Singer Shirley Bassey at London Airport before flying out to Rome for a television appearance. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
Just so you know: This post is 100% outfit wish fulfillment (although if you don't like fur, you should know that you and Dame Shirley disagree) and also total travel porn because she gets to go EVERYWHERE in high style. Here, she and her adorable outfit are going to Rome.
1961
Laden with furs and magazines for the journey, singer Shirley Bassey has her hands full. But her husband, film director Kenneth Hume, is there to manipulate a pin before she boards a BOAC liner at London Airport for New York to fulfil a five week's cabaret engagement. Kenneth Hume was seeing her off. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
Informative Caption was great here: "Laden with furs and magazines for the journey, singer Shirley Bassey has her hands full. But her husband, film director Kenneth Hume, is there to manipulate a pin before she boards a BOAC liner at London Airport for New York to fulfil a five week's cabaret engagement. " You could absolutely carry that handbag today.
1962
Last night's upset apparently forgotten, singer Shirley Bassey is evidently pleased with her choice of literature at the London Airport bookstall. She was flying to New York to fulfill a four weeks cabaret engagement. At the Savoy Hotel last night, Shirley left the stage very upset after complaining to her audience during a party celebrating the tenth anniversary of the London run of the play, The Mousetrap'. Shirley was appearing in the cabaret at the party and during her act said to the audience 'It is like an auction room at the back'. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
(a) I love that hat box, and (b) how DO you live with a calculating cat?
1962
(Original Caption) Parting Song. singer Shirley Bassey, 25, poses on arrival at Idlewild Airport for engagement at Hotel Plaza Persian Room. She said there was no chance for reconciliation with estranged manager-husband, Kenneth Hume, 31.
First of all, this shot is so great that I want to print it and frame it and hang it in my home. (Yes, this is the same outfit as the previous slide; she's arrived at her location in New York.) Second, whoever was writing Informative Caption in 1962 was a poet: "Parting Song. [Welsh] singer Shirley Bassey, 25, poses on arrival at Idlewild Airport for engagement at Hotel Plaza Persian Room. She said there was no chance for reconciliation with estranged manager-husband, Kenneth Hume, 31." Parting song indeed!
1962
Singing personality Shirley Bassey wore a gay rose decorated straw bowler when she flew out to Rome by BEA airliner from London Airport (Heathrow) today (Thursday). On arrival in Rome she is to appear on Italian television. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
This suit is very smart.
1963
With a shout of laughter, singer Shirley Bassey spots a friend as she arrives with Australian singer Frank Ifield at London Airport. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
That quilted Chanel bag is sincerely timeless. I'd also like an instructional video to explain how to do a scarf on my head like this.
1963
Welsh singer Shirley Bassey pictured boarding a British European Airways plane at London airport on 6th May 1963. (Photo by Dove/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Here's a look at this ensemble without all her reading material getting in the way.
1964
Singer Shirley Bassey flew to Beirut today for Cabaret appearances and denied that she would see actor Peter Finch in TelAviv during her sis days in the Middle East, 9th October 1964. (Photo by Victor Crawshaw/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)
Shirley! Your taste in handbags is divine. Here, she's off to Beirut, and apparently she "denied that she would see actor Peter Finch in TelAviv during her six days in the Middle East." She and Finch DID have an affair though. Per her Wikipedia, "Bassey then announced to the press that she and Finch would not be marrying, telling the press: 'It simply wouldn't work out. Just now I am not ready for marriage to anyone. I feel I have to be free.'" YES BE FREE WITH YOUR HANDBAGS!
1965
Sylvie Vartan, France's Queen of Pop, and her husband, singer Johnny Hallyday talk with Britain's Shirley Bassey (r) at the London Palladium, where they were taking part in rehearsals for the Royal Variety Performance. Sylvie, Little Miss Ye-Ye to her fans, was married to Johnny seven months ago. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
Whoops, this is technically not at the airport -- she's sitting with Sylvie Vartan and Johnny Hallyday at the London Palladium (they were all in the Royal Variety show that year). I just could not resist this COAT.
1967
Shirley Bassey grins for the photographers as she leaves Heathrow Airport in London, in a black and white check coat trimmed with fur to match her fur coat. The singer was off to Beirut for a holiday. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
Nor can I resist THIS CAPE!
1966
Welsh singer Shirley Bassey stepping off a plane at London Airport after returning home from Las Vegas. With her are her mascot dolls. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
You could totally wear this jumpsuit now. (She's coming home from Vegas.)
