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Duchess of York tops list of 'worst-dressed' women

By ALLEN GREENBERG

LOS ANGELES -- Mr. Blackwell, the self-anointed oracle of fashion, unveiled the world's 10 'worst-dressed' women Wednesday, topping his 1988 roster with the flame-haired duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson.

The clothes designer-critic, who annually lashes out at what he considers poorly dressed women in order to counter their violations of fashion, called the wife of Britian's Prince Andrew a 'milkmaid.'

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'The palace milkmaid strikes again,' Blackwell told a news conference at his Hancock Park home to announce his 29th annual list of the 'worst-dressed' women.

In second place was Imelda Marcos, wife of deposed Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. 'An over-the-hill actress auditioning for Evita,' Blackwell said of Mrs. Marcos.

The chronicler of fashion's offenders, born Richard Sylvan Selzer, initiated his poison-penned worst-dressed list in 1960, although he never broke into the big-time fashion world and has not put out seasonal clothes lines for years.

As he has in the past, Blackwell once again decried the 'lack of direction' in the fashion industry and said those on his list were guilty of appearing too 'careless' about how they look.

'For 1989, be beautiful,' he said in an interview after the news conference. 'For 29 years I have said out loud what everyone else is whispering.

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'Fashion is becoming more and more trashy ... ripped jeans and bobby socks are not the image of the American girl. This is garbage.

'I think the reason why my list has credibility ... is because 99 percent of the people will go in a back room and say, 'You know, he's right.'

'These coutures better wake up.'

The others on the 1988 list, in order, were actress Debra Winger, singer Madonna, Marilyn Quayle, wife of Vice President-elect Dan Quayle; Shirley Temple Black, actresses Lisa Marie Presley and Carrie Hamilton, model Katie Wagner, actresses Jamie Lee Curtis and Jodie Foster and comedian Rosanne Barr. Presley, Hamilton and Wagner tied for seventh place.

'Big, clumsy and ugly,' Blackwell said of Winger's dress style, while Madonna was described as 'helpless ... hopeless and horrendous.'

Mrs. Quayle was characterized as 'a 1940 unemployed librarian,' and of Temple Black, Blackwell said, 'From the good ship Lollipop to the Titanic.'

He called Presley, Hamilton and Wagner a 'trio of fashion terrors,' and said Curtis was a 'pinup for second-hand Sadie's Thrift Shop.'

Blackwell accused Foster of 'flunking fashion' and declared her 'guilty, as charged.' Finally, Barr was said to wear 'fashions by Goodyear (with a) body by Sara Lee.'

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Barbra Streisand, who was not on the list, nonetheless fell victim to Blackwell's wrath for sporting the worst 'hairdo' of 1988, and offered $250 to any hairdresser 'who would dare' attempt to repair it.

As is his custom, Blackwell also took occasion to applaud a number of women for their outstanding fashion selections.

On that list were singer Liza Minelli, actress Jane Seymour, Donald Trump's wife, Ivana Trump, and his sister-in-law, Blaine Trump; President-elect George Bush's wife, Barbara Bush; fashion designer Pauline Tregere, television hosts Barbara Walters and Christina Ferrare, oil and entertainment mogul Marvin Davis' wife, Barbara Davis, and actress Barbara Rush.

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