Fashion & Style L4
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Diana Ross Diva Style Master class Eyola eyola@aol.com
Empowering music with a gravity-defying afro in tow, multi award-winning musician and actress Diana Ross has a style that commands attention. This legendary diva is best known for the sparkly ensembles she stylishly rocked during her tenure as lead singer of the most successful musical girl group of the ‘60s - The Supremes. Most of the outfits worn by her and her band mates were in fact made by Diana herself - an aspiring fashion designer who completed a design course at Cass Technical High School in Detroit (US). Diana made sure to merge her fashion talent with her musical career and like fashion pioneers before her (e.g. Gabrielle Chanel), Diana adopted a signature look that became her style uniform.
Still looking as youthful as ever in her early seventies, Diana’s afro continues to be her most iconic trademark. She also styled her locks in two hairstyles that have become synonymous with her iconic look - the beehive and sideswept bob. Hairstyles that always look shake-your-groove-thing ready, Diana embraces her natural kinky hair sending a powerful message to black women: embrace your natural hair. The seventies disco-era queen continues her reign inspiring generations of musicians with the likes of Beyoncé, Solange Knowles, Madonna and Rhinana often taking style cues from the ‘70s style pioneer. Taking a leaf out of Diana’s book, these modern day celebrities have multiple costume changes, stage theatrics and special effects and wear eye-catching frocks during their stage performances. True to her own words spoken on stage in 1983 during a performance in Central Park (New York), “it took me a lifetime to get here, and I’m not going anywhere”, 71-year-old Diana proves that just like her music, her style is timeless.
Glamourous furs and feather shawls are staple cover-ups synonymous with Diana’s style. What makes her style so glamorous? It’s this simple: she always chose what she wanted to wear instead of wearing what current fashion dictated.
In her heyday, Diana was rarely seen without hoop earrings. Although it must be said that her upbeat, confident and approachable personality became part of her signature look. Another strong positive message to women can be divulged from Diana’s attitude and personality: love the skin you are in.
Big eyelashes and minimal makeup was, and continues to be, Diana’s beauty mantra. Her eyes have always been the focus of attention although from time to time she injects colour with her favourite shade: red, a staple hue she chooses for both lipstick and nail polish.
One of the advocates of androgynous dressing, Diana showed women that they could look both powerful and sexy in a trouser suit and demonstrated how to wear this style fashionably, out of office hours.
Diana always opts for bedazzled costumes covered in sequins, stones and beads, dresses you just wanted to reach out and touch. Her commanding stage presence was complimented by her eye-catching colourful ensembles, all of which have inspired many musicians after her and undoubtedly inspired the wardrobe of protégés Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5.