Fashion Without Borders: How Outrageous Scarlett Cannon Changed the Concept of Style

Scarlett Cannon is a former model, gardening teacher, journalist and style icon. As a model, she collaborated with some of the greatest artists of her generation, including Judy Blame, Nick Knight and Derek Jarman. She reached the height of her popularity in the 1980s, when London was booming with its underground movements. Now, the former rebel and muse to artists and fashion designers lives in north-east London with her friend Betty, where she tends her garden and occasionally speaks to journalists.

In 1981, 18-year-old Scarlett Cannon ran the Cha Cha Club, a weekly queer party at the back of London's Heaven, the largest gay club in Europe. It was there that she made the first valuable connections that would help her become a well-known and sought-after model.

The Cha Cha Club was a gathering place for artists, directors, musicians and fashion designers associated with London's New Romantic movement. The flamboyant people who hung out in the smoky, hedonistic bar went on to become some of the most influential artists of their time. For example, the flamboyant Boy George, with whom Cannon had a long-standing friendship, was a frequent guest at the party.

Although the club was full of eccentrics, Scarlett stood out for her unique look. She quickly became a New Romantic style icon, with her harsh makeup and shaved head, often adorned with a giant black crucifix, and, of course, her incredible profile. Cannon says now, “I wanted to shock people, shake them up.” She did it well.

She recalls how, having literally pennies, she managed to live in clover and party around the clock in the capital. In the early 80s, London was not like the modern metropolis that we see now. It was an era of calm, when you could not only feed yourself without straining yourself, but also do what you loved. Scarlett says about it this way:

In the 1980s, London became a Mecca for young artists. Education was also affordable, and grants were easily available for art students. This is a completely different story from the mountains of debt that young people are left with today. This is the environment in which Cannon lived and worked, becoming one of the most recognizable girls in London clubs.

Back then, Scarlett couldn't say why she wore the clothes she did or the makeup she did. She recently revealed that she tried to analyze her look and found it funny. Cannon believes that her style has been influenced by countless people, both dead and alive, including Bette Davis, Queen Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare, and even Muhammad Ali.

Fame soon followed. Scarlett Cannon walked in fashion shows for Thierry Mugler and Jean Paul Gaultier, and her photos graced the pages of Vogue and Blitz magazines. Although more than 40 years have passed since then, the former model still maintains contact with the fashion world, and her Scarlett Woman photo exhibitions continue to inspire people in the art world.

Scarlett Cannon is a shining example of how style, courage and outrageousness can make a person an icon of their time. Today, her 80s look continues to inspire designers, photographers and youth subcultures. Do you think there are any modern “new romantics” today – those who also challenge society and change fashion and art? Share your thoughts in the comments!