He was the creator of the "Ten Worst Dressed Women List", an annual awards presentation he unveiled in January of each year.

[3][5] He claimed he was severely beaten by a stepfather, often sleeping in the alley beneath a fire escape with a broken bottle for protection rather than face further abuse.

[3] Blackwell began acting in theaters in his teens, appearing in the original 1935 Broadway production of Sidney Kingsley's Dead End.

Relocating to the West Coast (where he studied with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney) he adopted the professional name "Dick Ellis" and played small parts in the movies.

[citation needed] During the nearly two decade existence of the "House of Blackwell", he was designer to Yvonne De Carlo, Jayne Mansfield, Dorothy Lamour, Jane Russell and California first lady Nancy Reagan.

[citation needed] In his beginning years as a designer he was asked to do a one-time article for The American Weekly magazine of the "10 Best and Worst Dressed" people and developed the franchise from it.

Forty-seven years after first release, Blackwell annually spent a week after its publication on telephone interviews to fashion magazines, radio programs and news networks.

[14] The list is a conglomeration of techniques from first letter alliteration: Martha Stewart – "dull, dowdy and devastatingly dreary" and consonant: "fabulous fashion independents", to free verse: Cher – "A million beads/And one overexposed derriere", and pun: Queen Elizabeth, "Was she the palace Christmas tree, or just a royal clown?"

Often, he simply quipped: Martha Stewart – "Dresses like the centerfold for Farmers' Almanac", and other times combines forms: Dixie Chicks – "They look like a trio of truck stop fashion tragedies/ trapped in a typhoon".

However, Blackwell has displayed personal missives from many celebrities including Dolly Parton, Mariah Carey and country singers Barbara Mandrell and Tanya Tucker expressing their thanks for being selected.

[16] "Hollywood Beat" editor Marci Weiner, who was targeted by Blackwell who asked why she would "always dress like she's auditioning for a Fellini movie," was initially angered by her inclusion but later confessed that she considered it an honor.

[23] In 1968 he starred in his own KCOP two-hour color television special, Mr. Blackwell Presents, with Anna Maria Alberghetti, Nick Adams and Rose Marie.

[episode needed] In 1992 he sued Carson for $11 million after the late night host joked that he had included Mother Teresa on one of his worst-dressed lists.

Blackwell was unable to unveil the 2000 list at a live news conference for the first time in its 40-year history and remained out of the public eye for six months.