Vintage Vamp: Pat Cleveland

Watching today's slack-jawed, deadly serious models clomp down the runway, we're always hit with a flood of nostalgia for the twirling, whirling godmama of all fierce walkers, '70s supermodel and adventuress, Pat Cleveland. In 1967, the future Catwalk Queen was stopped by a Vogue editor while en route to Manhattan's LaGuardia Performing Arts School--and three years later, she was living in Paris and setting the fashion world ablaze. The black/Cherokee/Irish stunner danced all night at La Palace, inspired the likes of Halston, Steven Burrows and Yves Saint Laurent, and set the standard for runway walking with her ethereal dance-prance. Legendary strut aside, Cleveland signature feature was her glorious, free-flowing halo of hair (she's referred to her mane as her "flying carpet"). Get Pat Cleveland's chic strands with this collection of curly girl products. Click here for more Vintage Vamp stories.

Pat 40 Jpg

By Tia Williams · Updated October 29, 2020

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Watching today’s slack-jawed, deadly serious models clomp down the runway, we’re always hit with a flood of nostalgia for the twirling, whirling godmama of all fierce walkers, ’70s supermodel and adventuress, Pat Cleveland. In 1967, the future Catwalk Queen was stopped by a Vogue editor while en route to Manhattan’s LaGuardia Performing Arts School–and three years later, she was living in Paris and setting the fashion world ablaze. The black/Cherokee/Irish stunner danced all night at La Palace, inspired the likes of Halston, Steven Burrows and Yves Saint Laurent, and set the standard for runway walking with her ethereal dance-prance. Legendary strut aside, Cleveland signature feature was her glorious, free-flowing halo of hair (she’s referred to her mane as her “flying carpet”).

Get Pat Cleveland’s chic strands with this collection of curly girl products.

Click here for more Vintage Vamp stories.