first icon: the one, the only, the earth-shattering force of nature herself: Grace Jones.
Every legend needs a beginning, and this is how I imagine this one. Long time ago, when Grace was just getting ready to manifest herself in a human form, a celestial voice asked her: "Do you want to be feminine or masculine?". Grace replied: "Yes". Then she was asked: "Do you want to belong to a wildlife, as fierceful force of Nature, or to a Louvre, as the greatest masterpiece known to a mankind?". "Yes", Grace repeated. "But you can't choose both, this is not how that works", argued the voice. "Watch me", said Grace and laughed. And this is how she came into this world: wild and authentic, full of paradoxes, sensual and dominating, destroying boundaries, daring, scaring, and hypnotizing.
So, what made Grace Jones such a unique human being?
First, let's talk about her appearance. The instant thing you notice is probably the fact that her beauty is androgynous and bold. If you ever met women who have been blessed with androgyny, you might know that often they carry lots of insecurities in their luggage, feeling they don't fit conventional standards of beauty. They might consider themselves not as lucky as other, "feminine" women, and even think about themselves as of "ugly" and "man-like" creatures. They take their blessing as a curse, all because the settings in their mindset are not right. But let me tell you something very important. If you don't accept yourselves as you are, or if you try fighting some part of you, you are stealing from yourself. It's hard to allow yourself to be happy, when you don't even allow yourselves to be yourself. But! If you fully accept the body you've been given, the magic happens. You become invincible! Grace Jones is a testament to this truth. She didn't (and still doesn't) waste energy trying to fit into a mold that wasn't made for her. Instead, she used her unique traits to become an icon.
So, how can an androgynous person use this quality to become magnetic? First of all, it's important to realize that androgyny is a rare and memorable quality. It's unique. It's the most striking feature of those who possess it. It doesn't matter, what your height or body shape; if you have both feminine and masculine traits, most likely the first thing that strangers would remember about you is the androgyny. That is why I encourage you to treat it as an advantage!
Now, when we figured out that androgyny is good, let's move on to the most exciting part. You can absolutely rock the most feminine and the most masculine outfits and look terrific! When you include elements of male costume in your wardrobe, they enhance your feminine side. And vice versa: long sequin gown would emphasize the masculinity in your appearance. That might sound paradoxical, but actually that makes perfect sense because of the contrast between the clothing and a physique that had been created. Look at this picture of Angelina Jolie in a tuxedo (adapted for female body, but still a tuxedo) and a tie. Does she look man-like?
She absolutely doesn't, so why can't others use the same trick?
Here are some pictures of Grace Jones in masculine and feminine outfits. Can you detect the difference in her appearance?
You might prefer one image or another, but Grace herself is so fearless that she didn't want to take only one side. Her most sensational and electrifying outfits happened when she used elements of masculine and feminine clothing at the same time! Here are some examples of her combining rigid and fluid, sharp and soft, tailored menswear and heels.
When your appearance is so bold and exotic by the nature, you naturally want to frame it and support it with the clothing and accessories of the same level of boldness. This is why you can find so many images of this supermodel draped in jewel tone fabrics, generously covered in furs and dripping with jewels. Imagine such a gorgeous human being as Grace in casual wear: mom jeans, sneakers and white t-shirt. Would she look so charismatic and alluring as when she goes all-in? Probably, no. Her appearance is exciting, intense, teasing, shocking, intimidating, daring – she brings lots of emotional impact and experience to everyone who sees her. She has a presence that commands attention. This self-assured confidence allows her to express herself without any fear, and her sense of fashion perfectly reflects her attitude.
Everything in her appearance is exaggerated, even theatrical. She amplifies her traits to the extreme. There is one thing I always say to my clients: find what you love in yourself and enhance it, repeat it, multiply it ten times or a hundred times. And this is exactly what we can observe in Grace image study: she brought out her androgyny and boldness and made them her core essence. Someone might say: "Of course, she is amazing, she was born for the stage", but actually Grace was always saying in interviews that she was quite shy kid and teenager. More than that, she was growing in a strict religious family, and her father was a preacher. Through and despite these circumstances, she evolved into a self-made icon.
Grace built her image on the clash of opposites. She is a Diva and a Warrior. If you've seen her in "Conan the Destroyer" (1984), you can confirm: when there's Zula the Amazonian on the stage, all eyes are on her.
Her wilderness is pristine, yet her staged photographs are high art. We saw other supermodels, who are able to pull off a diva or a wild cat look, but I've never met someone else who carries so much duality and ferocity. Let me illustrate it with an example.
Here is beautiful and very convincing Naomi Campbell in the wild versus authentic and also convincing Grace Jones in animal patterns.
Both photographs are the masterpieces, and the vibes from both pictures have some similarities, right? But put Grace and Naomi together and you will instantly notice, that Naomi is a Barbie doll and Grace is a true Amazonian fighter. There's so much strength and intensity in Grace, that even her clothes should be in the same league. In rare cases when she opts for something simple, she always adds some extra layer of clothing, stacked jewelry or dramatic makeup.
Looking back on Grace Jones image evolution and her journey of self-acceptance, we may say that approving yourselves with all complexities and contradictions leads to true liberation and a freedom of self-expression. You don't have to try to look like someone else when you can be unapologetically yourself.
Inspired by Grace Jones' bold style? Learn how to make a statement with classic accessories in our guide on how to wear pearls at any age. Or if you're ready to transform your image, discover how image consultants can be your personal style ally in crafting a unique and powerful personal brand.
