For anyone for whom clothes and make up have gone on to play a big part in their lives there is usually a second when a style switch is flicked. A eureka moment when you no longer want to look the same as everybody else and decide to carve out your own identity.
For me the sudden desire to look a very specific way started at the age of ten, the first time I saw the character Rachel in Ridley Scott's sci fi detective film Blade runner.
![]() |
Rachel wearing an amazing fur coat as she saves Deckard from the replicant Leon |
My parents (an artist and a fashion designer) were obsessed by this film and as soon as it was available to rent we owned a copy. I must have watched it hundreds of times, always with an eye on the amazing outfits worn by the tragic "more human than human" replicent Rachel.
From the moment I watched Rachel sashay into the Tyrell Corporations office to meet handsome rumpled detective Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford in probably his best role) wearing a beige and grey silk and gold threaded two-piece couture suit and with her hair in victory rolls I was transfixed.
![]() |
The most perfect red lips |
Marvin Westmore who worked as the make up artist on the film said Sean Young's lips were the "best red lips he had ever worked on" who could disagree. And its not just the lips. From the subtle smudge of black under Rachels mournful eyes to the alabaster of her complextion-the make up is perfection.
![]() |
1940's tailoring with a futuristic twist |
![]() |
the queen of the shoulder pad Joan Crawford |
![]() |
Mildred Pierce-The silhouette |
Blade Runners costume designers Micheal Kaplan and Charles Knode worked relentlessly to perfect Rachel's look and the pieces have deservedly become collectors items. The film influenced the "Power Suit" of the eighties and shoulder pads were big news for quite a while.
![]() |
Charles Knodes sketches for the film |
![]() |
The costumes which went under the hammer at Bonhams |
My favourite outfit in the film is a coat Rachel wears when she goes to Deckard's apartment after learning that she too is a replicant. It is simply the most beautiful coat I have ever seen and I have spent much of my adult life searching for something similar. Made of blue silk brocade it features a fur trimmed stand up collar and huge bat wing style fur sleeves it is just wonderful.
![]() |
The most beautiful coat in the world |
It was recently sold at Christy's to a fan who even got a photo of himself and the actress Sean Young wearing it. I was delighted that someone else who loved it almost as much as me owned it but I wont lie I also wanted to rip it off his back.
Get The Rachel Look-Plus Size Stylee Of Course
![]() |
Check out my Plus size Teeshirt Range at Nicky Rockets where my Betty Pamper Tee is available in sizes Small-5XL
Only £15,designed and made in the UK my tee shirts are a celebration of the power of the curvy woman.Available in sizes small-5XL in a range of cuts and styles Shop here
All content (text, photos and other) are the property of Betty Pamper (aka Perelandra Beedles) unless otherwise stated. Please refrain from copying any material without recognition of the author and a link to the source on this blog