Stevie Nicks: the mighty empress of rock n’ roll. A woman of mystic proportion, with a fashion affinity that dances between the persona of a fairy-like angel and a bewitched woodland-coven-escapee.
Seamlessly stitching the gentle grace of a nymph with the spell casting ability of a deep-forest-dwelling witch, Nicks has done it all: she’s been the front woman the songwriter; the solo artist; and the muse. Nicks joined the boisterous British Blues outfit Fleetwood Mac with guitarist Lindsey Buckingham in 1975, and the two broke new sonic ground for the band.
As Cameron Crowe put it, Nicks quickly took on the role of “the whirling dervish Welsh witch Rhiannon,” forever altering the Fleetwood Mac soundscape and paving the way for what it means to sit in the rock n’ roll throne as a female songstress. Nicks can captivate with her heart grasped tightly in her hand on a song like “Sara” (1979) and--on the very same record--metamorphosize into a crystal gazing, possessed spirit like she does on “Sisters of the Moon,” proving that her blend of magic knows no bounds.
With her signature willowy style, Nicks feels most herself on-stage in witchy handkerchief-hem maxi dresses and skirts, bell sleeved hippie blouses, and glam-rock-adjacent high-heeled chunky boots. She is a perennial fan of velvet, lace, and any fabric with movement to it that swirls like the wind. Stevie Nicks Key Piece from The Hippie Shake: here / here
☆ Consider adding a variation: five general key pieces of clothing/accessories ☆
1✿ Bell sleeve top with a tie front or plunging neckline
2✿ Long sleeve sheer top or shawl with embellishments or lace
3✿ Hats to bring an edge to a look
4✿ Dresses in monochromatic colours that have a handkerchief hem
5✿ Platform boots, shoes, heels
Jimi Hendrix was an anomaly of a superstar as much as he was an unparalleled talent. In spite of his worldwide fame and the extreme admiration that he garnered in his short career as an incendiary guitarist and songwriter, he kept a humble head on his shoulders.
In a television interview with Dick Cavett in 1969, Hendrix was asked “What do you like to hear when people come up to you after a show? What kind of compliment do you like?” Hendrix replied “I don’t know... I don’t really live on compliments--matter of fact it has a way of distracting me and a whole lot of other musicians & artists… they get fat and satisfied and they get lost, they forget about the actual talent that they have.”
His sense of style was the antithesis of his attitude towards fame, as Hendrix tended to choose bright colors and clashing patterns that garnered attention. The influence of the psychedelic movement in the 1960s permeated Hendrix from the music he made to what he wore when performing, and he adored accessorizing to almost the point of overindulgence. Hendrix would most often reach for a billowing scarf, a pair of bell bottomed pants, a ruffled medieval-style blouse with interest at the sleeve, and anything brimming with feathers or fur. He loved paisley, bright tie-dye, tapestry print, and anything with a relaxed fit and stylistic flair.
Jimi Hendrix Key Pieces from The Hippie Shake:
here / here / here
☆ Consider adding a variation: five general key pieces of clothing/accessories ☆
1✿ Tapestry print long sleeve shirt with big sleeves
2✿ Psychedelic print scarves for neck, head, hat, or leg garnish
3✿ Bell bottom jeans or velvet pants
4✿ Ornate beaded or embellished vest
5✿ Velvet suit with a prominent jewelry piece
David Bowie had a river soul: he was ever-flowing and ever-changing; a living symbol that nothing stays the same. From entering the world of music in the mid-sixties as a young David Jones, slowly dipping his toe in style expression by boasting a mod haircut and a skinny tie, to high-stepping into a shining new era with each record release, Bowie was decidedly rooted in shapeshifting as an artist.
His era that he most likened to transforming into a musical messiah was Ziggy Stardust (1971-1973). Bowie glided into androgyny with scorching ginger hair and figure-hugging silhouettes, and the music he made in that time reflected that same inner effervescence of glamorous self-expression.
