Yesterday comedic legend and fashion icon Joan Rivers died due to complications during a routine medical procedure. Celebrated for her sharp wit, and candid sensibilities, the Larchmont, New York native was iconic for openly slamming celebrities and for her riveting Red Carpet coverage and commentary, coining the phrase “Who Are You Wearing?”. Rivers began her career in the ‘60s but it wasn’t until 1965 when she appeared on the Johnny Carson show, candidly remarking on childbirth, abortion and feelings of inadequacy that her career skyrocketed into stardom with her controversial daytime talk show The Joan Rivers Show.
In addition to being accredited as one of the longest standing female comedians she had a natural gift for gaud. In the 2010 documentary Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work filmed in her unabashedly Baroque home, she reveled about her adoration for extravagance as she deadpanned: “Marie Antoinette would have lived here if she had money.” Rivers even developed a line of jewelry and accessories for QVC for the past 24 years.
Spanning over a fifty year career Joan Rivers will always be remembered as a legend, elegantly armored to take on any Red Carpet occasion with her razor-sharp sass and unapologetic opulence. Let’s take a look at some of her most memorable moments.