The Stars Who Wore it Best

	1920s–1930s: Jazz & Harlem Renaissance • Josephine Baker – Known for her lavish style in Paris, often photographed in furs and feathered coats. • Bessie Smith – Blues legend who wore furs on and off stage, reflecting Black women’s early access to luxury as performance icons. • Ethel Waters – Pioneer in Broadway and film; furs were part of her elegant image.
	1940s–1950s: Glamour & Resilience • Lena Horne – Wore fur stoles and capes in both MGM musicals and real life; a civil rights icon and fashion legend. • Dorothy Dandridge – Frequently photographed in fur at Hollywood events; helped redefine femininity on-screen. • Pearl Bailey – Entertainer known for elegant fur wraps and coats in stage appearances.
	1960s: Soul & Civil Rights • Aretha Franklin – Wore mink coats and capes on stage and in portraits—her furs became part of her diva image. • Diahann Carroll – Wore furs in her trailblazing role in Julia and on red carpets. • Diana Ross (early years) – With The Supremes, embraced fur-trimmed coats and glamorous accessories.
	1970s: Disco, Soul, and Style • Diana Ross (solo career) – Iconic for full-length furs on stage, in Mahogany, and at Studio 54. • Donna Summer – Queen of Disco wore fur stoles and coats in performances and editorial spreads. • Pam Grier – Blaxploitation star wore furs in films like Foxy Brown and fashion shoots.
	1980s: Power, Excess, and Pop Culture • Whitney Houston – Wore white mink and fox furs in early press photos and live performances. • Grace Jones – Known for dramatic fur capes, avant-garde fashion, and fierce runway appearances. • Eartha Kitt – Still performing in high style, often wrapped in furs.
	1990s: Hip-Hop, R&B, and New Wealth • Lil’ Kim – Famously wore furs in nearly every music video and red carpet look; mink, chinchilla, fox—always bold. • Naomi Campbell – Supermodel and fur-wearer in top campaigns (Fendi, Dior, Versace). • Missy Elliott – Wore oversized furs in videos like The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly), challenging fashion norms.
	Patti LaBelle and me in the Chinchilla coat I made her. On-stage and off, furs were part of her powerhouse diva look.