Edie Sedgwick in "Ciao! Manhattan"

     

Everyone knows the Queen of the Factory, Edie Sedgwick, but few know of Susan Superstar. In 1972, Ciao! Manhattan was released; written and directed by Factory alums, David Weisman and John Palmer. Edie plays the lead, Susan, a character written for and about her. Due to her overdose, at 28, before the film's release in 1971, it has become a documentary of sorts about the downward spiral of an It girl. The film at times is hard to watch. At this point, Edie was a numbed-out, perma-stoned girl left behind after her 'split' with Andy Warhol and tumultuous relationship with a man named Paul America. It's hard to say how much of the film is acting and how much is the left-overs of Edie's mind. 

In the film, long hair and bare and newly fake breasts replace the iconic Edie look. We see glimpses, almost like found footage, of her exciting past in NYC. It is shown in a black & white 'found footage' style showing a fantastical, aesthetically pleasing dream world. She incessantly talks about this past with her caretaker, a Texan named Butch. She is permanently stuck in that memory. Using color film to contrast with such a dark and tragic present is like playing classical music over a scene of violence. The most brutal scene is Susan's trip to the mental hospital where she receives shock treatment while wearing a colorful, tie dyed maxi dress, taking this concept to the extreme.

Edie's outfits and outlook on life relies heavily on the idea of trend. She is famously quoted as saying, "I want to turn the world on, if only for a moment." She pursued the 'live fast, die young' mentality. She saw life as fleeting moments and her appearance, both in clothes and reputation, was put above her health. She is the trend, wearing outlandish clothes and being cooler than cool, and her flame was snuffed out like last season's contour kits.

Her look is a mix of edgy, beatnik glamour and classic French staples. The only patterns Edie dabbles in are leopard, fur, and black & white stripes. She brings no color to her wardrobe. Edie revolutionized the t-shirt dress, which consists of an oversized sweater or tee worn with opaque tights and black kitten heels or flats. She loved fur coats, which were probably real since she was from one of America's wealthiest families. The coat was the only piece of clothing that didn't live in black and white.

Edie had a very dramatic air about her, multiplied by her daily application of stage makeup. For Edie, the true outfit is from the neck up. Her body, cloaked in black, became a floating pair of thin legs. The look is brought to life with thick black eyeliner and false or painted on eyelashes. She wears large earrings that fill the gap between her ear and shoulder. All of this is paired with, an androgynous pixie haircut of silver blonde hair with a black underlayer. Her signature earrings often come in a chandelier, geometric, or spiral design. Edie also had a penchant for hats; often styled with one or more pairs of sunglasses or goggles on top. She leans toward newsboys and berets. 

Edie wanted to be a spark in art/fashion history and she succeeded. Today, we pay tribute to her and recreate Andy Warhol's original Superstar's iconic look.

Don your shoulder dusters and paint on your eyes. It's going to be a wild ride:

 The six key pieces to this look are:

Giant Ornate Earrings. This is the most important piece to the outfit so have fun. I've had huge success with selects from Romwe and Shein. Look for something oversized but keep in mind your ears have a weight limit and try to find something light weight or plan to wear them for a short time. If your ears aren't pierced, there are a lot of vintage clip-ons that will give the same effect.

Thick Black Eyeliner and Falsies/Drawn-on Eyelashes. Apparently, it took Edie three hours to prepare her makeup. I promise you can do it in no more than 30 minutes. I've been using Wet 'n Wild blackest black liquid eyeliner since the 8th grade and I swear by it, you can get it in Rite Aid and other drug stores, as well as false eyelashes. I prefer liquid eyeliner with the paint brush tip. Here's a makeup tutorial if you want to try the drawn on lashes look. The secret is clumping the lashes into small points.

Black Loose Mini Dress. The base piece of Edie's look. You can substitute for a long, oversized sweater or tee. I like the added mock turtleneck, it's a 60s staple that color-blocks the body, highlighting the accessories. You want something short, if it feels too short, it's probably just right. The tights will give the air that the dress covers more than it does.

Leopard Fur Coat. Edie loved fur, but I strongly suggest not getting real fur, it's just tacky. There are a million different options in faux fur and the price difference deserves a heavy exhale. Check out Beacon's Closet in NYC, they have a great selection of fur coats.

Newsboy Cap. Probably my favorite hat style. It can be paired with goggles or sunglasses on top. The hat features a small rounded brim and a mushroom style top. It was a favorite of London Mods in the 60s.

Black Opaque Tights. You can find them in any drug store or shop. Really, they are everywhere. Make sure they are sheer. 

My Recreation: 

photo cred: Sarah Howard

The Breakdown:

Earrings: East Village Thrift Shop, 2nd Ave, NYC

Hat: Poshmark.com

Coat: Goodwill 125 St, Harlem, NY
Dress: Housing Works, 23rd St, NYC

       Here they come, Chelsea Girls.

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