StyleSpy with Katrina Szish

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June 25, 2008

An Ode to Big Bird

I was saddened to read about the death of Kermit Love, 91, the man who created the legendary Big Bird costume.  Jim Henson made the original character sketches in the late 60's, but it was Love who brought the 8-foot, 2-inch fellow to life.

Kermit Love and Big Bird

I will pause here to answer the question I know you're all asking:
"Is Kermit (the Frog) named after Kermit (Love)?!"

According to an Associated Press obituary, the answer is no.   Apparently an uncanny coincidence.

I grew up a "Sesame Street" kid, and I always considered Big Bird my best friend.  Sure Cookie Monster and I share a passion, Burt and Ernie do 70's-chic better than any Brooklyn hipster, and Oscar can trash-talk with the best of them, but Big Bird was different.  Somehow more human.  Maybe even a little bit sad...

Those doleful eyes, that soft-looking beak; the yellow feathers that flutter behind him like butterflies.  The quirky, baby-bird-just-woke-up-from-a-nap plumage atop his fluffy head.  Striped pink and orange legs that not even Wolford could successfully recreate as hosiery.  And those hands!   Mitten-like "claws" that always seemed to be gently grasping for something...

Thank you, Kermit Love, for creating someone we can all look up to.



If you ask me, it's also a bit of a coincidence that after years of being out of favor, or only acceptable in small doses, the hottest color this season is...bright yellow. 

In celebration of Big Bird yellow, I tracked down a few bright spots:

Kate Spade clutchKate Spade clutch

J. Crew dress J. Crew dress

Marc Jacobs flatsMarc Jacobs flats

Pringle of Scotland top Pringle of Scotland top

 

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There's at least one church denomination which ripped off Big Bird in the early 80s. It paraded a look-alike around in entertainment videos, called "Big Beak" -- preaching the Ten Commandments as it went.

Still -- how ironic that this man's name was Kermit!

Posted by: Superhair | July 23, 2008

WOW! They call it Mellow Yellow. Quite rightly; as Donovan sang many years ago. How do you manage to give a wonderful tribute while at the same time giving an intuitive fashion statement? Again, a fantastic experience on a fantastic blog! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Posted by: white fang | June 29, 2008

I truly appreciated your meaningful tribute to KERMIT LOVE. He is shorter in stature than the yellow bird he immortalized (great photo), but KERMIT IS A GIANT!

In keeping with his own last name, Kermit brought the world a sunny-yellow character "to love." But his own snowy-white beard brings to mind his-likness to Santa......an "eternal giver" to children of all ages!


Posted by: Sadie Lady | June 29, 2008

I am a new viewer of your blog. So many friends of mine have been bloviating about your intellectual slant on today's fashion. All I can say is "thank you for friends". How wonderful of you to bring our attention to the passing of a quiet giant, Kermit Love. His costume design of Big Bird created a loving persona that will live on forever. Thank you for this wonderful tribute. I will be a daily viewer of this fantastic site!

Posted by: Popsicle | June 29, 2008

You have nailed a trend thats all over the streets of NYC right now. In the past 24 hours since reading this post I have see the following:
yellow dress--satin marigold color walking down the street last night enjoying the summer air
yellow dress--cotton dandelion color on a bicycle riding to open up shop in my neighborhood
yellow dress--patterned with large buttercup floral pattern on hangar in drycleaner's near my apartment

so thats 3 and that makes it a trend. way to spy it first

Posted by: big bird | June 26, 2008

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