Time.com
People
Jan. 14, 1974
Hollywood Dress Designer Mr. Blackwell, who has made a name for himself more by criticizing than creating clothes, has announced his annual selection of the worst-dressed women of the year. The No. 1 spot for 1973 was captured by the self-avowed last of the truly tacky women, Pop Star Bette Midler, because “she looks like she took potluck in a Laundromat.” Runners-up were such alleged exemplars of basse couture as Princess Anne, Raquel Welch, Tennis Champ Billie Jean King, Jacqueline Onassis (who has been given a lifetime spot on Blackwell’s list), Elke Sommer, Sarah Miles, the Andrews Sisters and Liv Ullmann. Coming in at No. 10 was British Hermaphrodite Rock Singer David Bowie, only the second man in 14 years to make the list (the first: Milton Berle). Explained Blackwell: “Bowie’s a cross between Joan Crawford and Marlene Dietrich doing a glitter revival of New Faces.”