Judy Blame interviewed for the ICA in 2016 (Photo: YouTube)
Revered fashion stylist, art director and jewelry designer Judy Blame has died. He was 58.
Born Chris Barnes in Leatherhead, Surrey, England, he moved to London at 17 and fell in with the fledgling post-punk and New Romantic scene.
He became friends with the likes of Leigh Bowery and Boy George. He and fellow ‘Blitz kids’ – so named after the club night of the same name – styled and cultivated looks for showing off on London’s club scene.
Judy Blame – magpie with vision
Now re-christened Judy Blame, he began creating his own jewelry from chains and bones collected from the banks of the River Thames. He was soon styling for influential 80s fashion magazines like The Face and i-D.
He also helped shape the image of iconic 80s pop stars such as Nene Cherry, among others. Bjork and Kylie Minogue wore his eclectic pieces of work.
He was the subject of a major career retrospective at the ICA in London in 2016. An interview he gave about his life and career as part of the exhibition can still be viewed on YouTube.
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Judy Blame remembered
Boy George was among the first to express his sadness at Blame’s passing. He said, ‘R.I.P to my friend Judy Blame who was beautiful, talented and arch as hell. Fashion has a huge void in it and London has lost a legend!’
R.I.P to my friend Judy Blame who was beautiful, talented and arch as hell. Fashion has a huge void in it and London has lost a legend! pic.twitter.com/CcgLGiv0SP
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) February 20, 2018
On Instagram, model Erin O’Conner said, ‘RIP @judyblame – You were the real deal and so much more. Thanks for making the World a sharper and funnier place. goodbye prince!’
Edward Enninful, the editor of British Vogue, tweeted, ‘R.I.P. my dear Judy. I will always remember our house on Mortimer Road, fun days at @i_d your kind heart, unparalleled creativity and how you pushed me to be the editor I am today, I will miss you always.’
R.I.P. my dear Judy. I will always remember our house on Mortimer Road, fun days at @i_d your kind heart, unparalleled creativity and how you pushed me to be the editor I am today, I will miss you always xoxo #JudyBlame #legend pic.twitter.com/cAcM503TRu
— Edward Enninful OBE (@Edward_Enninful) February 20, 2018
Designer Jeremy Scott, who collaborated with Blame on a collection for Moschino last year, posted on Instagram: ‘It’s with great sadness that I post this tribute to my friend, a personal hero, and someone who shaped and informed so much my vision of fashion with his style, creativity & genius R.I.P. Judy blame you will be missed but your imprint will endure forever.’
No cause of death has been revealed.
Sad to hear that Judy’s gone. Wickedly funny and prodigiously talented, he had a singular eye and made wonderful visual magic from rubbish and riches alike… You’ll be missed…🖤 #judyblame #tweet https://t.co/i7qfyrxfEQ pic.twitter.com/V0mh0fduJi
— Dick Page (@DickPageFace) February 20, 2018
