TGIF POU!
Today’s feature is one helluva movie waiting to happen!
Ola Hudson
The late, and simply fabulous, Ola Hudson remained relatively unknown to the wider public but the brilliant designer and bona fide creative mind was behind some of the wildest and most fierce stage outfits for the 70s biggest music stars.
Born Ola Oliver in 1946, as a young adult her vibrant energy manifested itself through dance. Mrs. Hudson studied with the Lester Horton School of Modern Dance and with Bella Lewitzsky and Linda Gold in Los Angeles. Her talent and ambition landed her in the prestigious Institute of Dance in Paris, Switzerland’s Le Loft, and The Max Rivers School in London. It was here where she settled down for a spell, marrying fellow free-spirit Anthony Hudson. Hudson was one of the lucky ones. During a time when album covers were true works of art, his was displayed on many including that of Joni Mitchell, David Bowie & Neil Young. In July of 1965, the pair welcomed their first child into the world. They named him Saul Hudson, the rest of the world calls him Slash.
Not much is publicized about Ola’s return to LA in the late 60s, but all signs point to a turbulent marriage to her alcohol addicted spouse and a desire to embark on a career as a costume designer. Mrs.Hudson wasted no time in making a name for herself as a premiere costumier to the stars. Her lengthy clientele list included Diana Ross, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, the Pointer Sisters, Stevie Wonder and David Bowie.
As a matter of fact, Ola Hudson designed the suits worn by Bowie in the 1976 film, The Man Who Fell To Earth.
A collection of her work designed for the British pop star is on permanent display at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. On an amusing tip, the two dated for a time, which resulted in a young Slash catching them in a compromising position on one occasion. Slash revealed the shocking incident to Australian radio station Triple M:
My mum started working with David professionally at first. I’m pretty sure that’s how it started. Then it turned into some sort of mysterious romance that went on for a while after that. She did his wardrobe for his whole Thin White Duke period and The Man Who Fell To Earth movie that he did. She did all that and he was around for a while. He was always over -– they were always together. I caught them naked once. They had a lot of stuff going on, but my perspective was limited. Looking back on it, I know exactly what was going on. When I look back on that whole combination of people, I can only imagine how freaky it was.
Mrs. Hudson was a major player in the industry, designing fashion collections for Henri Bendels in New York, Fred Segals and Max Field Blu in Los Angeles, Right Bank Clothing in Beverly Hills, Neiman Marcus and was the creator of Skitzo, an authentic boutique situated on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip.
In 1972, The Hudson’s welcomed a second son into the world, Albion. The pair raised their boys in the “neo-hippie environs” of Laurel Canyon. Although Ola & Anthony’s marriage endured, it was filled with periods of separation, which naturally had an impact on their two boys. She always insisted that despite it all, their unit was a loving one. On her eldest, Slash, she told Rolling Stones, “He was drawing from the time he could pick up a pencil,” adding that he was weaned on her Led Zeppelin albums and raised in a very loving household. “I’ve been shocked at a lot of things I’ve read where it sounds like I left him on somebody’s doorstep in a basket. They make it seem as if he never had a family and grew up on the streets like an urchin, but that’s not true. It’s just part of his image. He’s not all leather and tattoos.” Slash credits his mother for his success by nurturing his creative energy and providing the future rocker with his first guitar.
In her later years Ola continued to perform original poetry, song & dance and honed her skills as a visual designer and photographer. Her most recent work titled I Stand, was published in Voices Magazine, as well as a piece called Testimony – inspired by the tragedy in New Orleans. Her photography has been featured in Fred Segal, West Hollywood. Mrs. Hudson was a dedicated member of the Board of Directors at Westside Regional Center for the Handicapped. And recently, was nominated by Santa Monica College as a Distinguished Alumni for Creative Consultation, Choreography and Costume Design for the College.
After a long battle with cancer, Mrs. Hudson passed in 2009 at the age of 62. A life cut too short, it was inspiring, bold, fabulous and full of adventure. Speaking of his mom, Slash once said, “She turned me onto all different forms of art and the importance of artistic self-expression and creative communication thru music and dance from as early on as I can remember.”