Some very special pieces from the infamous wardrobe of legendary 80s club queen, i-Conic issue 8 cover star and i-D’s very own Glamorous Gardener-in-Residence, Scarlett Cannon, are up for auction at Kerry Taylor’s Passion for Fashion and Fine Textiles sale on December 4th.
The 80s is the decade that fashion can’t forget. As a muse to many, Scarlett Cannon’s style during that period was practically holy. Operating a strict door policy at Cha Cha, the nightclub she ran when she was 18, Scarlett told Leigh Bowery he couldn’t come in unless he took off his awful blue cape. They went on to become great friends, and some of the clothes Leigh made for Scarlett are included in the auction lot.
i-D took a closer look at Scarlett’s wardrobe earlier in the year, in a four page spread in The Lights, Camera, Action Issue which used archived pictures of Scarlett from the 80s, alongside a series of new photographs featuring model Billie Turnbull. Of a similar size and spirit to Scarlett, Billie modelled Scarlett’s outfits, while Scarlett talked through the memories she had of each garment. Read the story and see the pictures here.
Style has changed and you could say it isn’t what it was. In her clubbing days, Scarlett fought to be an individual and expressed that in her dress. And so this auction offers a very rare and special chance to own a piece of history, with wonderful memories attached to it. Here’s what auction house owner Kerry Taylor had to say…
“What makes my job so interesting is not just the pieces themselves but the people who have owned them. Scarlett Cannon was an 80’s Club Kid, and at just eighteen became the founder and host of the ‘Cha Cha’ nightclub in 1981. She was a walking style statement. Her extreme and unique looks well suited her avant-garde wardrobe by Leigh Bowery, Bodymap, Westwood, Christopher Nemeth and Judy Blame. Her Leigh Bowery pieces are exceptional and museum quality (lots 212-223).” Kerry Taylor at Kerry Taylor Auctions.
The auction takes place at 2pm on 4th December at Kerry Taylor’s
Passion for Fashion and Fine Textiles sale. Read Charlie Porter’s brilliant interview with Scarlett here.
Text: Sarah Raphael
