Loud and Tasteless – Audiofemme

LOUD & TASTELESS: Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem

Every Thursday, AudioFemme profiles a style icon from the music world. This week our icon is Brian Fallon, who embodies Johnny Cash plus tattoo sleeves. He can wear the same white t-shirt one hundred different ways, all while keeping a lit cigarette in his mouth during a photo shoot. Despite being a scruffy New Jersey native, Fallon gives charming a new look: newsy caps, flannel, and wayfarers. Similar to Bruce Springsteen—whom Fallon holds a penchant for—he carries that similar Jersey character with a badass edge. But don’t be mistaken: the influences are just that, and Fallon is forging his own path with his unique style.

Frontman and guitarist for The Gaslight Anthem, Fallon and the boys regularly sell out shows at The Stone Pony in their home state. The whole band keep their punk fashion intact while performing; Benny Horowitz, Alex Rosamilia, and Alex Levine sport sleeveless tees, leather jackets and vests over hoodies to complete their unkempt yet dapper style. The Gaslight Anthem may have been around for about seven years, but their style has remained classic and bonafide, much like their music.

If you’re unfamiliar with this week’s style icon or The Gaslight Anthem as a whole, consider checking out their debut 2007 record, Sink or Swim. Fallon’s rusty voice makes it easy to imagine his rugged looks and New Jerseyan roots.

The band are currently on tour through the U.S., but in the meantime you can get a look at their style through their music video for the single off their third album, “American Slang,” below!

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LOUD & TASTELESS: Dum Dum Girls

Every Thursday, AF profiles a style icon from the music world. This week, in honor of the release of Too True, we’re profiling Dum Dum Girls. Front-woman Dee Dee Penny translates Dum Dum’s 60’s girl garage band sound into a rocker chic aesthetic, choosing dramatic silhouettes like bell-sleeved mini-dresses and all-over lace. The band’s rotating line-up has always followed suit, often donning all-black or all-white garb for a cohesive stage presence. Dum Dum Girls are so renowned for wearing zany patterned tights that artists have made them motifs for screen-printed show posters. You’ll often see the girls sporting chic accessories as well, from wide-brimmed hats, bold necklaces, and platform boots to the quintessential leather jackets and dark shades. And no Dum Dum Girls look would be complete without tasteful black liquid liner and vibrant lip color.

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LOUD & TASTELESS: Sigur Rós

Every Thursday, AF profiles a style icon from the music world. This week, check out the beautiful boys of Sigur Ros, whose inimitably dark and mysterious ethos have ladies (and gentlemen) across the globe swooning.

I’ve honestly never read 50 Shades of Grey, despite the swarm of girls flocking to a Barnes and Nobles to retrieve a copy. Of course I heard (and endlessly saw on Facebook), all about women dreaming of that perfect man while discovering their sexuality. Luckily, I didn’t need that book for either. And if I was still in middle school and needed to read something to spark my inner fantasies, it would certainly be about a boy in a band, dressed in all spectrums of dark. When it came to attitude, he would certainly be a “bad boy.” But what would he wear? I’m thinking of a bandmate who can literally pull off all fifty shades of grey. He would be professionally and classically decked out with hints of rebellion. His music would reflect in his fashion: dark, mysterious, clean, held together with military buttons. I don’t think any of us can pronounce their names quite as melodically as their music sounds, but I think the members of Sigur Ros dresses like that man.

Formed in the largest city in Iceland, current members Jón Pór Birgisson, Kjartan Sveinsson, Georg Hólm, and Orri Páll Dýrason, nailed it after two decades; their style is eloquently elusive. They can sport blue jeans, but rock black slacks with more sophistication, which are usually paired with a wrinkle-free sweater, dark button-up, or a Sherlock Holmes-esque blazer. However, Sigur Ros dresses down too- unwinding with solid v-necks, bright plaid patterns, and stripes. Their clothes are unfailingly form-fitting; they invariably look sharp in every photo shoot. The experimental band carries that shadowy style with them on stage, too. There’s an appreciable amount of live videos that underscore their aphoristic stage presence. Their shows can seem opaque and very dark, but think of it as a nebulous glow, seeing and hearing space, delicately.

