Joan Didion is the influential American author and journalist who has written for the New York Times, Vogue and Esquire among others. Her 1968 collection of essays, Slouching Towards Bethlehem, explores her experiences in 1960s California, the epicentre of the counterculture movement that rejected the norms of the previous decade.
But as well as having literary style, Didion had, and still has, serious sartorial style.
She epitomises nonchalant, effortless cool, proving that it’s not always what you wear but how you wear it too. So much so that last January, the French brand Celine photographed her for their Spring/Summer 2015 campaign, which caused practically everyone to hyperventilate.
Shot by Juergen Teller, Joan’s tiny face is obscured by her signature huge ink black sunglasses. She wears a dress and a gold pendant.
Despite being now 80 years old, Joan appears almost child-like. She looks frail but even though we can’t see them, there’s the acute feeling of defiance in her eyes.
The photo encapsulates her legacy both as a writer and as a style icon.
So how could you get Joan’s bohemian style from her early days? The good news is that the 70s look is a huge trend for this autumn and winter, so it will be easy to find items like long jersey dresses and suede skirts.
