Lets face it: Katy Perry's fifteen minutes of fame are over. I apologize to any die-hard fans out there, but come on, we all know that her lasting musical legacy will be slightly offensive, slightly exploitative, slightly catchy song that's sure to appear on every "Best of the 00's" nostalgia album. Her make on fashion, however, will survive much longer.
Her look has been described with such contradictory terms as "thrift-store-bombshell," (BLENDER 54), "retro 50's glamour," (SUGARSCAPE), and "Varga Girl meets Joan Jett," (LA TIMES). In truth, it's difficult to pin down Katy Perry's style. While she does mix ideas- retro with modern, highbrow with lowbrow, cheap with chic- she's less like anybody else but, well, Katy Perry.
While we're at it, though, we might as well talk about some of her less obvious influences. Some of her staples, like gigantic, neon-colored boots and exaggerated make-up, are inspired by power metal bands like KISS and Twisted Sister, groups which blurred gender lines the same way Perry seeks to create sexual confusion with "I Kissed a Girl." Similarly, her hot pants and leopard-print skirts are borrowed from androgynous 1970s glam rock transgender trends.
It's Perry's inventive, original clothing choices that really make her stand out. She mixes bold reds, yellows and greens with animal patterns and kitschy, plastic accessories. One can find both Chanel bags and kids' roller skates in her closet, next to such items as a black evening gown and a stitched plaid swimsuit.
The big question is, of course, how can you look like Perry? My advice: look in some less obvious places. Children's clothing stores, garage sales, or your grandmother's attic are great resources for rare, unique and relatively low-cost items. Hold on to everything you find, too; you never know when that over-sized belt could come in handy. Sometimes there's only one white ribbon, jelly bracelet, or watermelon-shaped earring between tacky and Katy Perry perfect.
By Erica Hill
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