The Style of Fashion Icon Grace Jones
Written by: Chenita “Infinite Apex” Dickerson
When asked did she consciously create an image to go with the face, she was quoted as stating: “No. I think the scary character comes from male authority within my religious family. They had that first, and subliminally I took that on. I was shit scared of them.” She was born in Kingston, Jamaica to Bishop Robert and Marjorie Jones. She is one of seven children (one of which is Bishop Noel Jones, a California Pastor). On one side of her family there are politicians and the other side there are Pentecostal ministers. Raised by her grandparents in Jamaica until age 12 when she relocated to the U.S. to reside with her parents, she showed a talent for languages and hoped to be a Spanish teacher, but discovered she preferred theatre and rebellion to school and God. When asked during a recent interview (April 2010) could she ever have been a serious woman of the church, her reply was, “No, never. I made a special effort not to be.” She admittedly took drugs, took her clothes off, and indulged in all sorts of troubling things. She stated that, “Of course” her parents were ashamed. “Totally.” When asked at what, she replied: “What d'you mean at what?” She raised her voice, “I get on stage, and show my tits. I do crazy things. I get arrested.”
At 61 and looking 31, I don’t think she plans to retire any time soon. So, no copycats or paying tribute because
she’ll still slap you…
Throughout, she was determined to be open with her parents about what she was and what she had become. “I did not make an effort to make everything pretty for them. I showed them the worst, and I thought if they could accept the worst… I don't like people who hide things. We're not perfect, we all have things that people might not like to see, and I like to show my faults.”
Grace Jones stated that she didn’t want to perform with Lady Gaga because she likes to perform with people who are original; not someone who was copying her. In a recent interview with the UK Guardian, Grace Jones expressed some sentiments about the pop star. “Well, you know, I've seen some things she's worn that I've worn, and that does kind of piss me off,” Jones said. Mrs. Jones is known as a pioneer, a trend setter, a go getter, someone who will speak her mind and show her emotions. In 1981, she slapped chat show host Russell Harty across the face, live on air, because he turned his back to interview other guests.
“We're not perfect, we all have things that people might not like to see, and I like to show my faults…”
At 61 years old, she cannot be stopped. Her legs are still gracing runways and photographers run to get in her presence. At 5’10 ½” tall, she has always been a statue of unique beauty. She daringly encouraged cross dressing when it wasn’t popular and single-handedly brought the flat top hair style to the forefront. She has stated that people have believed that she was a man, due to her height and her muscular structure; however, she maintains that her relationships have always been with men. Threesomes, she stated, are fun and said that she loves women.
Grace is a contralto vocalist. Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. In the 70’sm she adopted the emerging New Wave music. In 1979, she secured a record deal and became the muse to Andy Warhol, who photographed her extensively. Known for showing up late for her interviews, she considers herself a night timer, vampire. We know her as an actress, model, singer, fashion trend setter, and a person that personifies originality. At 61 and looking 31, I don’t think she plans to retire any time soon. So, no copycats or paying tribute because she’ll still slap you.
