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Rock Stars - Fashion Icons?

OnSugar Blog — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 04:22:55 PDT

It's a heavy read, but worth it - dive into OnSugar blog Reach For the Stars and her analysis on rock stars as fashion icons.

There's no doubt music has a tremendous influence over fashion and how people dress. Musicians in particular have become fashion icons for many, myself included, as I look to the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Izzy Stradlin for inspiration. Think of the magnificent Axl Rose in his heyday - oversized leather and tight, tight bicyle shorts. This influenced his good friend Donatella Versace to re-create a look on the catwalk that was oddly familiar to the fiery redhead singer and was recognized throughout the '90s as a signature trend.

Then there's David Bowie and his alter ego Ziggy Stardust, who styled a generation through its decadence of glitz and glamour. Go back to the '60s when Beatlemania was overtaking the world and London was the fashion hotspot. Paco Rabanne was the designer and his style of prints, PVC, and tailoring dressed the nation. Skirts had never been so short and boots so high. A rebellion against the classic and conservative style of the '50s with their full netted skirts, when showing some ankle was seen as incredibly risque. It was a fresh and exciting time, there was a new movement in music and with it fashion.

To read the rest (good stuff),

read more. Bands like the Rolling Stones led the nation through their music of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, which reflected the way they dressed. Their fans couldn't get enough and tried to re-create their idols' look. Woodstock was more than a festival of music to spread the word of peace and love. It was to go down in history for the best dressed Rock stars of the 20th Century. Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Hendrix all played and the crowd was filled with tie-dye, denim and fringing waistcoats. Fashion had never been so free. The '70s brought about the beginnings of Glam Rock, sequins, jumpsuits, and platforms all in its glory. The famous Mr.Bowie lead the generation and everybody was soon out to copy the look. Boys were wearing makeup and sparkles and girls were wearing shockingly less. The Runaways, an all girl punk rock band, would wear little more than their underwear, fishnets and stockings. They just screamed SEX and they screamed it loud. Shocking seeing how these American girls were so young, the eldest, Lita Ford, only being 17 years old. Fashion got sexy, taking it to the next level, it was thrusting it in your face, there was no escaping the influence that rock 'n' roll had. The later years of the '70s brought about the punk movement, ironically, supposedly anti-fashion. The Sex Pistols started the craze and never before had studs, leather, and safety pins became so fashionable. Those who could not say they were a fan of the music could not argue the influence that punk had over the generation and the styling of the nation. The Queen of Fashion, Vivienne Westwood started her career by styling the Sex Pistols, no wonder why it was so popular. Her inspiration? S&M. Punk still has an inspiration on today's catwalk; just take Balmain's S/S '10 collection. Ripped shirts, leather trousers, and military jackets ruled the catwalk. The '80s was probably the loudest, most eccentric and influential decade of them all. New wave/new romantic/metal and glam rock ruled the charts and with it fashion. Big shoulders, big hair, big blazers - everything was big to represent the social change that the world was going through. Women were becoming more of an equal and power dressing represented this, to be taken more seriously, to be taken with respect. Madonna was the leader of this tribe, she had a 'f*ck you' attitude that was so refreshing for women of that generation. On the rock 'n' roll side of the spectrum, glam rock was huge and so sexy. Cowboy boots, leather, ripped denim, netting - music meant business. Aspiring rockers stole their girlfriends' clothes and used so much hairspray that they are to blame for global warming. Bands like Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Guns N' Roses, were mean and nasty, but with a twist. To carry off this look you needed to be comfortable with yourself, to have the attitude that you were a rock star in order to carry it off. The '80s was the most inspiring time for fashion, designers were breaking the barriers and setting the mold, but it was the most scariest time also and some of the trends are meant to be left in the past. The '90s brought about the the minimalist values of grunge. Vintage was the most used word as people were raiding their grandparents' wardrobe for that moth bitten jumper a la Kurt Cobain. Grunge was dirty, yet refined. Long skirts, DM's and checked shirts was the usual get up of grunge bands such as Pearl Jam and Nirvana. Designers like Stella McCartney captured this look perfectly and the '90s kept to its minimalistic pleasure. That leaves us to the present era -where do we stand? Indie is the movement with skinny jeans, pointy boots, and floral dresses. Personally, I think that this has been the weakest influence that musicians have on their fans, as it has been the least creative on musical terms. Bands are rip offs of past generations and this has reflected in their fashion sense as they look to their music idols for inspiration, and the fans turn to them also. So where does that leave us and our inspiration? Does it lie solely with the catwalk or will a new and inspiring band break into the scene, and with it, how people dress?

