With the release of Lana del Rey’s first album Born to Die today, the media debate surrounding the controversial popstar seems to have gone into overdrive. In fact, it’s been pretty difficult to avoid Miss del Rey for the past five months, ever since her single Video Games became a YouTube hit, promoting a backlash of haters, sceptics and others berating the starlet for her music (it’s manufactured), her background (she’s rich), and yes, even her lips (they’re collagen).
It will come as no surprise though, given the singer’s honey-coloured wavy hair, exquisite face and retro-gangster style that the fashion world have been the first to immediately embrace her. Indeed, her hit Video Games was part of the track listing for both Christopher Kane and Emelio de la Morena’s fashion week shows way back in September, before most of us had even heard of the big-lipped one.
Then there are her spot-on designer choices for her public appearances. Wearing lamé gold Moschino for her first London gig proved she held a high fashion pedigree, while her choice of an Antonio Berardi white gown for her Born to Die video only cemented her great taste. After an invite to perform for Mulberry at their party at Chateau Marmont in Hollywood her reputation as a hot-to-watch style icon was confirmed. It’s only a matter of time before she’s gracing front rows everywhere.
So what is it about Lana that the fashion world can’t seem to get enough of? Well for a start, they don’t care about a fabricated back story – they relish them. Just look at Coco Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld, two of the biggest names in fashion in the last 50 years, they’re both surrounded by mythology that’s almost entirely untrue. Lady Gaga is another case in point (who, by the way, no one has ever attacked for creating a character that’s a ‘fabrication’). For the fashion world, Lizzie Grant’s past as a rich New Yorker isn’t important. We still buy the Gangster Nancy Sinatra act, because we see its appeal. Lana del Rey is just a character Lizzie Grant plays.
Secondly, Lana is hot, which is something the aesthetically-minded fashion world will always appreciate. With her golden-brunette hair, retro Veronica Lake style waves, false eye lashes, bee-stung lips and wardrobe of hot pants, fringed jackets, floral head bands and gold ghetto bling, she’s a bonafide style goddess, ready-packaged. Yet she’s still willing to try out new things, without stripping down to the skimpy outfits of Rihanna et all.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the fashion world has embraced her because she’s talented. Her music is good, and different, compared to the offerings of other female singers of the moment. Her self-titled ‘Hollywood sadcore’ style of crooning is undeniably unique – and is unlike anything else we’ve heard of late. Add to that her talent for knocking together YouTube videos entirely edited by herself, and her excellent performance as the saccharine, quasi-insipid character of ‘Lana del Rey’ in interviews and on stage, and you can appreciate that the lady knows what she’s doing. And at the end of the day, whether you love her or loath her, she’s made sure she’s the person everyone’s talking about – not bad for a 25-year-old rich girl from New York.
So there you have it, our defence of Lana del Rey – do you agree? Let us know below. And watch this space – she’s a style icon in the making.
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