Welcome back to White Rose of Avalon, my Darlings.   For today’s blog post, I will discuss five of the most iconic women of the 1960s who inspire my personal style and art.   I had to narrow down this list, as I could go on forever, and the original version had eleven 60s icons, but I thought that was far too many to cover in one post, so I narrowed it down to the five that have had a massive impact on my own sense of style and even my art.   Without further ado, let’s look at some ‘60s Icons!    

JANIS JOPLIN

~So, to begin the list strong, I had to discuss Janis Joplin, whose music has definitely gone on to inspire my own poetry.   Her music is so deep and so profoundly emotional that it took me years to grow into her music.   By that, I mean that I had to mature a bit and go through my own emotional struggles and heartbreaks to begin to understand the depth of what Janis Joplin was singing about.   Consistently, from my mid-teens onwards, I have seen more and more value in Janis Joplin’s music.   I find her stage presence equally inspiring, and I have definitely been inspired by her stage presence at times when I have had to speak to larger groups.   When Janis Joplin was on stage, people were awe-struck by her charisma, and even Stevie Nicks has stated that she was inspired by Janis Joplin’s stage presence when she was beginning her career!      

PAMELA COURSON

~Pamela Courson is possibly my biggest inspiration on this list when it comes to personal style and even my art (in the sense of decor and such), but she may be one of the least known on this list.   I have long adored Pamela Courson, as I am a huge fan of The Doors, and she was Jim Morrison’s long-time girlfriend, whom he famously called his Cosmic Mate!   Pamela was the Muse to Jim as he wrote his songs and poetry, even helping to edit his poetry collections that he published during his life.   She was also famous for being a Style Icon amongst ‘60s Rock Star Groupies and Girlfriends.   For a time, Pamela Courson owned a lovely Boutique called Themis, which did not make money, but acted as a sort of Salon (in the Parisian Artist and Intellectual Salon sense).    Many of the young artists and creatives in the LA area would flock there to hang out and discuss what mattered to them most, and Pamela Courson acted as the hostess to them all!   Sadly, much like Jim, Pamela would die at 27, just three years after Jim did.   Their love was epic, it was toxic, it was complicated, but it was also true love in many ways.   Pamela Courson is the Ultimate Rock and Roll Muse, in my opinion.   Looking at photos and seeing videos of her has definitely inspired my own personal style, and her sticking by Jim Morrison (even with the ups and downs, they always found their way back together) is also deeply beautiful, even if it is tragic!    

PAMELA DES BARRES

~Pamela Des Barres, often called Miss Pamela, was the Queen of the ‘60s Rock Groupies!   She had connections to countless Rock Icons, whether they were lovers or not.   Pamela Des Barres was a Nanny for Frank Zappa, a member of the GTOs (a girl group made up of Groupies), and had a long-term relationship with Jimmy Page!   Possibly, her most important claim to fame is that she went on to write all about her Groupie exploits in the iconic book, I’m With the Band.   Looking at old photos of Pamela Des Barres certainly is inspirational for a great ‘60s style look, but they also serve as a reminder to live the life you want to live, no matter what anyone else says!  

MARIANNE FAITHFULL

~Ah, poor Marianne, she just passed away earlier this year.   Marianne Faithfull is best remembered as the girlfriend of Mick Jagger, but she was also an artist in her own right.   In the ‘60s, and for years after, she released music and starred in films.   I really enjoy her music, as it is very folk rock, and definitely inspires some of my poetry (and the few times I have attempted to write songs myself).   She led an incredibly memorable life, as she was there during the famous drug bust at Keith Richards’ home (wearing a fur carpet at that), and she saw the highest of highs and lowest of lows.   You can even read about it in her own words, as she published a wonderful memoir!

ANNA KARINA

~Anna Karina was at one time the girlfriend and muse of Jean-Luc Godard.   She starred in many of his films in the ‘60s and was known as a French Style Icon of the time.   Anna Karina also released some music of the Ye-Ye Girl variety, which was a French Pop Music sub-genre that was around in the ‘60s.   I love Ye-Ye Girl music myself, and I find the style of music to be very inspirational when I am choreographing a dance (even one that I may use in Ritual).   Beyond that, I am very inspired by her style, and just the way she holds herself when you see her in films!

~I hope you have enjoyed reading about five of my favorite ‘60s Icons.   What ‘60s Icons have inspired you?   Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Note on Image: The image at the top of the post is one of the photos of Pam and Jim at Themis!   I found the picture on https://www.pinterest.com/pin/66005950771616581/.    

LINK TO AVALONIAN ROSE FAERY MYSTERIES PATREON: patreon.com/AvalonianRoseFaeryMysteries    

Further Reading, Watching, Listening

• Janis: Her Life and Music by Holly George-Warren
• Angels Dance Angels Die: The Tragic Romance of Pamela and Jim Morrison by Patricia Butler
• I’m With the Band by Pamela Des Barres
• Faithfull by Marianne Faithfull
• Pearl by Janis Joplin
• Vivre sa Vie (1962)
• A Woman is a Woman (1961)