F. Scott Fitzgerald said there are no second acts in American lives, but Mr. Great Gatsby never got a load of Pam Anderson. (And she’s actually Canadian, so maybe she’s exempt.) The ‘90s TV actress and sex tape scandal survivor has, in the last few years, authored an autobiography, created a documentary about her life and starred in a well-reviewed movie called The Last Showgirl. More importantly for fashion watchers like me, she’s traded her former rock-n-roll Playboy image for chic new style. It’s like the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition suddenly morphed into Vogue—beginning when she caused a sensation by appearing without makeup on the red carpet. Then she starred in print ads for Proenza Schouler and showed up at the Paris couture shows wearing Dior and Jacquemus. Her looks, from elegant dresses on the red carpet to a simple white shirt-and-trousers at a public appearance to a Canadian tuxedo running errands around town, are flattering, a touch edgy and, well, they look really comfy since they’re not the skin-tight outfits she used to wear and that so many women feel they need to show up in.
My New Fashion North Star Is…Pam Anderson?
Malibu meets Paris
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What’s the Key to Pam Anderson’s New Style?
After poring over a few years of her public appearances, here are the elements I’ve identified and adopted myself.
- She Loves a Monochrome Color Edit: She’s all about white-on-white, black, grey and navy separates, worn together. They make her look willowy and elegant.
- She’s an Accessories Minimalist: Anderson’s wearing matching black shoes and a clutch bag, say, but no big jeweled collar or statement earrings. That allows her to really pull focus to her great face and figure, without sharing the spotlight with a massive gemstone.
- She Likes a Slouchy Fit: Usually, stylists dictate that a woman with a big bust like Anderson should concentrate on a snug waist or fitted pants, so that they’re not looking like a giant undefined blob in a sack dress. Instead, Anderson lets the flow of a loose shirt hem or a peek of leg in a short skirt accentuate her figure—she doesn’t need to be performing sexy bodycon.
7 Recent Pam Anderson ‘Fits I’m Copying
1. White Shirt + Dress Pants
High waisted dress pants and a button-front shirt is a look that’s so simple, it’s natural that we all forget to wear it. But when Anderson puts it on—tailored perfectly for her 5’7” frame—along with a simple string of pears and strappy high heels, the effect is perfection.
2. Grey Pantsuit with Statement Veil
Anderson is wearing Dior to an haute couture fashion show, and the combination of charcoal hue, belted suit and subtle veil? No notes.
3. Silk Pajamas for Day
Matching silky separates look effortlessly sexy, especially when worn with a closed-toe high heel to signal that this is going-out time, not bing-tucked-in time.
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4. Statement White Blouse
Pam Anderson attended the Chanel haute couture show in a white top that is…ahem…pleated, ruffled and ornamented with small silk petals. The monochrome palette keeps it classy, while all the ornamentation frames her face.
5. Denim on Denim, But Make It Sexy
Since Anderson is a native of British Columbia, it makes sense that she has a flair for a Canadian tuxedo. Last year, she collaborated with Re/Done in designing a capsule collection of denim, which she wore in a master class on casual.
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6. White-on-White and Black Accessories
As a guest of Jacquemas, the Paris-based label known for its outré designs with a sense of humor, Anderson donned a full midi skirt and button-up oversized oxford in white, her signature color, accented with a black clutch and black slingbacks. Dark accessories with a light-hued fit is just a twist of the unexpected, and the star still looks classy and dignified.
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7. Off-Shoulder Dressing
Bared shoulders is a contemporary trend that Anderson wears well on the red carpet. She donned this matte black number at the Academy Museum Gala, wowed in a bare-shoulder Met Gala appearance and has worn shiny white satin sheaths off-shoulder this awards season.
