From Black to Blond

 When Alison Mosshart first debuted her blond locks a while ago I was a little shocked.  Soon after, I wasn't. 

She is part of the reason why I started this blog.  The intersection of music and fashion, most importantly rocker style, was what I saw in her.  Her torn jeans, perfect worn tees, and leather jackets were down to earth, yet performance ready.  Those were the days when I shunned make up and only wore pants, much like Miss Mosshart.  Like Alison, I later came to embrace make up and wear something besides pants, though I had declared that I never would. 

Even through the changes, she is still an icon who I admire.  I still scour thirft shops for perfectly worn in tees, or wear my own until their just right.  Though I've replaced jeans with leggings, I can't help but covet her green leather motorcycle pants. 

To my young ears and eyes, the music of The Kills, like her on-stage presence, was shocking .  So, Alison Mosshart making a statement is really no big.  It's just her.  For that, she is inspirational.

An Old Favorite

Alison Mosshart is an old style favorite of mine.  My first blog post may have actually been about her.  She always looks natural, yet cool and rock n' roll.  I guess it's just in her blood.

Umm, What the Heck?

Since the Kills have garnered more media attention, something has been bothering me. Fear of one of my favorite bands getting great success? Heck, no. I'm all for great music being heard by as many people as possible, even if that means I'll have to lose alot of cash for show tickets. I'm just tired of people talking about Alison's "transformation." Sure, she was in punk/hardcore for a while, but she was a teenager then. Those years usually contain skewed world views, confusion and drama for everyone. Her hair, clothes and music are different because people grow and change. My thoughts on life from my 7th grade diary do not define the way I live my life now. I'm glad that there aren't many photos of me from that time. *cringe* I don't understand why anyone would think that she has to have a choppy, boyish haircut and sing punk/hardcore just because she did that when she was fifteen. She's had long hair and a wicked rock n' roll style since way before the media noticed the Kills. She is not making a publicity stunt. She not copying other rockers. She's just being who she is. And she has become a grown up (Personally, I would never want to trap myself in the mind-set I had as a teen forever. I never liked being a youth. I'm glad those days get farther and farther behind me!)

Whatever people are saying, the Kills rock. I can't wait to hear their fourth album.

Turn, Turn, Turn...

Have you ever been afraid of your style changing? After you've identified yourself with a look and you start to feel like someone different it can be overwhelming. On Sunday when I realized that I put together an outfit with no black I panicked alittle. "Do I look too normal"? I wondered. Has wearing black become an mental obligation/uniform? Uniforms are dull and if I'm feeling something else I need to branch out. I'm discovering that pink is not evil. Dusty rose is actually a cool colour. Now, don't think that I'm going to be dressed head to toe in prep gear or ugg boots(I can't seem to shake my dirty hippie tendencies, nor do I want to). I'm feeling less androgyny and more pale colours with a Jennifer herrema kind of twist. I'm also loving the way some japanese women manage to wear feminine clothing without looking super sweet. It's more like a short, dusty rose chiffon dress with ripped jeans and fierce black pointy heels kind of thing (or quriky pointed flats). And there's got to be a dropwaist belt with some form of hardware on it. A true contradiction. Think Alison Mosshart at the Chloe fragrance launch.

To get a bit personal, this is due to me feeling less like brooding. I think I'm getting a better outlook.

Something Rockin' This Way Comes...

From Kenneth Cappello's blog

I never do get enough of Alison Mosshart (or the Kills in general).

Iconic Again: Alison Mosshart

Alison Mosshart reigns as the 2007 Pretty In Black Icon. I, much like the rest of you, can't get enough of her. Here I share with you my favorite articles about Alison. In the America article she tells the tale of her journey to rock. In Harper's Bazaar she talks fashion and her grandmother's jewelry boxes. I've also included my favorite images of her from around the net. Enjoy.

PS

You may have to save the articles and enlarge them or get a magnifying glass. Sorry!

America^

Harper's Bazaar^

SuperSweet Magazine^


from Naboo on flickr^

BriefSmile on flickr^

Dressing Up With Alison Mosshart

Whenever I am faced with an event that entails fancy dressing I either go over the top, grab my vintage BCBG little black number or reach for my black velvet blazer (I call it my Brian Jones jacket) and build a tasteful glam rock look. Upon attending a ballet a few weeks ago I was head to toe in vintage: 1950s champagne colored swing dress with diamond cluster buttons, black heels also with diamond cluter buttons and a black vintage handbag. That night was magical and I felt invincible amongst all the semi dressed up dockers and Wal Mart blue jeans wearers. I'm not saying that I'm better than them, I just believe that dressing up has become out of style culture-wise and needs to make a comeback. On the other hand there are those dressy/not occasions like school plays and friend's dinner party's. Here Alison Mosshart perfects that look. She layers feminine items over her tomboyish clothes and adds an artistic flair (the above shoes). Whether she's attending Chloe fragrance launch (above) or recieving a Levi's style award (below) she looks like an arty rocker who can't put her mic down.

The last image is from here

Jean Junkie: Hysteric Glamour

The first time I laid eyes on Alison Mosshart's skinny jeans with the spike lined pocket I went on the hunt for a bag of spikes at Hot Topic. The subtle distressing at the ankle (on the above pair) resembles the lines of sunlight on my neighbors pool. But with a price tag of more yen than I can count in one sitting I'll have to make due with my sewing skills.

Icon:Alison Mosshart

The title of this blog is pretty in black because there isn't a color edgier than that. Alison Mosshart realizes this (black hair, black nails, quintessential black jackets)and has become an icon in my world.

I remember the first time I saw her. I was blown away by her onstage swagger and intensity that makes any other musician look like spinal tap. When it came to rock n' roll I realised that she's the real deal. She is my definition of cool.

When she was fifteen she fronted the punk outfit Discount and opened for Fugazi. Upon the groups closure she met Jaime Hince in England and moved in with him to form the Kills (http://www.thekills.tv/). When they perform they often lock eyes as if they are starring each other down. They seen unaware of the audience of bystanders as they're actions scream, "This stage ain't big enough for the both of us." Despite this they are not lovers, but friends intellectual equals. The way she purrs into the mike through a curtain of raven locks will revitalize anyone feels that rock n' roll has died.


She balances all of that fabulous black with some killer tapered jeans and boots that were made for stomping.