Dressing down
The late Mr. Blackwell's lasting legacy of biting sartorial commentary
Last Updated: Monday, October 20, 2008 | 5:01 PM ET
By Vicky Tam and Timothy Neesam, CBC News
Mr. Blackwell holds up photographs of Madonna, left, and Geena Davis, as he announces his 33rd Annual Worst Dressed Women list on Jan. 12 1993. (Carlos Schiebeck/AFP/Getty Images) Richard Blackwell, the unforgiving fashion critic famous for his annual worst-dressed lists, died Sunday at the age of 86. He insulted everyone from Zsa Zsa Gabor to Queen Elizabeth II to Britney Spears on his list, which he started in 1960.
Blackwell tried his hand at modelling, acting and designing fashion before finding fame for his talent at doling out scathing criticism.
CBC News presents a selection of Mr. Blackwell's most targeted fashion criminals and repeat offenders – and his bons mots about each.
Bjork 
Singer Bjork. (Michael Caulfield/Associated Press)
"She dances in the dark – and dresses there, too."
Dennis Rodman
Basketball star and dandy Dennis Rodman (Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press)
"The Fashion Menace may be the Bad Boy of basketball – but in fishnet and feathers he's a unisex wreck."
Cher 
Singer/actor Cher. (Boris Minkevich/Winnipeg Free Press/Canadian Press)
"A million beads and one over-exposed derrière – when it comes to picking the ultimate fashion fiasco ... ladies and gentlemen, it's Cher!"
Madonna 
Singer/entertainer Madonna. (AFP/Getty Images)
"From Ghetto Glam to Rhinestone Cowgirl to Mrs. Guy Ritchie. Any way you label it, she's still just kitschy, kitschy, kitschy."
Britney Spears 
Pop star Britney Spears. (Reuters)
"When it comes to couture chaos, this tacky terror should take a bow – [she] looks like an over-the-hill Lolita. From the princess of pop to the ultimate fashion flop."
Barbra Streisand 
Singer/actress Barbra Streisand, right, seen with actor John Wayne. (AFP/Getty Images)
"Ringo Starr in drag."
Avril Lavigne 
Petulant Canadian pop-punk artist Avril Lavigne. (Carlos Schiebeck/AFP/Getty Images)
"Gothic make-up courtesy [of] the mad spatula - Fashions provided by…the house of Dracula!"
Celine Dion 
Canadian singer Celine Dion. (Vince Bucci/AFP/Getty Images)
"The question is direction. In her backward tuxedo there's no way of knowing whether 'Diva Dion' is coming or going – a profusion of confusion."
Model citizens
Blackwell didn't just love to hate. He also published the lesser-known "fabulous fashion independents" list each year.
Beyonce
Actress and singer Beyonce. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)
Both in song and in practice, Beyonce extols the virtues of the "freakum dress." She started out sporting stage costumes designed by her mother and has since made a seamless transition into designer duds.
Reese Witherspoon
Actress Reese Witherspoon. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)
Reese Witherspoon topped the last best-dressed list in 2008. Witherspoon's elegant frocks have earned her top honours three times.
Share Tools
FILM REVIEW: Men in Black 3 by Eli Glasner May. 25, 2012 11:40 AM Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back in the action sequel Men in Black 3, a third instalment of a series now 15 years old. Though new addition Josh Brolin manages some amazing mimicry as a younger version of Jones, the story doesn't measure up to the weird and wonderful charms of the original, says film reviewer Eli Glasner.
Top News Headlines
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges
- The estranged partner of a young mother who was stabbed to death along with her parents at their home in Aylmer, Que., has been charged with first-degree murder Friday. more »
- Severe storm in Quebec leaves damage in its wake
- Trees were uprooted, roofs damaged and windows shattered as severe thunderstorms, and possibly a tornado, rattled through southwestern Quebec Friday night. more »
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest
- The deaths of five climbers last weekend on Mt. Everest, with more summits underway this weekend, fuels the debate about the risks and responsibilities of high altitude climbing. more »
- Pope's butler arrested in Vatican leaks scandal
- The Vatican has confirmed that the Pope's butler was arrested earlier in the week in connection with an embarrassing document leaks scandal. more »
Latest Arts & Entertainment News Headlines
- Modern and traditional art scores at Joyner auction
- Both traditional and modern works fared well at Joyner Waddington's spring art auction in Toronto, with buyers snapping up lots by Group of Seven members as well as more contemporary artists. more »
- Prophetic Cosmopolis premieres at Cannes
- David Cronenberg says he didn't anticipate the Occupy Wall Street movement as he prepared to shoot Cosmopolis, his new film which made its world premiere Friday at the Cannes Film Festival in southern France. more »
- Jennifer Egan's newest story debuts on Twitter
- The latest short story from Pulitzer-winning writer Jennifer Egan is emerging 140 characters at a time via Twitter. more »
- Miller Brittain sketches restored by museum
- Canadian artist and social satirist Miller Brittain's larger than life chalk drawings may once again hang in Saint John. more »
Q Blog
Toni Morrison on her two selves May. 25, 2012 5:57 PM Jian speaks with the celebrated African American author and academic about her two conflicting selves, and her new novel, Home.
CBC Books
Talking about war May. 25, 2012 4:57 PM The public conversation around war has always been complex and thorny. How does Canada's military approach differ from that of other countries? Are we a society of peacekeepers or warriors? These are some of the questions that Noah Richler explores in his new book What We Talk About When We Talk About War.
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest
- Canada ending 'Buffalo shuffle' for visas, closing consulate
- Ottawa man in hospital after lightning strike
- Calmer winds ease fire threat in northeastern Ontario
- What a Greek euro exit could mean for Canada
- Police probe Halifax homicide after shooting
