Although the world knows very little for sure about Amanda Lear’s origins (her exact age, nationality, and natural hair color are among many mysteries), what we do know is that she lived one of the most glamorous lives imaginable. She was first an artist and a cabaret style (she walked for Karl Lagerfeld when he was drawing for Jean Patou), but she passed temporarily to Salvador Dalí through Paco Rabanne. The artist is immediately struck by her beauty and takes her as his muse. Lear described her long relationship as a “spiritual marriage,” Dalí had a wife, and Lear continued to date other people. Those other boyfriends included Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones (the song “Miss Amanda Jones” is rumored to have been encouraged through her) and David Bowie. At one point, she was set to play Princess Irulan in Alejandro Jodorowsky’s never-before-made adaptation of Dune (Florence Pugh will play the role in Denis Villeneuve’s version). In the late ’70s, Lear embarked on a recording career, and since then she has released 18 studio albums. She may or may not have partially inspired the Absolutely Fabulous character Patsy Stone, and she is the character on the cover of Roxy Music’s iconic For Your Pleasure album (she was briefly involved with singer Bryan Ferry). She for 21 years was married to an infamous bisexual French aristocrat. She also remains a primary muse and close friend of Jean Paul Gaultier. She has written books, appeared on television shows, directed on stage and screen, and exhibited her paintings. Even at 77 (. . . or 80. . . or 84, depending on who you ask), she still manages to sit front row at a fashion show or attend an event.
As we said, one of the most glamorous lives of all time, and he did it in style. Here, let’s take a look at some of his defining style moments.
Dalí and Lear met in 1965 and promptly forged a deep bond. Lear accompanied the artist and his wife on vacation for the remaining 16 years of his life.
Lear was a regular in the London swing scene of the 60s and rubbed shoulders with the Beatles. Here they attended the opening of the Apple Tailoring Shop with the full Dandy set.
With a height of 5’10”, Lear created a surprising style and worked with the great designers of the 60s, such as Ossie Clark (whose clothes are illustrated here) and Mary Quant, the godmother of the miniskirt.
Lear had a two-year relationship with David Bowie in the mid-70s, and it was Bowie who recommended that she take music lessons and try to embark on a music career.
Lear’s dark disco sound took advantage of his enigmatic public persona and found popularity especially among German, Italian and Swiss listeners.
With over 18 albums, he has also expanded beyond disco music and released projects that incorporate rock, acoustic and standards.
By the late ’70s, Lear had begun to identify as an actress, especially in Italy.
Lear met Alain-Philippe Malagnac in a nightclub in 1978 and married him later (despite Dalí’s objections).
Lear’s performance as a performer continued.
Not many other people can wear a marching band jacket and leopard print bikini panty, but Lear can.
Performing dressed in black at the Palace of Paris, where she met her husband.
In the 90s, Lear found a steady job as a presenter on Italian television and brought glamour to his work.
Lear’s glamour in the 2000s gave Paris Hilton an era.
Any glamorous life worth living consists of appearing at the premiere of Shrek 2 at Cannes dressed in aviator glasses, a top and a feathered blonde rash.
What could be more fabulous than appearing in the front row in a Birkin, a red leopard coat and a T-shirt with a picture of you turning the bird around?
This Gaultier motif is all the rage among aspiring “It girls” right now, but Lear wore it a decade ago.
She can glamorize.
A dramatic revelation that would make Angelina Jolie jealous.
Lear remains a muse for a new generation of designers and, of course, was invited through Alessandro Michele to attend a Gucci exhibition in 2018.
Today, pink sunglasses have a trademark.
Lear returned to the catwalks in 2020 to make a guest appearance at his friend Jean Paul Gaultier’s retirement show.
Not even cats in party dresses can surpass Mrs. Lear in glamour.
This fuchsia cut stole the exhibition at the Venice International Film Festival last year.
Even now, Lear is still a normal character in line.