Get sartorially inspired by the group’s dapper look, via our Pinterest page. And while you’re at it, listen to ekki múkk via Soundcloud, here:

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LOUD & TASTELESS: Perfect Pussy’s Meredith Graves

Every Thursday, AF profiles a style icon from the music world. This week, check out Perfect Pussy’s Meredith Graves, whose inimitable punk rock-chic has us all ready to get pixie cuts of our very own and stock up on vintage Jackie O dresses.

Syracuse front-woman Meredith Graves is small yet loud, cute but brash, and may or may not, have a Perfect Pussy. Then again, who does? The 26-year old punk vocalist maintains an appearance that is far sweeter than the sound of her voice (and the things that pop up when you google “Perfect Pussy” sans safe-search). Graves has the blithe smile of a screen actress and jet-black pixie crop that makes her look like she wakes up in a lily pad dewdrop every morning more so than sing in a hardcore band. I love a girl who can yell her lungs out while looking like Twiggy’s evil twin in a red A-line mini dress. Hell, she even sports ruffles sometimes. Check out how to get Graves’ look here!

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LOUD AND TASTELESS: Karen O. from Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Every Thursday, AF profiles a style icon from the music world. This week, we bring you Karen O, whose loud mixed patterns and punk rock glam has been setting trends for over a decade.

When Yeah Yeah Yeahs released Fever To Tell in 2003, Karen O already had a reputation as one of the New York dance-punk scene’s most brazen babes. Her off-the-wall aesthetic extended from her fashion sense, to her outrageous behavior, the band’s raw glam rock sound, the DIY-inspired album and artwork and merch, and the band’s cool, creepy videos. What was hard to imagine back then was that Karen O would be able to keep up with her own antics. But ten years later, she’s only grown more creative, remaining a true visionary when it comes to owning an outfit.

Karen O’s madcap style grew out of her beginnings as a visual artist. Her crazed costume collaborations with Christian Joy put her on the style map from the get-go. Part wardrobe, part wearable art installation, Karen’s outfits were just the beginning of her rowdy performance persona. She has said in interviews that certain outfits served like a Superman costume, imbuing her with momentous power and confidence. She’s never given up her classic mic-swallowing, water-spitting moves, even as her style has evolved.

From outrageous patterns far wild than your typical animal print to gold and silver lamé bubble dresses, one-of-a-kind kimonos, and custom-made costumes, you’d have to get a little crafty to totally emulate Karen O’s style. When she’s not modeling berserk ornaments and prints, she’s keeping it cool with studs, but even her trusty leather jacket is personalized with her initials. In the video for “Despair,” she rocks a yellow jacket, studs on the collar – classy and edgy simultaneously!

Accompanying her sterling jackets are usually silk-screened tees, with some kitschy images like hearts, coffee cups, or lipstick. Other times she goes for simple stripes. Karen O ais one of the most elegant and edgy punk-rock chicks to ever dress for the stage. We’ve provided some suggestions for incorporating her bad-ass style into your own look on our Pinterest board below. Browse while listening to one of this avant-garde fashionista’s most recent jams here:

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LOUD & TASTELESS: Empress Of

Every Thursday, AF profiles a style icon from the music world. This week’s icon is Lorely Rodriguez, the Brooklynite better known as Empress Of. She made her rounds at CMJ 2013 and stole our hearts with her dreamy pop and feminine menswear.

Though relatively new to the music scene, Empress Of is already stealing our hearts. Her hits like “Champagne” and “Hat Trick” have the perfect combination of dreamy ’90s pop and new-age synthesizers to get a crowd to hang on her every note during performances. And then there is her clothing. She combines oversized blazers with awesome print pants to accentuate her tiny frame. Who doesn’t love a good pant? Other times, she’s sporting button-ups, and there’s usually a collar involved. It’s business meets girly, much like her music. While we wait for her to rise to stardom on the radio, we’ll be busy ordering every peter pan collar shirt ModCloth will let us buy. Check out our Pinterest page for ideas on how to nab Rodriguez’s sweet style.

Before you do, listen to “Realize You”, one of our faves from the talented beauty, here via Soundcloud:

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