Category: Style Steal
Style Steal: Lana Del Rey
“Likes to watch me in the glass room bathroom, Chateau Marmont
Slippin’ on my red dress, puttin’ on my makeup
Glass film, perfume, cognac, lilac
Fumes, says it feels like heaven to him.”
–“Off To The Races” by Lana Del Rey, Born To Die
Lana Del Rey’s lyrics ooze with old Hollywood glamour, overt sexuality, and a taste for all things that sparkle and shimmer. This week for Style Steal, we channeled our inner goddess and emulated the fashion icon that is Lana Del Rey.
Born Elizabeth Woodridge Grant, Lana Del Rey broke into the world spotlight with her album Born to Die in 2012. With it, she brought a sense of fashion that was both reminiscent and risk-taking. From classic red-carpet-ready gowns to daring statements, Del Rey is a self-described “gangster Nancy Sinatra” and in an interview with Vogue remarked, “Fashion is inspired by youth and nostalgia and draws inspiration from the best of the past.”
This first outfit was inspired by the music video for “Born to Die.” The long white dress we used was a slip that belonged to my grandmother, but one just like it can be found at any lingerie store. The flower crown here was made by Danielle, the model, but instructions for a DIY flower crown can be found at blog.birchbox.com.
In honor of summer being just around the next corner, we used this gorgeous one-piece leopard bathing suit from Victoria’s Secret for our next look. Paired with a black floppy hat and retro shades, both from American Threads, this look channels the fearless fashion of our lady Lana.
This outfit was inspired by the music video for “Ride.” We loved the way Lana canoodled with bikers and rocked the converse/white tee look. We paired an old cut-up Bruce Springsteen tee from Goodwill with high waisted jean shorts from NastyGal.com. The black converse and RayBan Clubmasters polished off the look. But our favorite part of this outfit was definitely the faux leather red fringe jacket I found at a vintage store in Baker City, Oregon. While you probably won’t be able to find this exact one, we found a bunch of awesome ones on eBay and Polyvore.com.
For this last look, Kate Welsh perfected the old Hollywood glamour look with dark eye makeup , but a messy middle part to keep it modern. The shirt is a classic Lana look—a Peter Pan collar button up shirt from a local Athens, Ga., clothing store, Fabrik. Against an American flag backdrop she looks, well, in the words of Lana herself, “never was there ever a girl so pretty.”
Style Steal: David Bowie
Years ago, in 1969, David Bowie’s single “Space Oddity” landed on earth. With it, Bowie brought a sense of style the world had never seen. From androgynous space suits and fascinating prints to sparkles and fur, Bowie never failed to completely blow away the rules of fashion as he did the same to the rules of music. We brought a few of his signature styles down to earth this week, while still reaching for the stars.
This first outfit is inspired by Bowie’s love for black and white stripes. We paired a basic black peplum top from an Athens, Georgia store, Pitaya, with some chevron parachute pants from American Threads and some far out jewelry. Shapes are very important, and lines and peplum make this outfit stand out.
This next outfit is straight from space. We built this outfit around the shoes, which I got off NastyGal.com as a part of their Shoe Cult collection. We paired them with wild space leggings and a faux fur coat, both from local Athens vintage stores Dynamite and Agora. The necklace is a Goodwill find, where unique jewelry is always abounding. David Bowie had a knack for weird leggings and fur, and we thought this outfit did his style justice without being as out-there as Major Tom himself. This outfit is perfect for a concert or a night out. Or the moon. Your call.
The leggings in this next outfit were also from Dynamite and were impossible to pass up in an article about David Bowie’s style. Not only are they tight, but they are incredibly bright with an exotic print. We added a faux leather top from American Threads to complement the leggings without taking too much away from them. We used Bowie’s love of blazers to finish off the outfit.
The last outfit is a one shoulder sparkly dress from Macy’s. We absolutely love the radiant vitality of the dress and the triangle shape pattern. It reminds us of the leotards that Bowie loved to wear on stage. But a little bit more suitable for those of us who aren’t from Mars.
David Bowie’s music set him apart from all the other pop musicians of his time. But he took it a step further with his style. Before there was Madonna or Lady Gaga or even Miley Cyrus with their shocking fashion statements, Bowie was breaking down the walls of the fashion world and blasting off into space. Now, especially coinciding with the rise of electronic music, that futuristic space style has become a modern trend. By updating and adapting David Bowie’s unique fashion sense, you can make a statement that will attract satellites and suitors alike.
Style Steal: Kurt Cobain
Jimi Hendrix rocked Woodstock in the 60s, Led Zeppelin rocked the entire United States in the 70s, and hair band after hair band sold out stadiums throughout the 80s. But the next music genre that swept the nation was something much more subtle than these rock giants. Polished, intense guitar sounds were replaced by raw, grungier music. And that’s how it got its name. “Grunge” music came out of nowhere, or actually, to be more exact, Seattle. And perhaps one of the most influential grunge rock and roll bands was Nirvana, led by front man and style icon Kurt Cobain. From converse, to flannels, to ripped-up jeans and t-shirts, Kurt Cobain changed the game. Now, as we see styles recycled, clothing too is being recycled and this worn out clothing has become the newest thing. We updated Cobain’s raw style to create a look that was both grungy and modern.
