Sultan of sartorial sass passes: "Mr. Blackwell" is dead.

"Mr. Blackwell" -- the man who launched a thousand bitchy fashion critics -- died Sunday. I can't help but wonder what you wear to his funeral? After all, Blackwell, who also designed dresses during the '60s and '70s, was known for his serrated critiques and "worst dressed" lists. He started penning the roster in 1960, and everyone from Sophia Loren to Jackie Onassis to Glenn Close got named at some point.

He said Lindsay Lohan went "from adorable to deplorable." Madonna was deemed, "The Bare-Bottomed Bore of Babylon." For a fascinating look at his life and perhaps the failures that prompted him to deride the red carpet, check out this obit from the L.A. Times.  Did you know that Mr. Blackwell started off as a child actor? Or that he modeled for "True Detective" magazine and posed as a crazed rapist for one spread?

What strikes me most is the fact that he ruined the red carpet by dismissing originality. Everyone blames stylists for making actresses wear staid, safe bets to awards shows. And, of course, many of the stylists and stars are now contractually bound to certain designers and reap big bucks for their loyalty. But it's the countless, snarky and often unqualified fashion critics -- from Joan Rivers to Us Weekly's fashion police -- who make the red carpet a blood-soaked runway.

-- Monica Corcoran

Photo credit: Getty Images

Comments

[Fred Self]

I wonder if someone with such a speck in his own eye can make it to heaven?