Everyone likes to see something a little bit different on occasion – variety is the spice of life, after all. That’s why rockabilly singing starlet Imelda May is a real breath of fresh air in the world of fashion. This lovely Irish lady has gradually been attracting mainstream media attention ever since she appeared on Later… with Jools Holland in 2008. Her second studio album, Love Tattoo, was released shortly afterwards in 2009 and met with huge critical and commercial acclaim worldwide, prompting a successful tour and a similarly received third album, Mayhem, in 2010. Combining retro 50’s vintage with glamour and just a hint of the burlesque, May’s style oozes sophistication and sex appeal, and really sets her appeal from those female singers who look dress like carbon copies of one another, sporting whatever fleeting trend is popular at that point in time. Part of May’s appeal stems from her confident, rebellious attitude – this is the woman who shops at charity stores and, when asked if she had a personal stylist, replied “God, no. Why would you?”
Cinching at the waist is one of the many aspects of May’s style that was inspired by 50’s fashion.
For although May’s increasing exposure is of course down to her musical talent and unique appeal, her individual sense of fashion has really caught people’s attention. The genre of her music, rockabilly, is evidenced in that style. The form hugging clothes she often wears are reminiscent of the 1950’s, a time when, as May herself has said, fashion went with the curves of the body instead of against them. She is often pictured in pencil skirts and halter necks when dressed for the stage or screen, whilst in her free time she claims to enjoy the comfort of angora sweaters and torn jeans. Her colour palette is bold and rich: reds, greens, and even gold. On her recent Mayhem tour she performed in Oxford in a yellow and black striped dress which few could pull off so successfully. She also loves animal patterns and polka-dots, and is often seen in leopard print. Her impact on the fashion world has already been felt: she appeared on the cover of the Irish Sunday Times Style, and Italian designer Roberto Cavalli flew her out to Milan to perform at his private party during Fashion Week.
May’s stage outfits are often striking.
The other iconic aspect of Imelda May’s style is her hair. The retro quiff she sports is a completely unique quirk, especially with its peroxide blonde streak running through it. This contributes to the very arresting appearance that May presents, offset by her lips and nails which are often painted a vibrant red. Her style utilises elements of the burlesque and of vaudeville in order to create something that is truly peerless in the world of modern fashion. Following her success over the past few years, May reappeared on the show that started it all, Later… with Jools Holland in 2010, performing the titular single from her album Mayhem. See the full performance in the video below.
- Kat Humphries
Sources and Further Information:
Imelda May – fashionfinder.asos.com
Imelda May Biography – imeldamay.co.uk
Imelda May: Girl got style – independent.ie