Kitsch

Ok, so there’s actually a hell of a lot of variants to ‘kitsch style’. However, generally the colours are bright or pastel, with retro floral patterns. It’s around that time just before the 1960’s/1970’s hippy stage when housewives would be seen with bright, rebelliously coloured, classic clothes. It’s all about classic clothing (like knee-length pencil skirts and fitted blouses) with something very different added into the mixture of design. Whether it’s the clashing colours or the unusual shapes and angles; Kitsch always has a sly obscurity to the design.

A modern day Kitsch style would have to be practically the same as the original style, but sexed up a little more - with drag queen glittery make-up, brightly coloured hair and shorter skirts.

Glam Rock

We’re talking tight, neat and crisp sharp colours. Any patterns can work with moderation and delicacy: leopard print, zebra print, stripes, polka dots, cherries etc...

Lips should be a deadly pale colour or something bright and impractical like bright red or black cherry. Eyes should be smudged black, or liquid lined to make them stand out.

The rules are quite simple:

• classic clothing (blouses, pencil skirts, high shoes and cardigans) but with a glimmer of rock.

• Try wearing fishnets instead of conventional tights.

• Belts, trousers, and skirts must cling to the waist.

The philosophy is really impractical dressed-up glam rock. Think of Debbie Harry, The Long Blondes, PJ Harvey and so on.

Dolly

Dolly style is kind of like the colourful version of Lolita Goth.

Clothing should be frilly, lacy, and pretty. It’s a cross between Victoriana/and fairy tale rhymes. Gwen Stephani is a great influence and she has been seen to dress up the Doll look, or dress it down.

Here’s a few must-have rules to creating the look:

• Always wear stockings and show the garter straps

• Skirts should be short and very lacy and frilly

• Sleeves on jackets, blouses or tops must be cupped, the larger cupped the better!

• Blusher is vital, and pink lips

• Lace, lace, lace!

For inspiration: Gwen, Dolls, Vivienne Westwood, Lolita Goth.

Grunge

Now it’s hard not to look like a hobo when you dress grunge, but it kinda doesn’t matter if you do. The grunge culture has changed from cider and beer, to hardcore drugs (not that I would recommend taking hardcore drugs) but if you look half dead and like you should be living on the street – that’s all with the style!

Rags to be worn:

• Cut off tights/leggings

• Doctor Martins or skate shoes, or something cool like Nike Dunks.

• Vintage Punk band Tee’s

• Scruffy skinny jeans

Make up is permitted with this style, but something really “just got out of bed” like smudged eyeliner and messy or dreaded hair.

For inspiration listen to a lot of: Nirvana, Motorhead, Mudhoney and go to lots of festivals and get pissed up on ‘scrumpy jaaaaacck cideerrr’.

Retro/Vintage/Glam (Jane Goldman Style)

This is a confusing one, but my favourite of them all!

The style is about glamorous obscurity. It’s about patterns, retro patterns, floral patterns, downright strange patterns! It’s about curvaceous pretty dresses with something unconventional like bright red hair (Jane).

Basic pointers:

• Wear classic strong make-up

• Always wear feminine clothing

• Punk up patterned dresses with bright red hair or gothic make-up.

• Colours can be clashing, but generally bright and strong and beautiful.

Generally you’re punking/gothing up normal clothes. So in a way the punk/gothness stands out even more. Inspiration would be people like Jane Goldman, Tori Amos, and Bjork.