Want to see more? Start following OnSugar blog Reach For the Stars or start your own OnSugar blog. We may just feature your post on Fab!

Designer Spotlight: Poltock and Walsh

FabSugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:00:22 PDT

Designers Fiamma Poltock and Katie Walsh don't necessarily create for celebrity endorsements, but any type of shine is definitely welcome - especially when it comes from Kate Moss. The Super just ordered six pieces from their scintillating Axl Rose (what?!) and snowflake-inspired Fall collection. "Kate is one of the biggest style icons worldwide and we're sure [she] gets bombarded with clothing from designers around the world, so for her to come directly to us and make such a great selection is really a huge honor," said the London-based designers. Poltock and Walsh's mix of tough edge jumpsuits, frocks, and separates include a soft touch via furry textiles, ruffled layers, and silky fabrics. Moss loved this colorblock Paradise City dress so much, she ordered it in two colors.

To see Kate's complete order from their Fall '09 collection,

View 4 Photos ›

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Listen Up: First Guns N' Roses Single in Nearly 10 Years

BuzzSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:31:39 PDT

The next album by Guns N' Roses, Chinese Democracy, has been a long time coming. Like, recording started in 1994 kind of "long time." Dr Pepper even made the bold offer to hand out a free can of soda "to 'everyone in America' (excluding ex-GNR members Slash and Buckethead)" if the album is released within the 2008 calendar year. Today we may be one step closer to that free can of fizzy goodness: the first official single off Chinese Democracy has hit the airwaves.

We can't download it just yet - the track has been released for radio play only - but you can go here to listen. I wasn't sure I was such a fan when I took a first spin-through, but it's really growing on me. It takes a long time building up, which is annoying, but once it's really running along, it's fun to listen to. It's nowhere near the greatness of classic GNR (you know, "Paradise City," "Sweet Child o' Mine," "Welcome to the Jungle"), but for the modern age, I can definitely see myself not changing the channel when this driving rock song plays on the radio.

What do you think? Is Axl back?

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FABTV: Guns n' Roses "Welcome to the Jungle"

FabSugar — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 11:00:08 PDT

Here I am in the midst of New York Fashion Week. My theme song? You know it! Most people need to listen to mellow music in times of chaos; me, I thrive on my favorite hard rock band of all time, Guns n' Roses. When all else fails, I just put on my boys and let the tough times roll. Here, you see Axl straight off the bus from Indiana (where he is actually from) about to embark on a life of sex, drugs, and rock n' roll. And it went down just like that. The original band mates are seen here - Axl, Slash, Duff, Izzy, and Stephen - in their metal hair, leather pant, and bad attitude splendor. Let the good times roll . . .

FABTV: Guns 'n' Roses "Sweet Child O'Mine"

FabSugar — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:22:22 PDT

When I think of the songs that would make up the soundtrack of my life, this is most definitely one of them. Yes, it's one of the most played out karaoke songs but, I'm sorry, you can never play this song out. It's a rock n' roll romance masterpiece. All this wedding talk and I wanted to shake things up with a song that manages to be both sweet and saucy. Axl wrote the song about then wife Erin Everly (lucky b*tch) and it jolted everybody. It was - still is - an international hit. The video is classic GNR with snippets of the band performing and hanging out; and Axl exhibiting his snakey swagger we all know and love. Here's to love and rock 'n' roll!

