The Last Original Fashionista

I have developed a mini obsession with this incredibly original woman ever since I saw pictures of her donning a fashionable pastel turban and YSL heels pedalling a vintage bicycle on her way to Christian Dior’s Haute Couture 2010 Show in Paris.

  (both images captured by Hanneli Mustaparta)

I am sure my love for her would have reached epic proportions by now if only she did not blatantly promote fur so much. And even though what she wears does not always agree with my sense of fashion or pro PETA sentiments, I totally applaud and envy her confidence, poise and attitude. Thus ladies (and gentlemen)...introducing a lady that barely requires an introduction - Catherine Baba.

Amongst other things Catherine Baba is a fashion consultant, stylist par excellence (although she prefers being called a Stealist) and one of the most stylish women in Paris. She’s worked with the likes of Chanel, Givenchy, Balmain and Vogue. Here are some pictures of her work as a stylist that I particularly admire.

Everything Catherine styles is a reflection of her own taste and ilove for fashion. Catherine’s personal dressing style reflects feminine Hollywood glamour from the 20s and the 30s. She loves rich materials, fantasy dresses, big sunglasses and fur. But it’s not just what she styles of wears that I love, it’s also what she says and how she lives that knock my socks off! Catherine is an Australian whose lived in Paris since a long long time. Her MySpace page suggests that she’s 74 years old, but I find it really hard to believe! Part of her appeal lies in the fact that she doesn’t take her self too seriously and is unlike all those fashionistas who feign artificial nonchalance but in fact are just waiting to be clicked.  She just IS...and her catch phrase J’adore, daaaarling just adds to her utterly fabulous personality.

Here are some more pictures of Catherine Baba that make her the last original fashionista of our times.

(images via the fashion spot)