The bane of Hollywood celebrities, fashion maven – Mr. Blackwell renowned for his annual ‘worst-dressed’ list, died on Monday aged eighty-six. Unwell since August, Richard Blackwell, born Richard Selzer was reportedly in a coma due to a fall in his Los Angeles home.  According to his publicist - Harlan Boll, the former actor and fashion designer died in hospital on Sunday afternoon in hospital from complications from an intestinal infection.

Well-known for his caustic quips, for almost half a century, Mr. Blackwell criticized celebrity fashion disasters in his ‘worst-dressed’ list, much awaited the world over.  Last year, Spice Girl – Victoria Beckham topped the list followed by British soul singer Amy Winehouse – ‘she's part 50’s car-hop horror’, trailed by U.S. actress Mary-Kate Olsen, who ‘resembles a tattered toothpick trapped in a hurricane’.  But, the best of Blackwell quips, includes: Bjork, who he said ‘dances in the dark - and dresses there, too’, while Sharon Stone looks like ‘an over-the-hill Cruella DeVille’.

Unsuccessful as an actor, Blackwell started his own clothing line, but was forced to close it down after 35-years, when glamour took a backseat to mini-skirts and jeans.  As a costume designer for movie stars and musicians, Blackwell worked with famous Hollywood stars, such as, Jayne Mansfield and Jane Russell.  But, the closing down of his fashion business did not deter him from collating his ‘worst dressed list’ and fashion barbs, right till the end.