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Why Won’t You Let Kelis Be Great? Agitating Style in Retrospect
When the recently divorced new mother, Kelis returned to the music scene, she declared what fashion heads already knew. Publically addressing her slew of emulators, it was as if the allegorical gates of visual justice flew open. Kelis was speaking the truth and no one contested her. This has generated a wide anticipation for Kelis’ fifth studio effort, “FleshTones” led by the dance song “Acapella.”
When we saw the iamkelis.com army of glossy skulls that fenced her, Kelis revived as the piercing lady of unprocessed edge. But nothing could prepare us for what happened next.
Kelis’ response to a PETA attack proved she was our reigning satirist of fashion. Kelis jokes, “And the paint throwing, that’s just ridiculous! What if I was hurling Louboutins and Pierre Hardys at every sad poorly dressed person on the street?” She questions, “What about art?” This led us to the recent red carpet photo of Kelis at the “First Annual Data Awards.” In a post-baby body that bangs, Kelis wore a fleshy jump suit oddly coupled with a black tuxedo jacket. Alexander McQueen’s Armadillo heels were nearly an afterthought to Kelis’ hyper-makeup, an ear to nose connecting chain and her near floor-length grey hair. Honestly, we didn’t know what to say. Heads bowed in somber. Our girl was taking it too far or so it seemed. The web exploded last Friday with criticisms from industry laypersons to aficionados. 83% of Clutch readers voted the look a drab. One reader commented, “It’s statue of liberty meets unicorn.” OK! magazine described the look as, “a fishy, Mel B – circa 98, weird attempt at Lady Gaga.” The Gaga comparisons continued over at New York Magazine’s The Cut. In a “Dear Kelis” letter that goes as far to call her an ass, the post read, “You are not Lady Gaga and this attempt at avant-garde fashion doesn’t compare to her get-ups.”
“You are not Lady Gaga and this attempt at avant-garde fashion doesn’t compare to her get-ups.” New York Magazine
Ummm…what? Since when did Lady Gaga become the go-to premier of style? Are we talking about the same artist who put her head in an eerie reef of horsy hay at last year’s “MTV Video Music Awards?” We don’t dispute that Gaga is a provocative artist whose unorthodox looks has inspired recent runway. We recognize that a source of these comparisons lie at Kelis’ choice to wear the McQueen’s after Gaga wore them in her “Bad Romance” video. Seemingly when Gaga experiments with fashion it’s grippingly revolutionary and when Kelis does it she becomes an ass. Now, we’re not defending Kelis but let’s be frank here. Gaga is a new artist. Kelis has been at this since 1999. What makes Gaga exempt from the legions of sycophants who have mirrored the looks of the sartorial influencers? Can you say Madonna?
Kelis did “edge” and “avant garde” before most of us knew what these forms were. It’s authenticity translated so sincerely because Kelis has never really been a manufactured project. When Kelis staged a protest in her debut video, “Caught Out There” marching down a street in a technicolored curly afro, she made it okay for the brown girls to be aesthetically unpredictable and to scream, “I hate you so much right now” on and off the track whenever he cheated. We clearly weren’t ready for the mode of wickedness she conjured up in “Get Along With You.” And when Kelis married rap king Nas, she did it unapologetically in an emerald green wedding gown. Let’s discuss who really put high-waisted denim on the map. In 2006, I personally searched the four corners of the earth trying to master Kelis’ “Bossy” look. Oh, and dare we talk of hair? Kelis’ style has progressed throughout the years from urban quirky to an unmatched congruency of high-street fashion. Our very own fashion joker, we can never tell what satchel of riddles Kelis will pop out. We love to decrypt her.
While Kelis’ “Data Awards” look among some of her other fashion misses have made us scratch our heads. Let us remember that the best of pop culture fashion is grounded in contention and should forever provoke. Kelis is deservingly iconic and will undoubtedly become a sustained point of reference in our cultural memory. If Kanye West can rant and ruin award show moments, why can’t Kelis be an Avatar?
