Anita Pallenberg, simply a muse of The Rolling Stones? Absolutely not. She was so much more. Not only a model and actress, she is considered the godmother of boho style. She was the “It” girl of a generation. Her eclectic style has influenced countless designers, artists and musicians and lives on decade after decade. If you don’t know who Anita Pallenberg is, you’ll quickly see the incredible influence her style has had on bohemian dress so prevalent today. In this post I’ll break down my interpretation of her style and round up Pallenberg influenced pieces to pull this look together!
This week I’ve gone down the Anita Pallenberg rabbit hole and I quite like it here. I had heard the name Anita Pallenberg and knew she was connected to The Rolling Stones but I didn’t know just how inspiringly stylish she was. I’ve watched her movies and poured over photos and videos. I also watched Catching Fire, a documentary made about Anita when an unpublished autobiography was found after her death. It’s quite good and on Hulu. I’ve even made a playlist. You can find that below. Have I told you I love my “Steal the Look” series?
Who is Anita Pallenberg?
Anita Pallenberg was a German-Italian model and actress. A self proclaimed “wild child” of a classical musician, she dropped out of German boarding school at the age of 16. From an early age it was clear Anita was the “It” girl everywhere she went. From the Dolce Vita crowd in Rome to the Andy Warhol Factory in New York City, Anita was in the middle of what ever was hip at the time.
In 1965 she went to a Rolling Stones concert in Munich, Germany and became the girlfriend of Rolling Stone’s founder and guitarist, Brian Jones. Once the relationship began to take a violent turn, Keith Richards stepped in and Anita and Keith became an item. During their 13 year relationship, they had 3 children together all though the youngest died at 10 weeks old. Eventually heroin took over and her life took a dark turn for over a decade. However, in the early 90s she got a degree in textiles at Saint Martins College in London and became an influential part of the fashion scene once again.
Anita inspired some of The Rolling Stones most popular songs like, You Can’t Always Get What You Want, Gimme Shelter and Angie. She was a model and actress most notably in the film Barbarella. She also stared in Performance with Mick Jagger, Candy, Dillinger is Dead and The Great Tyrant.
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Anita Pallenberg’s Style:
When asked what her style was she said, “Boots, belts, cashmere, hats, sunglasses, furs as well.” Anita could be seen wearing pirate shirts, feather boas, furs and brocade boots. It was all about texture. She also threw in a heavy dose of global influence. Her androgynous style could not only be seen in her dress but also on her then partner, Keith Richards as well as Mick Jagger.
Keith Richards has said that while he was praised for his style, it was Anita who would often tell him what to wear. Longtime friend, Marianne Faithful also credits Pallenberg for her style during the time they both were with The Rolling Stones.
Keith Richards candidly said, “I was considered for a while, like, the best-dressed man in the world. It was because I was wearing Anita’s clothes.”
Anita is known for her incredibly creative interpretation of boho chic. In fact, she may be the origin of the bohemian style as we know it. She had a way of looking edgy, eclectic and rich all at the same time.
Anita’s Bohemian rock fashion will live on inevitably. There is a uniqueness to it. You can tell there is soul and spirit fueling her fashion choices. It’s not about designer pieces and it certainly isn’t about style rules. Anita was a free spirit, a rebel and therefore a trailblazer.
Anita Pallenberg Style Staples:
- Low slung wide belts
- Furs
- Floppy hats
- Men’s suits
- Mini skirts
- Pirate shirts
- Feather boas
- Statement earrings
- Leopard print
Two things that stand out for me while musing over these pictures of Anita are her furs and her low slung hip belt. They are present in just about every picture I found. I love the jewelry, especially the round amethyst ring she is always seen wearing. Notably, she also wears a gold snake choker that wraps around her neck as well as a Tibetan tooth and glass Shaman necklace.
I also noticed mini skirts and shorts worn with patterned tights and mid-calf boots. Anita was big on different textures and her overall look was full of deep hues layered with fur, silk, snakeskin, leather and velvet. She was also photographed wearing suits. Anita definitely blurred the line between male and female. She absolutely threw out all norms and rules and in my opinion, that is what fashion should be.
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- Faux Fur Shaggy Coat
- Free People Sweet Dreams Top
- Full Length Faux Fur Coat
- Chiffon Ruffle Blouse
- Free People Green and Gold Mini Skirt
- Wide Brim Panama Hat
- Black Onyx and White Topaz Gold Ring
- Brown Floppy Hat
- Faux Suede Slouchy Mid Calf Boot
- Amethyst Ring
- Black Jade and Sky Blue Topaz Ring
- Silver Tibetan Bangle
- Coin Necklace
- Free People Black Hip Belt
- Free People Quilted Skirt
- Silk and Lace Slip Dress
- Hoop Earrings
- Brown Suede Belt
- Black Mini Dress
- Patterned Tights
SHOP THE POST:
Anita passed in the summer of 2017. She had 2 adult children and several grand children. In her later years she took up gardening and painting botanicals. She was able to kick drugs and alcohol for good and from what is written, I believe she was at peace with Keith Richards. Anita Pallenberg’s style will live on. In Catching Fire, it was said her joie de vivre and life force was contagious. She was so much more than an accessory of a legendary rock band, she was a rebel, a free spirit and a telling glimpse into a fleeting generation.
xx, Jenni
