Rebecca Ramsey, the stylist of Pamela Anderson, is well aware that many individuals aspire to emulate the iconic actress. During a phone interview from Los Angeles, Ramsey excitedly exclaims upon seeing a passerby in a large fluffy hat, exclaiming that it is “so Pam!” Ramsey also points out that during the New York debut of Anderson's documentary, Pamela, A Love Story, she witnessed a woman sporting a large pink hat while carrying a hat box, which was a direct homage to Anderson's famous 1999 VMAs look.
The desire among younger generations to adopt the fashion trends of the 90s can be traced back to Anderson, as she pioneered a specific kind of 90s throwback dressing that is both serious and playful, somewhere between the elegance of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and the kitschness of the Spice Girls. This style can range from a white crop top paired with light-washed denim cutoffs to a neutral-colored slinky slip dress paired with sharp kitten heels. Anderson's style is alluring yet uncomplicated, making it appear easy to achieve, which unfortunately led to people feeling entitled to her for many years.
Ramsey and I can't help but rave about Anderson's 90s looks, including the iconic pink feathered hat she wore in 1999 with sequined pants and a white corset, her black leather bustier and mesh opera gloves from the 1995 Cannes Film Festival, and her wide-brim hat and sheer dress from the 1997 American Music Awards. Anderson's ability to create sultry looks that are both seductive and unique without being overly serious is what many people aspire to do now, often by imitating her 90s wardrobe using fast fashion dupes.
Ramsey expresses her admiration for Anderson, acknowledging the debt of gratitude owed to her for the fashion trends she popularized in the 90s. However, she also highlights the downside of that era, particularly the way women were treated in the media. Anderson's journey began in Ladysmith, Canada, where she was discovered at a BC Lions football game wearing a Labatt's beer T-shirt.
From there, she became the spokesmodel for the brewery before making her way to Los Angeles to shoot for Playboy's October 1989 issue, leading to more modeling and eventually becoming a Playmate. The magazine was essentially Anderson's agent and was the one to receive the call that led to her audition for the hit show Baywatch, which skyrocketed her to international fame.
Anderson was highly sought-after at the time, but no one more so than Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, who met up with her in Cancun in 1995 after hearing that she would be there for a photo shoot.
The two were married on the beach a few days later, with Anderson famously wearing a white string bikini. Unfortunately, later that year, a stolen homemade sex tape of the couple went viral, causing her career to suffer. Anderson became a target of ridicule on talk shows, with male hosts feeling entitled to ask her invasive questions about her body. The pain of this experience was reignited in 2022 with the release of Hulu's miniseries Pam and Tommy, a show that profited off her stolen intimacy and that Anderson has refused to watch.
So what does it feel like to be the stylist responsible for dressing one of the most iconic sex symbols of all time for the press tour of her documentary and book, projects that Anderson is using to take control of the narrative about her life? According to Ramsey, the stakes were incredibly high.
Ramsey and Anderson crossed paths just a few months ago while working on a shoot. Ramsey was thrilled at the opportunity to meet Anderson, describing her as an icon in pop culture and fashion. She accepted the job not only because it was an exciting prospect but also because she felt it was a chance to support Anderson's real self and the glamour of the red carpet.
Contrary to popular belief, Anderson's interest in fashion goes beyond mere clothes. Her most memorable outfits are ingrained in the memories of those who have seen them because she truly enjoys experimenting with fashion. There is an undeniable energy to her looks, a vibe that cannot be replicated.
According to Ramsey, Anderson has excellent taste in fashion, adoring designers such as The Row and Brunello Cucinelli. Anderson also has a penchant for luxury and comfort, as well as a close personal friendship with Vivienne Westwood, having modeled for the designer's shows and campaigns. On Vivienne Westwood's YouTube page, there is a video of the duo in Hydra, Greece, discussing activism and laughing heartily.
For The Howard Stern Show, Anderson wore a vintage Alaïa dress, which Ramsey describes as “sweet.” Ramsey was thrilled to be able to showcase fashion on a show like The Howard Stern Show. Another standout outfit was the houndstooth Yohji Yamamoto skirt suit, paired with a 2009 Alexander McQueen blouse and leather gloves, for the New York press event.
Anderson looked bookish and Edwardian but with a punk twist. The looks were not as revealing as her 90s outfits, but they exuded sexiness while also highlighting Anderson's poised and elegant demeanor. Ramsey noted that the vintage Yohji Yamamoto skirt suit was initially met with some hesitation from Anderson, but ultimately, it became one of her favorite looks.
Anderson’s fashion choices are a testament to her electric elegance, even in non-vintage pieces. For instance, she wore an all-beige Magda Butrym outfit consisting of a tie-neck blouse paired with tapered cream pants and a trench coat draped over her shoulders, as well as a white Alexander McQueen cowl-neck slip dress that is part of the brand's archives, which she paired with a striped Sergio Hudson coat that mimicked the marquee of the Paris Theater in New York City.
While some may believe that Anderson's fashion choices are an attempt to shift away from her past as a sex symbol, she has made it clear that she is not trying to change people's perceptions of her. As she says in her documentary and in numerous interviews, “I'm not a damsel in distress.” Anderson's fashion choices are not about redemption, but about control. She has always had an eye for style and her outfits have always had an undeniable flair.
Designers recognize this and have made Anderson a muse. Simon Porte Jacquemus cast her to star in the Jacquemus Christmas campaign, while Donatella Versace had her sit front row at her fall 2023 show in Los Angeles in a sequined feather cape, and Marco Falcioni had her open the Hugo Boss show in Miami. Despite everything she's been through, Anderson is a symbol of confidence and embodies the essence of what clothing should do for a person. Her aplomb is the kind of quality that designers strive to instill into their clothing.
Anderson has always hoped to be known for something other than her body, as she states in Pamela, A Love Story. Now, at the age of 55, Anderson has finally been recognized for her unique fashion sense and the style that she has always embodied. From her famous big hats and tiny baby tees to the exceptional archival dresses she now wears, Anderson proves that nothing is sexier than a woman who knows who she is and stays true to herself.