He would tilt his chin down and skulk about the stage in just about anything Kansai Yamamoto made, as long as it was sure to make spectators gasp in shock or scream in delight. Bowie would don a “woodland creature” playsuit one night, a one-legged scandalous jumpsuit the next, or a knit costume complete with detached sleeves and leg warmers. Ziggy thrived on being a character. What he wore most were sky-high platform shoes, categorically feminine glittery tops, glimmering jester jackets with outrageous collars, and anything that flattered his long, shapely legs. Bowie placed no limits on how far he pushed the style envelope, and perennially toed the line between what was seen before and what had never been done at all.
David Bowie Key Piece from The Hippie Shake: here / here
☆ Consider adding a variation: five general key pieces of clothing/accessories ☆
1✿ Velvet playsuit in a color block or jester print
2✿ Vibrant print jumpsuit that hugs the figure
3✿ Interplanetary and glittering androgynous two piece suits with no shirt underneath or lingerie
4✿ Feminine necklines on tops, often an eye catching print
5✿ Tall platform boots or loafers
On the surface, the mighty Janis Joplin seemed a force not easily intimidated or swayed, but underneath her frenetic fervor was a little girl who wondered if she was worthy.
Singing and performing served as a form of catharsis for Joplin: it freed her from the shackles of insecurity that were placed upon her in her youth for the way she looked. With horrors such as being nominated as ‘The Ugliest Man on Campus’ at The University Texas in 1963, the real world seemed a cruel place, and music was a welcoming friend that cradled her when nothing else did.
Joplin reigns as one of the greatest female powerhouses to ever hold a mic, but what was most incredible about her was not only her voice, but the authenticity that poured out of her. The raw emotion in her weathered voice can be felt to the bone, and to watch her get lost in the groove is a thing of legend. Her stage presence was never an act for Joplin, and sometimes she herself seemed simply a vessel for the power and intoxication of music. With her courage to express herself, she set a new standard for female singers that was distinct from catering to the male gaze.
Joplin tended to lean towards popular fashion of the 1960s, such as: mod style mini dresses with tights, flared pants, Laurel-Canyon-esque long sleeve flowy blouses, and her signature fur hat (until c. 1970 when Joplin often sported feathers in her hair and around her neck). Joplin liked to highlight her femininity in modest ways that inspired confidence, and she liked fabrics that she could cut a rug in above all else.
Janis Joplin Key Piece from The Hippie Shake: here
☆ Consider adding a variation: five general key pieces of clothing/accessories ☆1✿ Feather boa to clip into hair or wear around neck
2✿ Tall fur hat
3✿ Long sleeve buttoned top with a psychedelic print and bell sleeves
4✿ Flared pants in solid colors
5✿ Arm bangles and long, draped necklaces with spirit and movement to them
Sir Elton John is an icon in every sense of the word. Aside from the honor of being knighted by the Queen of England for his musical brilliance and his philanthropy in the AIDS/HIV crisis, Elton is celebrated worldwide for his generous heart and incomparable contributions to music.
From the earliest days of his career, Elton’s transparency on his inextricable bond with songwriter Bernie Taupin pulled the curtain back on the synergy that exists between musician and songwriter, allowing light to be shed on the significance of support behind the face of an artist.
In the 1970s, Elton used fashion as yet another stream in which to boast his creative mastery. From dressing in a sequin-doused baseball uniform to match Dodgers stadium in 1975 to paralleling his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a custom star-studded lime green suit at the unveiling ceremony that same year, Elton’s extravagant stagewear was often themed with the occasion.
Throughout his lengthy career, Elton has always leaned into being over-the-top. In the seventies, he most adored platform boots and heels, flamboyant eyewear (namely star-shaped and/or of excessively large size), and brightly patterned suit and blazer sets. Even today, the fashion that Elton wears greatly reflects his love for absurdity through clothing: what some might see as overdone would surely make for an Elton classic.
Elton John Key Piece from The Hippie Shake: here
☆ Consider adding a variation: five general key pieces of clothing/accessories ☆
1✿ Star-shaped or oversized glasses
2✿ Vibrantly coloured two-piece suits in loud prints
3✿ Add flair through dressing up a part of an otherwise normal piece, such as adding puffy fur sleeves or sailor striped lapels on a coat
4✿ Sequins and glitter across the board: from on the skin, to the clothing, to the shoes
5✿ Excessively large jewellery as a statement piece
Words By Olivia Lane
Instagram - @Ladyolivialane
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