Dare to dazzle
Once upon a time, Josephine Baker was the most visible woman on the planet. Can you imagine spotting the burlesque superstar prowling the boulevards of Paris with her diamond-collared cheetah Chiquita? The Beyoncé of her day, Josephine's gorgeous face was everywhere: on posters, magazine covers and the packaging of her own hair line, 'Bakerfix'. Surely the worst candidate to be spy, right? Wrong! Because the cheeky dancer subverting stereotypes in her swinging banana skirt - and not much else! - was a Mistress of Illusion, leading a daring double life as a World War II agent for the French Intelligence.
Born into poverty in St. Louis in 1906, Josephine left America at age 19 to conquer Paris with her sexy, sassy dance routines, becoming Europe's highest-paid entertainer in a matter of years. Nude, except for feathers or a string of pearls, the charismatic star freely expressed her sexuality and was equally outspoken about race and equality. European fascists were not amused. Banned from Italy by Mussolini, called 'The Black Devil' in Austrian headlines, Josephine didn't hesitate when she was recruited by the French resistance: "The Parisians gave me their hearts, and I am ready to give them my life."
Dazzling the Nazi guards with her flashy smile and glamorous entourage - often including pet monkeys and an enormous Great Dane - Josephine slipped across borders carrying secret photographs pinned to her bra and messages written in invisible ink on her sheet music. "When they asked me for my papers, they generally meant autographs." She learned how to use a pistol and even carried a cyanide capsule in case of capture. She was fearless. Fame was her cover. After the war, she was awarded the French Legion of Honor. Josephine Baker, showgirl-turned-patriotic-heroine, would be remembered as much for her banana skirt as her brave, beautiful heart.
Dare to dazzle
Unveil your true beauty in my beguiling 'Illusionist' collection, inspired by the fabulous Josephine Baker: superstar, spy, Mistress of Illusion. In a streamlined play of reveal and conceal, I created a mesmerizing pattern of jacquard dots. Crafted from recycled yarn, the sheer midnight-blue fabric leaves nothing to the imagination. To give you plenty of choice, I executed it in two versions: with or without a matching bra base in a sensual nude tone. All styles feature an equally eye-catching back. Wrap your curves in this elegant, timeless design and dare to dazzle !
