Iconic Musicians That Embody "Camp: Notes on Fashion"
Graphic via Angela Cheng. Images via Getty Images.
With this year’s Met Gala theme, “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” the unnatural is chic and the marginalized are celebrated. In the art world, those that have broken through convention and were perceived as “weird” became the most watershed. This theme opens up endless routes for explosive expression. My first thought upon hearing this theme took me to the music world. Stars have used their fame to explore their style and create movements throughout history. Among these icons, some have created legacies that I believe truly encompass the “Camp” aesthetic.
David Bowie
No one cross-dresses quite like Bowie. He resisted gender labels in the fashion world that came before his rise to fame. Bowie made long hair for men cool and was one of the earliest faces to represent the wave of unisex fashion that began trending in the ‘60s. Unisex style ebbed into androgyny and Bowie pioneered the movement towards dramatic makeup, wild hair, and theatrical performance. Bowie’s alter-ego, “Ziggy Stardust,” who he introduced in 1972, became a queer symbol in pop culture, rocking an orange wig and skin-tight bodysuits.
Bowie challenged sexuality in his performances, particularly in his Ziggy Stardust Tour of 1973, using iconic looks of Tokyo Pop to break down the classical shapes that defined sexuality.
Image via Classical Album Sundays
Prince
Prince brought androgyny into the mainstream and made it hot. He came out as genderfluid and flamboyantly rocked his versatile sexuality with his pumps, fatherly stoles, bodysuits, and liquid-y leather. Renowned for his epic cross-dressing looks, Prince wore velvety purple, an unlikely but bold color for his time, to highlight his vibrantly queer identity. Changing his own name into a “love symbol,” Prince created a movement that celebrated blurred gender lines. In “I Would Die 4 U”, he sings “I'm not a human/ I am a dove/ I'm your conscious/ I am love.” Prince defied expectations in every aspect of his life. He brought “Camp” aesthetics to the next level by introducing it into pop culture. His over-the-top performances mixed blackness, sex, and glamour to create an experience that people will remember for decades. Prince speaks to the American “Camp” aesthetic. The red carpet at this year’s Met Gala will likely be mirroring some of his iconic looks.
Image via Ebet Roberts/Redferns/Getty Images
Cher
This rock star is still touring at 73 years old. Cher has moved between acting and singing, never fully associating with one or being accepted by either, but has still remained successful as an independent star. She’s become her own category of fame. “Cher” became the face of the badass diva. Her retro style has been replicated by modern pop stars today, including Rihanna. The matching crop top sets, slinky silk gowns, and vinyl that are once again mainstream trends have been sported by Cher since the ‘60s. The cutting-edge, glamorous looks, including the sheer naked embellished bodysuits that we now associate with stars like the Kardashians, were done by Cher first.
Image via ITV/REX/Shutterstock
Lady Gaga
As this year’s co-chair of the Met Gala, Lady Gaga is the perfect fit for the theme. Gaga has given a voice to outcast youth and gained a following for her provocative and controversial costumes. Never short of showstopping, she has worn a meat costume and a red dress and mask presented as an extension of a giant red Alexander McQueen crown. But after her more natural debut in A Star Is Born, Gaga’s look this year could truly be anything. Gaga is her own alter ego, giving a voice to people who are afraid to express their individuality.
Image via Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty
Billie Eilish
A young phenomenon, this talented musician cannot be easily placed in a category. Billie Eilish is a modern-day rebellious teen who is experiencing life in the limelight by engaging with the public through interviews, while also remaining cold and removed on social media. Eilish is constantly evolving her style and sound as she ages through her career. Her iconic blue hair is a signature of hers, along with her baggy and boxy streetwear that she accessorizes with chains and bulky accessories. Eilish experiments with fashion by wearing head-to-toe Louis Vuitton, full tracksuits, and outfits that are monochromatic from her bucket hat to her sneakers. Eilish’s unisex outfits show high fashion from the mind of a young female celebrity who is presenting her own take on edgy style.
Image via Interscope