We catch up with the Latina Bombshell by Mike Buess. Fabiola of Hollywood established her place in Fashion’s Hall of Fame during the 1950s. Since her heyday, this top model has been something of a recluse. In an exclusive story, we discover how the years have treated her.
This self-professed pin-uppity fashion muse was famous for her glamour and sex appeal. A devotee of the body-con fit decades before it was a thing, as well as the plunging neckline, she was courted by the rich and famous during the 1950s and early 1960s. As ever in the world of fashion, nothing lasts forever. Fabiola’s voluptuous curves were less in demand as the 60s progressed and a more gamine look, as exemplified by Twiggy, moved on to the scene.
Plucked to non-existence, Fabiola’s eyebrows are supplied as self-adhesive stick-ons in five styles ranging from Harlow, through Sultry, to Starlet.
So what happened to the fabulous Fabiola? As the coffers ran dry, the “Boriqua Bombshell” moved back to her home town of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, to stretch out her remaining funds. Far from the high life of Hollywood – not to mention London, Paris, and New York – she earned money where she could. Her modeling career was waning, but not over – thanks to good bone structure and a few surgical interventions.
A shoot from the 1980s led to her re-discovery. As a favor to a local milliner in Mayaguez, she did a gig as a hat model for his store. A cache of vintage show cards from this photo session was unearthed from the back of a drawer in a dusty old shopfitting. These images are published here as a celebration of Fabiola’s later work, years after her Hollywood fame and fortune. Even in these pictures, without the benefit of a team of stylists, and using rudimentary lighting, Fabiola’s star quality shines through. Oh, there’s also a single hairdressing poster from a failed promotion for a local peluquería. Possibly more attention could have been paid to the roots.
Fabiola celebrates St. Patricks Day in great style with a faux straw hat, and her own Paris in Green vintage gown from Cedrick’s of Hollywood. It’s been in storage for years, but if you don’t get too close you’re completely unaware of the fragrance of mothballs.
Oh la la! More Parisian style with a vintage twist. There was a surplus of berets in la sombrerería, especially pink ones – the owner just couldn’t shift them. A little nudge from Fabiola gave the hat a sexy spin, and soon they were flying off the shelves.
A look that’s hard to carry off, even if you haven’t been to Nantucket, kept all your cash in a bucket, and your daughter (called Nan) ran away with a man. Fabiola serves this most uncompromising of bucket hats, and even pulls the whole thing off with a dash of matching lipstick.
Nothing says class like a fur* bikini, just ask Raquel Welch, especially when it’s paired with a pink plastic sun visor. An outfit that’s sure to turn heads on any beach.
*Fake fur, obvs. Fabiola has long been an advocate of animal rights.
A pensive Fabiola goes full-on Pierrot. Now if only she could find a way out of the big glass box …
By good fortune, Fabiola still had a stash of toupée tape from the old days. She’s rocking a red sun hat with heart-shaped cutouts and a pair of sunglasses she found on a rack in the counter. The shades very likely found their way into her bag at the end of the shoot.
A sweet pink boater highlights Fab’s lip color of choice. To prevent a syrupy image, she combines the Harlow Bombshell Eyebrows with a golden star beauty mark, and some carefully-applied pursed lips.
From the industrial supplies department, the perfect chef’s toque. Probably not one to wear at a glamorous party – unless you’re doing the catering. For a bit of sparkle, Fabiola adds another vintage treasure from Cedrick’s of Hollywood, the Corazón Glasses in pink.
That infamous hairdressing poster for La Peluquería de Azucena. Sadly, Srta. Azucena lost a load of customers thanks to her slapdash approach to peroxide. Fabiola, on the other hand, can pull off any hairstyle – roots or not.
BREAKING NEWS
Just discovered: the original negatives for the Hats Shoot, in an old tin can at the back of a storage locker. The contact sheet below shows how the photos must have looked when they were first taken.
The importance of the legendary “Hats Shoot”, as it has come to be known in the world of fashion, cannot be overstated. The publication of these photographs led to a re-discovery of the work and times of Fabiola. More importantly, it introduced the model herself to a new young audience. She is currently enjoying a later-in-life blooming and change of fortunes. The timing is perfect as the emergence of older models makes her bang-on-trend once more. Obviously she has retained her magnificent mane of hair, but now it’s a stunning frosted alabaster. She has even caught up with her old chum Carmen Dell’Orefice – the pair often work together on shoots for the top luxury brands.
A recent shot of Fabiola, still strutting on the catwalks decades after she was discovered as an ingenue in Puerto Rico. The trademark hair is as luxuriant as ever, but is now a stunning silver shade.
To find out more about the fabulous Fabiola, visit her very own website fabiolaofhollywood.com