Be inspired by the women that have come before you, the ones that are laying ground in the present and those yet to come. In 1988 this woman made history with three Olympic Gold Medal wins and broke the World’s Record in the Women’s 100m Dash. Florence Griffith-Joyner aka “Flo Jo” was dubbed the “fastest woman in the world” and although World Records and gold medals support that statement, Flo Jo not only ran fast but her unique sense of style on the track could not be denied. Let’s start with those nails!!! At one point they reached lengths of 6.5″! For the 1984 Olympics in L.A., she maintained a more manageable length of 4″ and painted three red, white and blue and a fourth gold for the medal she had hoped to win in the 200 meter dash . . . she ended in 2nd and with a silver medal. On and off the track she sported wild nail style.  In 1985, after the track season ended, she styled friends’ nails and hair in the evenings to help make ends meet. Flo Jo knows nails.

Now, to my favorite part . . . the “One-Leggers.” Of course Flo Jo’s daring style didn’t start and stop at her finger tips. She brought forth true originality in her running attire. Famous for her one legged body suits, these “one-leggers,” as she called them, were always with the left leg cut off and designed by Flo Jo herself. You could find Flo Jo in head to toe lace, day glo get-ups or hooded running set-ups fit for the future. Truly a style icon and inspiration.

Florence Griffith-Joyner passed away in 1998, ten years after her epic gold medal wins and record breaking run in the 100 meters. We looked to Griffth-Joyner, a woman who undeniably made history, for a source of inspiration for M.I.S.S. March. We styled the nails after her incredible year in 1988: three gold medal wins and her World Record 100 meter time of 10.49 (which she still holds). Although Flo Jo wasn’t sponsored by the likes of Nike (not that we could find), we felt that these track shoes circa 1999 were something that screamed “Flo Jo”! Go for the gold ladies . . . today, tomorrow and always . . . in all ways. “Let Your Dreams Run Free.”

You can download the M.I.S.S. March Calender here and the Desktop here.

Track shoes by Nike (1999) and vintage “one-leggers” from The Goods!, Chanel Gold Friction, Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear in Red Cherry, Sally Hansen Salon Nail Lacquer in Navy Venom and Revlon White on White.

You can download the M.I.S.S. February 2009 Calender here and the Desktop here

You can download the M.I.S.S. January 2009 Calendar here and the Desktop here.

Continue reading to see more of Flo Jo’s wild style!

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The ladies of M.I.S.S. wish you the happiest of holidays!

At M.I.S.S., we love getting nails did and sneaks so we put them together to present M.I.S.S. 2008 – a calendar featuring a “playmate” of the month. Each month we’ll feature ladies’ kicks that we heart along with a killer matching manicure. For January, we present M.I.S.S. January 2008 – British Knights Black Orchid.

Started in 1980 by the Jack Schwartz Inc in New York, BK or British Knights was started as a “fashionable alternative to the major ‘performance’ sportswear brands.” BK positioned it’s self as an “inner city and music driven brand, appealing to the predominantly streetwise young male.” In the early 90’s BK sponsored MC Hammer. They where the first company to make a commercial, which was broadcast on MTV.. Their marketing campaigns included “Get off on the right foot -Get off on BK’s (1990); “U Can’t Touch This” By MC Hammer (1991) and “Choose Change” (1992). It was shortly after, in the early 90’s, that an urban myth claiming that the Crips street gangs rocked the shoes claiming that the BK stood for “Blood Killers”, their rival gang, that started the downfall of the brand. These rumors apparently contributed to the decline in the popularity of the shoe due to the brand being banned at schools and universities. British Knights never recovered from this fall. Today they stand apart of streetwear history and continue to provide nostalgia and design inspiration.

The calendar is available for download here.

The desktop image is available for download here.

Wishing you a great 2008!

Art Direction & Photography: Smoke & Mirrors Creative
Model: Mayra