Style Wars 1

LADY GAGA v RIHANNA v BEYONCE (in no particular order)

STYLE WARS 1
This Karma-Style (K-S) feature breaks down so called ‘celebrity’ style and attitudes. In the end there is only one winner of our ‘STYLE WARS’.


Lady GaGa




Lady GaGa (LGG) is what I would call an ‘extreme’ trendsetter. She is unique and a very clever marketeer. Her outfits are made by a talented set of young designers called “Haus of Gaga”. Amidst the madness, LGG wears some truly beautiful pieces.
By music industry standards she is not a ‘beauty’. She and her team create an image based solely on the clothes and the fanfare of ‘fame’. Her face is never spoken about. Her style generates so much publicity. Even if you haven’t seen her you’ve heard of her. I do wish she (and Beyonce) would stop wearing so little clothing all the time. I don’t care, call me a prude, whichever way you look at it, to just wear a body or leotard only is not a good look – is there no other way to sell yourself, Oops I mean your music? (ummm another idea for a K-S blog) So far in her short, yet dynamic career, LGG always wears a ‘trend’ of her own making. I would like to see her in just a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, but I doubt that will ever happen as I think LGG knows she would look too normal and God forbid that should happen!

You-go Lady GaGa with your theatrical 3-D space age numbers and Kermit the frog get-ups (Yes she did!) It keeps us talking about you.
After all, it is all about ‘The Fame’.








Rihanna


Rihanna’s (Ri) style metamorphosis has been intriguing. Ri can do the ‘out-there’ theatrical, the sophisticated adult, the young hip-hop chic with a rock twist, the no-clothes look and everything in between! Good girl hasn’t gone bad – she’s just gotten better and better when it come to her image (and music) Her style tells us who she is in an effective way. She truly has evolved, and you feel as if you know who she really is. Unlike the Lady GaGas and Beyonces of this world, Ri doesn’t have to try so hard, she looks just as dymanic in a t-shirt and jeans or preppy look as well a ‘glammed up’ one. Her style suits her perfectly and she dresses perfectly for her age. She is not scared to try new looks or make a mistake. Some good lessons for us all - young and old.

You-go Rihanna and give them (h)ellaa ellaa ellaa. Your true to yourself diverse style will keep us talking about you.





Queen Beyonce




Beyonce is Queen Beyonce (QB) for very obvious reasons. Her image is what I would call ‘Diva-style’. Everything about Beyonce is polished to perfection from a K-S perspective too polished and too contrived. She is not a style trendsetter. Her fellow twenty-somethings do not copy her style as she dresses so much older. She has a certain diva-style of a woman in her 30s. This isn’t a bad thing but when your young, be young. She no doubt sets trends with her dance moves and music anthems. Her Sasha Fierce (alter ego) image is marketed as separate but K-S believes there is no distinction. She isn’t Mariah Carey the diva, she is Beyonce the diva. K-S would love to see QB adopt a more youthful, fun style, but I’m afraid like Lady GaGa, she doesn't seem that versatile. Being beautiful doesn’t make all clothing styles suit you, take note Karma-Stylers.

You-go Beyonce – you’re a truly amazing talent, everyday is your ‘B-day’. We’ll all be talking about you for years to come.







….and the Winner of Style Wars 1 is…(drum roll)...

Rihanna! For, her effortless natural and creative style. She's a true style chameleon and an inspiration.

Let’s face it. Could you honestly see Lady GaGa or Queen Beyonce take a risk like shaving off one whole side of their hair as Rihanna did recently, and carry it off beautifully?

OMG! A life without wigs or weaves! Not in a million years...


The losers still get a prize….

…….Lady GaGa for being such a fabulous ‘Avant Garde’ trendsetter….

and Queen Beyonce for her ultra-glam Superstar ‘Diva-style’

Karma-Style high-fives you all!

The Iconic Style of Michael Jackson

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Not only was Michael Jackson (MJ) the king of pop music. In my opinion he was the ultimate trendsetting style icon over decades and the original king of bling.

As a five year old child on stage, Michael Jackson alongside his brothers was the whole package and had such expressive style and presentation. The image of Michael at only 12 years old in a rich purple wide brimmed hat on a slant with matching suede long fringed waistcoat and beige flares was a fabulous 70's style statement.



From an early age MJ was a style icon, throughout his life his outfits were full of vibrant colour, the fit and cut was always perfection. He did, after all, have the perfect body for clothes - tall and lean. From the funky soul attire of the 70's, moving on to the glorious glamour of the 80's. The album cover of 'Off the Wall' made me fall in love with MJ. The black suit, dickey bow and white shirt, his beautiful smile and matching afro against a brick wall was the epitomy of cool elegance. So simple yet so effective. As a pure fashion shot it was just as great as an album cover. Don't know the photographer who took the original shot - need to find out.



Then came the videos. Firstly, the 'Rock with you' outfit was just amazing. MJ's crewneck, trousers and boots were all encrusted in bling against a black background. His top and trousers had vertical lines of bling - the outcome was an amazing visual, especially for a music video and he looked soooo fine! The look was stylish and so far from gaudy as your mind's eye would naturally see it as.



His look in the 'Billie Jean' video was a style masterpiece, the black leather suit with embossed satin lapel teamed with a soft pink shirt, fuschia red dickey bow and white lace ups with black tip and heel added such finesse. STUNNING! Check out the video - to this day that look really works.



His cropped trousers throughout the years were part of his signature style along with penny loafers and white or blinged out socks.
The 'Thriller' album was again a suit, but this time a reverse on the colour palette - A gleaming white suit with black open zip shirt and black belt. Another fashion hit!



Michael Jackson was the original king of bling - the difference is, he wore it on his clothes and hands (the mono-glove), never drippng from his ears or dangling from his neck á la P Diddy or David Beckham in recent times.

In the nineties, the military jacket became his strongest style statement - the embellishments and embroidery made them his own.



By the mid nineties it was all about the clothes, as his face became too painful for me to look at. It was a sad representation of a real life 'identity crisis'. In that I mean plastic surgery is now used in modern times to 'fix' our internal and external issues and crises. So sad...



..Anyway back to fashion, During this time (and up until his demise) armbands were a key MJ accent. Maturity post-2000, saw MJ let go of the mono-glove and we saw him in a number of full-length gorgeous tailored suits. He was a man that obviously loved a suit - the combination of matching top and bottom, I believe was part of his quest for perfection - everything had to be just right.



The only look Karma-Style was not feeling was his rock phase circa 'Dirty Diana' 'Bad' tour phase (think; buckles down the side of his black narrow-legged trousers from hip to ankle). He still 'rocked' these looks, pardon the pun, but I feel with regard to style this was not his fashion best.



Don't ever forget my dear Karma-Stylers that this man set the fashion bar from a mere child onwards for us. He was a man whose attention to detail reflected in his clothes and music. Which of his looks did you get inspiration from or emulate? For me it was the 'Beat it' red leather jacket! I did my best as a loved up teenager (He was the man of my dreams, in my dreams) to hunt down a similar affordable version.



I could go on and on about this man and his unique style, so I've decided to shut up and let his clothes speak for themselves.



Unfortunately unlike the man, his music, his style lives on, it will never die.

Long Live the Fashion King - Michael Joseph Jackson 1958 - 2009