Fashion
Critic Mr. Blackwell Dead at 86

Acid-tongued fashion critic Mr. Blackwell, whose annual worst-dressed list was the thorn in the side of Hollywood celebrities from Meryl Streep to Britney Spears, passed away over the weekend. He was 86.

Blackwell died of an intestinal infection Sunday at Los Angeles's Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, his publicist Harlan Boll confirmed to the Associated Press Monday. He is survived by his partner of more than 60 years, Robert Spencer.

Considered to be the first of the fashion critics, Blackwell began his career as a little-known dress designer before issuing his first scathing critique of Hollywood stars in 1960.

An Associated Press collection of some of his most famous quotes finds him skewering everyone from princess of pop Spears to esteemed actress Streep to 1960s teen icon Ann-Margret.

Of Spears, he wrote, "Her bra-topped collection of Madonna reject are pure fashion overkill." He suggested that Sharon Stone looked like "an over-the-hill Cruella DeVille."

In recent years appearing on Blackwell's worst-dressed list seemed to become a goal for certain celebs. Despite never holding back with his fashion critiques, Blackwell admitted it was a double-edged sword. He told a Los Angeles Times interviewer that most of the women he put through the wringer were people he genuinely admired.

"The list is and was a satirical look at the fashion flops of the year," he said in 1998. "I merely said out loud what others were whispering. ... It's not my intention to hurt the feelings of these people. It's to put down the clothing they're wearing."

But his history of fashion don'ts isn't without a few surprises. Diana, Princess of Wales, topped the list in 1982. Blackwell sued Johnny Carson in the early '90s for suggesting he'd added Mother Teresa to his list of worst-dressed celebs. Blackwell said the comment had exposed him to hatred and ridicule.

Blackwell was hospitalized back in August, according to the Associated Press. At that time he had been in and out of consciousness. (The Advocate)