For this first look, Will Stewart, avid Nirvana fan and guitar enthusiast, wore a classic 90s style flannel we found at a thrift store layered over a worn out Hard Rock Café t-shirt. Any washed out, old, holy t-shirt fits the grunge style, especially underneath a flannel. Paired with old khaki shorts and worn out worker’s boots, anyone can go from Seattle factory worker to grungy rock star.
For this next outfit, bartender and art student Maggie Adams posed in red converse and another thrift store flannel for this shot. She rocked a striped shirt, a style Kurt basically cherished, that I found at a garage sale. The look is completed with black tights and ripped up jean shorts we made ourselves from old thrift store high rise jeans.
For our last look, Danielle Jordan, who works at American Threads in Athens, wore a fake leather asymmetric skirt from American Threads with knee highs and grungy green shirt, also from American Threads. Paired with another thrift shop flannel, Kurt Cobain is channeled through modern day fashion.
Kurt Cobain was much different than his predecessors. He favored thrift store clothing to elaborate costumes, and flannels to fringe. He favored holes to sequins and stripes to tie-dye. He dressed the way he played: stripped down, raw, and real. Using these qualities, we built modern pieces through which Kurt Cobain and his grunge music can live on in the modern world.
Style Steal: Jimi Hendrix
Our generation has been called the hippies of the new millennium; pot is legal, alternative couples can marry, and love and music are abounding in our culture and in our lives. And just as history repeats itself, so does fashion. Styles come back around and gypsy clothing has seen a new era of popularity. Who better to take fashion tips on that style than the man who led the Band of Gypsies himself? Jimi Hendrix truly pioneered the psychedelic look. Yet while styles come back around, they change and adapt; they take on new meanings and new variations to reflect the new people that are wearing them. Danielle Jordan, sales associate at American Threads, and I put together some modern looks inspired by the big man himself.
There’s no doubt Mr. Hendrix was the king of bright colors and fringe. This first outfit was inspired by Jimi’s outfit at the legendary Woodstock Music Festival. We paired this cream fringe kimono and velvet bell bottoms from American Threads with a brightly colored crop top from NastyGal.com to create a look that is equally prepared to take the stage at Woodstock or go out on a Friday night. Don’t be afraid to mix colors and prints that don’t traditionally go together. If people had never mixed musical instruments that did not “belong” together, we would have never had rock and roll. Get your grandmother’s fashion rules out of your head. She may make delicious cookies but I’m betting she never lit a guitar on fire in front of thousands of applauding audience members.
This next look was inspired by Hendrix’s passion for fur and hats. We layered a fur vest on top of a vintage dress (both found at Goodwill!) and topped it off with a black hat from American Threads. Bad hair day? Throw on a groovy hat and fix everything while looking totally cool. So simple. The shape of the hat is a bit more feminine and updated than the traditional top hat Jimi loved to wear, but it brings a bit of a contemporary feel to the outfit. Layering is imperative for the modern woman. You can wear as much or as little of it as you want based on the temperature or vibes of the day as it progresses.
The top in this next outfit is a total original. Danielle found it at a shop during Hulaween Music Festival last fall. Luckily, we found some similar dresses and tops on StyleHive.com. The shirt paired with homemade jean cut-offs and Minnetonka moccasin boots is pulled together by the flower crown atop Ms. Jordan’s head… that she made herself. Head to Pinterest.com or Google to find tips on how to make one of your own. With the fringe, brightness and flower-child halo, Jimi would certainly have been proud.
The last outfit we put together was one inspired by Hendrix’s use of earth tones and, of course, tie-dye. These bell bottom pants were another unique creation of Danielle’s. She started with white pants and tie-dyed them before bleaching the bottoms. However, if you don’t have the time or creative energy to tie-dye a pair of pants yourself, you’re in luck; we found a similar style on ThreadSence.com. The handmade bottoms went perfectly with the white linen, embroidered top. The shirt was my Mom’s from “back in the day” and of course, she has no idea how she came across it. However, a little searching on Etsy.com came back with a bunch of similar tops. We topped it off with a totally radical headband from American Threads and plenty of rings and bracelets.
Hendrix’s love and talent for music made him a legend; his style made him an icon. Whether he was playing an extended psychedelic version of the “Star – Spangled Banner” or shredding on his Fender Stratocaster while it was behind his head, he was always decked out, head to toe, in bright colors, far out patterns, fur, fringe, and tie-dye. His style was completely original and, in the end, timeless. Inspired by his appearance and mixed with a bit of modern fashion sense, you can be a real “Foxy Lady.”