Take a look at some of our fave Kelis looks
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Dont’ forget the constant Rihanna comparisons! I just think that people are going hard on Kelis because her divorce from Nas and subsequent alimony proceedings. Because Nas is holding back in the cut, remaining silent, and thankfully, Kelis is using her divorce for publicity, all of the blame goes to the one who’s out in public: Kelis.
Also, she has remained under the radar for so long (I roll my eyes at Kelis-detractors who lob the “she’s a one-hit wonder” as justification for their dislike) that it’s easy to presume she’s making an attempt at “relevance” by dressing crazy. Because everyone has such a short memory these days, and because people are so fickle and negative, that they are always ready to shred “has-beens” or “wannabees” to pieces, Kelis looks as easy a target as Ciara or Ashanti, etc.
It’s just too damn much these days that I don’t even like discussing music or the fashion choices of female musical artists at all.
Fab article. Kelis is awesome. She’s been doing her own thing for a min now and has constantly been under the radar. I love her music and her style. I try not to get too caught in the personal life (none of my business) but side note- why is everyone on Lady’s gaga’s questionable genitalia? I mean come on you have Kelis, Madonna, Grace Jones I mean hell even lil Kim was known for her fashion. etc. and ppl act like gaga sh!ts creativity and style. really?! Easy come easy go. Kelis has been doing the damn thang for a while. And I love how she’s not a gimick like so many other female artists. And thank you for the mention of last year’s MVA’s Twitter was blowing up after that disaster.LOL.
Its funny how quickly people forget, i refuse to be a fool and believe that lady googoo was the first for anything, rihanna, beyonce they got inspiration from someone before them but nobody really gives credit where its due anymore, we just like to call copy cat at any chance possible
Great article! Kelis forget how long Kelis has been around…She’s the queen of eccentric.
* I meant people forget how long Kelis has been around.
I stan for Kelis – always have, always will but I won’t deny that her outfit at the DATA awards had me a little stuck. (I’ll be the first to admit I’m confused by what I can’t understand). Needless to say, I still love her and am eagerly anticipating her new album.
For some reason though, high fashion and the “real girl” doesn’t always cross over so well when it comes to mainstream.
For starters, fashion is highly selective. What I like, someone else may not. Yet and still, I think the issue is far deeper than Kelis vs. Lady Gaga and who’s more avant garde.
I think it has to do with minorities in high fashion. I rarely play the race card but let’s call a spade a spade.
The same two sided argument was made when Beyonce wore Gareth Pugh in her Diva video.. Rihanna in her Viktor & Rolf on Oprah and at the Pre-Grammy party over the weekend. Ciara has worn looks from Givenchy’s Spring 2010 Couture show to her Grammy events and Kanye and Amber killed the fashion scene in Paris during the menswear and couture shows.
All have gotten side eyes and hateful comments.
Gaga wore those McQueen sea urchin shoes in her video and Daphne Guinness wore them in real life? The response “it’s marvelous dah-ling”..
But why not Kelis?
It’s not only mainstream that’s eating them alive. We have to look no further than our own community. We can be so negative and hateful sometimes and because of that I try my hardest to shy away from comments of the aforementioned.
The one thing that is consistent, however, is Kelis’ unapologetic way of life. She could care less and she’s always marched to her own drum.
In the lyrics of Solange, “If you don’t like it it’s probably cause you don’t get it”…. and that’s all that needs to be remembered
You Preach, Nicole. You’re back in my good graces after that “Amber Rose” nonsense on the model thread. I was “just sayin’ ” the same thing yesterday on the “Hot or Not” Kelis song thread on Concrete Loop about how racist these Kelis/ Princess Ri-Ri / Gaga comparisons are.
Finally!! Someone shining some much needed love on Kelis. I have loved her and her music since the beginning. She’s ALWAYS done her own thing.
The truth of the matter at hand is a term called “appropriation.”