Fashion 101

FabSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:00:22 PDT

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Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 07:30:48 PDT

CBS learned a big lesson this week: Britney equals ratings gold. I learned you should never mess with the fanboys of Fanboys.
The Oliver Stone Bush biopic cast is quickly filling out. I wonder who's going to play Dick Cheney? Which reminds me, all that horse-loving talk aside, I'm starting to think Kristy Lee Cook is an evil genius.
This is one of those weeks where TV news makes a lot of sense and then none at all. I can understand why there is interest in shows about escorts after the Spitzer scandal. But a show that's just people falling? Really?
More good stuff came out of the Paley Festival in Los Angeles this week, including the goods on Gossip Girl, Damages and Dirty Sexy Money.
Well it's the end of the road for the March book club, thanks to everyone for reading along! I'm really excited about April's book, The Life Before Her Eyes. I hope you can hunt down a copy for yourself this weekend and join in. And don't worry, I can confidently state the new editions of these books will never be selected.
Axl Rose, if you're listening, please finish up that that album so America can toast you with Dr. Pepper!
Can you guess which rock songs these lyrics belong to? Also, can you guess what TV show I'm recasting based on these lyrics? "What would we do, baby, without us? Sha-la-la-laaaa. . ."

Photo courtesy of CBS

Dr Pepper for Everybody! (If Axl Rose Releases GNR Album)

BuzzSugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:30:14 PDT

The Random News Item of the Day title goes to this little tidbit from Billboard:

Many have tried, but so far nobody has been able to pry the decade-in-the-works Guns N' Roses album Chinese Democracy from the hands of lone remaining original member Axl Rose.

Now, Dr Pepper thinks it's up to the challenge. The soft drink company says it will give a free can of Dr Pepper to "everyone in America" (excluding ex-GNR members Slash and Buckethead) if Chinese Democracy arrives anytime during the calendar year 2008.

You might be wondering, as I was, "Huh? Why Dr. Pepper?" By way of hilarious explanation, Dr Pepper director of marketing Jaxie Alt patiently breaks it down:

It took a little patience to perfect Dr Pepper's special mix of 23 ingredients, which our fans have come to know and love. So we completely understand and empathize with Axl's quest for perfection - for something more than the average album. We know once it's released, people will refer to it as "Dr Pepper for the ears" because it will be such a refreshing blend of rich, bold sounds - an instant classic.

See, Axl? They get you. "Dr Pepper for the ears"! Now give us the dang album.

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WTF?! Elle Channeling Axl?

FabSugar — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:00:22 PDT

Nothing tops off a Fab day like a little Axl Rose. Some of you already know the truth - I am a Guns n' Roses fanatic. I usually keep my obsession out of Fab because I understand not everyone shares my love affair - for the band, the music, the Axl - but this was too good to not share.

On your left you have Elle MacPherson at the Belstaff show at Milan Fashion Week. She is looking quite rock n' roll, quite masculine, and quite like Axl, during his glory years of course. And here is an example of the turbulent front man, in a purple leather jacket, signature bandanna and shiny PVC leggings. With all the long blonde hair, leather, and even some swagger, you have to admit there are funny similarities here. Who knew Elle could channel Axl? Wonders never cease...

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Celebrity Sighting: Kisses with Axl Rose!

PopSugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 07:45:00 PDT

Our very own FabSugar (left) got pretty up close and personal with Axl Rose after a Guns N' Roses show last year. Sure he's a little past his prime but that doesn't make it any less impressive. Oh, our 1980s selves are lovin' it. For the rest of the story (including how they made his girlfriend jealous) just click here.

We love hearing about your Celebrity Sightings so keep them coming. They're easy to do and we always feature our favorites on PopSugar.