1966
Shirley Bassey arrived at London Airport from Nice with her two children, Sharon, aged 11 and Samantha, 2 1/2. She has had a holiday in the South of France and also appeared for Prince Rainier and Princess Grace during her visit, 26th August 1966. (Photo by Victor Crawshaw/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)
This is dishy! (They're returning from Nice.)
1966
Welsh singer Shirley Bassey at London Airport with her daughters Sharon (centre) and Samantha, August 1966. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
This whole sunglass/headscarf situation really works. (Those little girls are her daughters Sharon and Samantha.)
1967
Welsh singer Shirley Bassey poses with her 12-year-old daughter Sharon, August 1967. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
This coat is a dream.
1967
Welsh singer Shirley Bassey at Heathrow Airport with daughter Sharon (12) before boarding a flight to Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
Shirley is delighted to be heading off to Stockholm, and Sharon seems very amused by her mother.
1967
Welsh singer Shirley Bassey with her husband, English director Kenneth Hume, arriving at Heathrow Airport, London, UK, 17th April 1967. (Photo by Dove/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
She and Kenneth Hume were divorced by this point but they seem quite congenial in this photo. In looking him up, I discovered that he is just a few months away from dying of a drug overdose. (The internet seems torn on whether or not this was intentional.)
1970
Welsh singer Shirley Bassey in London after two years abroad, UK, 5th April 1970. (Photo by Larry Ellis/Daily Express/Getty Images)
I appreciate everything about this.
1970
Welsh singer Shirley Bassey wearing a red squirrel coat and hat with reptile pants at Heathrow Airport. She had just flown in from Milan and is about to begin a British tour at the Royal Festival Hall, London. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
Informative Caption clarifies that this is "a red squirrel coat and hat with reptile pants," as Dame Shirley returns from Milan. Arrive home with a splash, if you have to come back from Milan!
1972
Shimmering shawl for singer Shirley Bassey, who with her husband, Sergio Novak, is leaving for a holiday at their Sardinian Villa. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
Informative Caption opines that it is a "shimmering shawl for singer Shirley Bassey, who with her husband, Sergio Novak, is leaving for a holiday at their Sardinian Villa." Ugh, why am I not leaving for a holiday at a Sardinian Villa in a shimmering shawl? Not to mention those sunglasses.
1975
Welsh singer Shirley Bassey arrives at Heathrow Airport, London, December 1975. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)
I told you Dame Shirley loved a fur coat.
1976
Singer Shirley Bassey arrives at London Airport from Switzerland. She is over here for a British tour, 24th April 1976. (Photo by Dennis Stone/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)
This is a very good hat on her. (She's arriving from Switzerland. Dame Shirley must have a lot of frequent flyer miles.)
1981
Singer Shirley Bassey walks to her Los Angeles flight at Heathrow Airport with a new mystery boyfriend known only as Mr Lannstrom. She said: 'He is my gentleman friend, but we have no plans to marry. I've got to get a divorce first. I'm not saying anything more about him'. The Welsh singer was setting off on a missive world concert tour which she said would be her last on that scale. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
First, I LOVE this scarf/glasses combo. Second, please enjoy this Informative Caption: "Singer Shirley Bassey walks to her Los Angeles flight at Heathrow Airport with a new mystery boyfriend known only as Mr Lannstrom. She said: 'He is my gentleman friend, but we have no plans to marry. I've got to get a divorce first. I'm not saying anything more about him'. " GOOD FOR YOU.
1984
Shirley Bassey, arrived in Sydney today, for Australian tour. Organisers took her out the back way, however we managed to get some pictures of her. Before she left the airport. May 29, 1984. (Photo by Antony Matheus Linsen/Fairfax Media via Getty Images).
Very low key for an arrival in Australia. Informative Caption here implies that Dame Shirley has recently started getting on the plane in less public routes, which is why we cease getting too many looks from her...
2017
TRINITY, JERSEY - JUNE 24: Dame Shirley Bassey arrives at Gama Aviation ahead of the Jersey Style Awards 2017 on June 24, 2017 in Jersey. PHOTOGRAPH BY Eagle Lee / Barcroft Images London-T:+44 207 033 1031 E:hello@barcroftmedia.com -
New York-T:+1 212 796 2458 E:hello@barcroftusa.com -
New Delhi-T:+91 11 4053 2429 E:hello@barcroftindia.com www.barcroftimages.com (Photo credit should read Eagle Lee / Barcroft Media via Getty Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
..but never fear! As recently as 2017, her airport looks were still very chic.
