Josephine Baker was a 20th-century dancer, activist, and fashion icon who took France by storm with her performances, outfits, and controversies. What made Baker’s style unique was her willingness to experiment.
Josephine was capable of pulling off costumes that were thought-provoking, gender-bending, and captivating. Upon moving to France from the United States, Josephine Baker capitalized on France’s obsession with American Jazz and began dancing in Paris. Baker’s style played on sensuality, her role as a showgirl, and even racial stereotypes.
One of Baker’s most iconic and career-propelling outfits was her banana dress, which she wore in 1926 for her performance in La Folie de Jour. Many of her outfits used feathers, furs, and tassels that moved with her body and accentuated her dances. Outside of the stage, Josephine Baker was commonly seen in long, floor-length dresses cut to bring emphasis to her shoulders and décolletage. Another marker of her style was her accessorising of jewelry. Overall, her fashion choices were the pinnacle of 1920s fashion.