I really hate turning everything into a black or white issue. But sometimes things simply boil down to the fact that white artists are allowed to be outlandish, creative and expressive; even co-opting large chunks of black culture…
*White audiences (the paying audience) like to see themselves (as the face) and at the forefront music (Beatles, Elvis, M&M, Justin)
But when black artists do it the media (and including our own) will do its best to make the artists seem like a freakazoid. Black artists can not stand alone and expect to commercially do well (as well as be respected) if they don’t team up with a white artist. However…white artists can just be white and ack black and be cool as shit. *Cough* Justin Timberfake* Cough* It’s just as simple as that.
Case in point…Pharrel & Gwen Stefani (remember her?), or the Black Eye Peas astronomical rise to success after they added Fergie to the Mix (I doubt they’d be this successful if Fergie weren’t thrown in). Appropriation in Music and Creativity is real.
Everyone knows that Black people invent and create everyday. But packaging and distributing is a whole nother ball game that’s not in our hands. When this is the case Kelis has slim chance to none being rewarded for her risque antics.
girl, no comment……I think the whole hollywood scene is crazy.
Insanely dope picture of Kelis by the way. Strong points and I am in total agreeance with you. Me personally…not sold on Lady Gaga, she needs more people. I think this part of your article pretty much spoke volumes and is a question that the “critics” need to ask themselves, “Gaga is a new artist. Kelis has been at this since 1999. What makes Gaga exempt from the legions of sycophants who have mirrored the looks of the sartorial influencers? Can you say Madonna?”
Enough said!!!
For years people have been stealing her style and taking credit for it.
“Can you say Madonna?”
and
“Kelis did “edge” and “avant garde” before most of us knew what these forms were.”
I defended Kelis against that ridiculous article from “The Cut” yesterday – but I definitely knew about “edge” and “avant garde” before Kelis came on the scene. Can you say Prince? Grace Jones? LaBelle? Elton John? Just like Lady Gaga, Kelis had plenty of predecessors (and stronger influences I would argue) than just Madonna.
Hi Nichelle,
Thank you for your comment. I do believe the piece suggested most people didn’t know about edge and avant garde style before Kelis. I’m happy you proclaim to be an exception. This article does not suggest that Kelis hasn’t been influenced. Arguably, Kelis’ style has represented a break-through of subversive fashion for the Hip Hop Generation. Hence her company of carbons. Clearly, we all know she has been influenced by the icons that proceeded her in earlier periods. Who hasn’t? The focus of this piece is a review of Kelis’ style, her “Data Awards” look and some of the criticism that followed. It’s not a comprehensive review of all influential taste-makers in pop culture iconography and fashion portraiture. Perhaps I’ll consider doing a feature on this if we haven’t already done it. The reference to Madonna is in regard to Gaga. Happy Reading! xo gt.
yeah I’m sorry that pink body suit, horns, and tail were just plain ugly. there was no attempt at fashion. she was just going for the reaction and attention.
None of those pictures illustrate any far-reaching style. Those looks are simply chic and a tad different (blue curly fro…and?), but what she’s doing now just seems like an empty plea for attention.
One of the best articles ever. I’m glad someone recognize the trendsetter in which Kelis is. BUT…the Data Awards’ outfit was wrong…although the tuxedo jacket and pink bodysuit were cool..just a combination of it was just bizarre. All in all, I stan for Kelis..and always will. Looking forward to her new music.
So, what part of cutting down one person (Gaga) to lift someone else up (Kelis) is suppose to be effective here? Not the female empowerment Clutch I know…
Not sure anyone is necessarily cutting Lady Gaga down (except me… I don’t get it. She makes my eyes hurt). I think the point is that it’s pretty insulting to say someone went ten years into the future and stole someone else’s style/gimmick.
