Beth Ditto On Punk, High Heels And Breaking All Fashion's Rules
Tuesday November 3, 2009 2:07 p.m.
Photo Credit: Composite Image by Air America
In a interview on the CondeNast-owned Style.com, The Gossip lead singer Beth Ditto opens up about punk, the 'awful'-ness of high heels, and when and why she decided to start breaking all of fashion's rules.
Editor's Note: Before we go on, I'm well aware that fashion isn't necessarily the most interesting of topics to Air America's audience, but it's icons like Beth Ditto that I want this lifestyle page to highlight. Style is not about how you look compared to Ralph Lauren's unattainable standards, but rather about how you look makes you feel--which is to say: style should always make you feel good. And Ditto, who is obviously an unconventional style star, is a champion of embracing what society might call your flaws but what are, in reality, simply your features. In other words: Ditto is a progressive, through and through.
Onwards!
Ditto on fashion's so-called rules:
"I love to break all the rules I was taught as a kid. I've always been a fat kid--like, really chubby. And so I was taught a lot to not, like, wear horizontal stripes, not to wear floral patterns and not to wear anything too crazy or colorful. And I think, you know, when I was around 18, I started to undo all these rules I had learned. And I started to dress really crazy all the time."
On the inanity of high-heels:
"I'm really into looking decent and being comfortable at the same time. Because I think if you look uncomfortable you don't look good. And that's something you see in a lot of people, like, running down the street in these awful shoes. I'm like, 'You don't have any swagger. You look crazy. Just wear some flats!'"
On the shallow-ness of fashion and the inspiration of punk:
"I think that fashion is an incredibly poweful tool. I think that punk would have been nothing without fashion. Punk was nothing if not fashion. People are "Oh, fashion is so shallow," well--the people in fashion can be really shallow but I don't ever feel like the designers are really shallow...My experience with them is that they are incredible artists who are working with a very broad spectrum who are working in a very narrow industry."
WATCH:
There are 9 comments
I like her music but it ain't Punk if that's what she's claiming.
Otherwise, yeah, she's cool for blazing her own path and giving the middle finger to anyone who tries to lay rules on her... and that is Punk.
She is also out of the closet and sings a great song called "Standing In The Way of Control" http://tiny.cc/BPqeg which was written in response to outlawed gay marriage
Uff,
I'm glad to hear that her voice is as beautiful as her style and her body. I'm going to learn more about her as an artist, for sure, but I just love that she's so lush and beautiful! And so Not afraid to show it! Rock On, Beth Ditto!!!!
@rumble
I'd much rather look at Beth Ditto than some anorexic stick insect of a model that looks like she was just liberated from Auschwitz.
Are you either of you kidding? She is disgusting. The last thing we need to celebrate is another obese American. Put down the cupcakes and get some exercise.
@mara5525
I actually heard a song by Gossip just a few weeks ago, and I liked it alot. I didn't know anything about the group or lead singer until this article above, so it's good to know that she's as talented as she is beautiful. Her voice is as unique as her style.
Yes, I agree completely, Uffdaguy: Beth Ditto is wonderfully confident!!! She Should be, because she's stylish, unique and gorgeous. That said, she's in the public eye, which is very ruthless on women, in general, and women of size, in particular. I really LOVE Beth Ditto for this - for having the guts to be where she is, and be completely unapologetic about her beautiful body. In previous ages, she would be universally celebrated for her lush body. She is also very talented, from what I can tell of her voice. Still, it's her message of self-acceptance and her "in-your-face" plus-size body that I find so vital and of so much value, to see in the media. Young girls (and all women) would do well to give her the admiration she deserves! Men, too! I'm glad you see and acknowledge this, Uff.
I have to agree with you on that one mara! Not only is she beautiful, but she is attractive because she is comfortable with who she is and what she looks like. As some commercial once said, confidence is sexy.
Beth Ditto is Absolutely F*ck*n BEAUTIFUL!!!!
How can anyone Not see this? She's gorgeous!!!! I hope to god that she never loses the weight; it looks So Good on her! How could a man want to be w/some little boney something when he could possibly get a Great looking gal like our Ms Ditto??? Hell, as a woman, I'd like to be her or do her. I mean no disrespect, but this woman is HOT!!! Plus, she's a Great Role Model. Women hate their bodies soooo much. They are at war w/them and people, in general, are at war w/fat people. Ms Ditto is fat, but I bet she's also healthy in body, because she's active and because she has such a great, healthy attitude!!! And, I LOVE her fashion sense! C'mon, she looks so damn BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I was joking about Michele Bachmann's arms looking good (joking because: who gives a sh*t when Bachmann is such an idiot)? But Beth Ditto, well, she's my style idol. She's fearless. God bless her. She's a HERO to the masses, who are always been told how ugly, stupid and unhealthy they are.
Go, Beth Ditto!!!! She's not too fat, and certainly not too thin. I LOVE how she looks! I LOVE how she is!!!!! I just DO!!!!!!
Post a Comment
You are not logged in:
Log In | Register