Friday, 18 January 2013

Groupies: Queens of the Sunset Strip.



In the 70's Los Angeles was ruled by rock n roll. The boys came and went on tour but the girls were the ones worth watching.

Pamela Des Barres and her group of friends were collectively known as the GTO's [Girls Together Outrageously]. They started out as the Laurel Canyon Dance Company and were a fixture at Frank Zappa and Flying Burrito Brothers gigs. They were influenced heavily by Aubrey Beardsley and the hippie fashions of the era and were often crowned with velvet flowers.

The groupies looked like gypsies in their long floor grazing 1930’s nightgowns, sheer mexican peasant tops and the occasional mini dress. They accessorized themselves with huge hats and feathers, dripping with bracelets, necklaces, belts, furs and scarves. Minimalism was avoided. This was luxe and over the top.

The girls were not only responsible for their own look but they also had a hand in styling and shaping how Rod Stewart, Gram Parsons and Alice Cooper looked at their height of their fame.

It is hard to look back on photos of these girls now and not see how they have influenced the style of a whole new generation of girls in music like Lana Del Rey, Bat for Lashes and Florence Welch.

Shop the look with South Second Vintage!

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