And quite frankly, I think for Kelis it’s style and for Gaga, it’s a gimmick. Someone else was unimpressed by the photos included of Kelis at the end, but that kind of bolsters my point: Kelis doesn’t pretend she wears Lego dresses and shark fins everywhere she goes. I think she simply wears what she likes when she feels like it. Lady Gaga will hardly be seen in public unless she’s wearing a yeti fur leotard and shoes made of recycled cell phones. Gimmick, gimmick, gimmick. “LooOOOoooOOOk at meeeEEEeeeeEEEeee! I’m kooky an’ ca-ra-zay! Buy my album!” Psh.
I just came here to say that I fucking love Kelis and that outfit was badass! Only she could have pulled that off. She looked otherwordly and I loved it. She is fly as shit and just had a baby. Get it Kelis!!!
And her hair color was banging!!!
Great article!! I love her!!
While everything isn’t for everyone, I do believe I that I get Kelis…. I’ve been a huge Kelis fan for years and I too wake up and put on WHATEVER the hell I want (covering myself of course).
I don’t care if it matches, don’t care if it’s weird whatevs?!
It’s quite exhilarating and freeing to say the least.
I think there was a point where her weirdness complimented her. NOW, it is weirdness for the sake of weirdness. Nothing wrong with that, but like Rhianna, they seem to get it right when they first come out. Then they take it tooo far, where it starts to look like they are trying to hard.
Kelis is my girl! (I’m not too keen on the public alimony disputes with NAS though because they seem to make her money-grubbing, but I digress). Kelis has been original since day ONE. She was never a follower…her uniqueness and sometimes seemingly off-the-wall gear are nothing new and they are not contrived! It is really ashame that she cannot get her just due her, but wack-behind, TOTALLY contrived Lady Gaga gets to be the toast of the town for forcing weirdness down our throats. Ridiculous!
good article
this article is what I’ve been telling people. when Kelis came in the business people percieved her as “wierd”, but now she still has her same “I don’t give a f@ck” attitude but now she is an ass? the comparisons to Lady Gaga are upsurd. Gaga(as much as I love her) is a gimic. She was not like this 2 years ago, she was a “regular” preppy white girl. She was made by everyone at her record label to be the modern day Madonna. No one in the Hip-Hop community is like Kelis, but much of the artists of today mimic her!
Kelis has always been avante guarde, even in high school (she was a few years older).
Thing is, even though she was never afraid to take risks, that Statue of Liberty look was more Lady GaGa and not Kelis. If you compare Lady GaGa’s outrageous fashion to Kelis’ outrageous fashion you can still see that their styles were NEVER the same. They’re both aliens from two totally different planets. I’ll give Kelis props in that she did originate a lot of style (ie, what Rihanna’s doing) but that last look just seemed really forced, which is rare for Kelis.
The truth of the matter is Kelis recent looks are very forced and her style was never as crazy as Lady Gaga…Kelis is reaching for much needed ATTENTION because truth be told her new releases are very mediocre and she is trying to capture some publicity for her new album…which I feel will be a total FLOP! When you are desperate you tend to go overboard and just look like a straight Hot Ass Mess in the process of trying to be different!
How is her look similar to Gaga? Other than the shoes (which were given to her by McQueen himself last month) how is it Gaga? Gaga wouldn’t wear this, it isn’t even her aesthetic. The look is very Daphne Guiness or even Bjork but I see no Gaga here. People just saw “bizarre” fasion and attributed Gaga’s name to it because that’s all they know and she’s “it” right now. If you read her interviews she said she was going in an animalistic, futurustic-disco direction with her album.
And honestly I don’t think she’s ever done shit for attention. I think she just likes to have fun with fashion, her and Damon (her friend in the pics) are having a ball in those pics lol. IMO is fashion girls label her “fashionable and a trendsetter” but I don’t think it’s ever been her intention. She just does her. Now days everybody is trying to be “fashion” and avan garde” which makes it all so boring and passe.
Also to the person who commented on her music failing. Her current single with no video or major digital distribution yet is already a top 15 on Billboards dance chart and I’m sure it’ll be another smash for her.
Kelis always has one major hit…per album and still flops!
Seriously yall. You know Kelis wakes up and TRIES to look a mess most of the time. This madness isn’t premeditated, it’s an accident. I’m sorry. Theres eccentric, and then there’s taking it to far and Kelis is off the deep end for the new look she’s been rocking these days.
Is there really anything to get? I don’t think its really that deep. Why do people care so much. I think people are proving her point. She has accomplished what she has set out to do. People are giving her way too much credit. haha
She gets soo much hate and for what? wearing a pink body suit? marrying Nas?
Do people really think her main priority is to be the talk of all these blogs and sell millions of albums?
And Lady Gaga…….really…
Kelis doesn’t get enough credit. WTF? “She gets too much credit.”
Lady Gaga is nothing but a creation, nothing about her is authentic like Kelis.
But I guess because shes black people look at her as if shes crazy and Gaga as a fashion icon. SMH
LOL, Truth & Jasmine – ITA!!! Those pictures actually illustrate her lack of avant garde dress sense…her music is wick…her attempts at being different are boring, same with Rhianna! Nice hair though!
This is a very well written article! Lovely! Never been much of a Kelis fan, but now I have a new respect for her. Let and artist be an artist!
Great post! That NY Mag post was hoorriibbbllleee. The “rihanna cut” everyone had… Kelis did it yrs before. The dyed tips… she started. Kelis is fly and her style is great. The styling in the ‘bossy’ video was trendsetting (not to say she styled herself.. but she does get to pick her stylists)
Plus, she left a note on blog. which was beyond sweet. (hand written)
xo
MosaMuse
Rihanna stole her hair! Well actually that’s unfair and untrue
Really it just shows how unoriginal we all are.. Go ask your Mum if she sported “way back when” your current hairstyle that you think is soo cool..
I say lets just share the art, the creativity.. the world is too infinite to say we were the 1st at anything.. except maybe for creating the Post It note? : – )
Kelis is stupid and crazy. Cant stand her. She is so weird.
I dare them compare her to Lady Gaga. First off, Kelis has always been unique with her style, there’s no copying. The media is giving Lada Gaga way too much credit.
When I look at those pics at the bottom of the article I see more of a comparison to Rihanna than Lady “Blah Blah”..I think Rihanna is totally ripping off Kelis…Thanks for this article..I was almost on the band wagon of disliking Kelis but quickly came to my senses! (Whew, the media is a mother f**er!! )I was always a fan of her individuality and a few of her songs…&& WHO EVER wears those atrocious shoes by McQueen, well, there just aren’t enough words..disdain, woeful, deplorable are some that come to mind…BTW, I love the gray color of her horsetail braid, not so much the horsetail part though…can’t wait til im all gray!! Would love to know how to get there prematurely..How did she get that gray in the last pic??????? I wanna it..LOL
i wasn’t very happy when i saw that article on NYmag. i mean kelis is the EPITOME of style. it’s crazy how when someone wears something everyone wants to call them out for looking like a so called fool but another person wears it in the same wacky ass way at that everyone in swooning. give me a damn break! it’s all about favoritsm that’s all. but kelis doesn’t give a damn she is bad ass :)
I am sorry, but before Kelis there was GRACE JONES.
This is all so cyclical. I like Kelis, but she is not the first, nor the last to do eccentric, avant-garde, out-of-the-box fashion.
I agree that she was certainly on the scene before Lady GaGa, who is nothing more than a Madonna/Elton-John rip-off, but neither of these ladies is an originator of these looks.
And Rihanna damn sure isn’t any more original than the other 2. It’s all been done and she’s trying a tad too hard.
I do like Kelis because of her genuine rawness. She’s not “trying” to be edgy, she is who she is. I love her early works…I hate you so much right now. Kelis was empowered and kicking arse long before Rihanna or Beyonce decided to get “girl-empowered” and they still can’t touch the rage that Kelis brings to the mic. So I give her props.