- Catherine Maborukoje
- All-time controversial dressers, Fashion
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A style of outfit…a subtle message of who the person is in a general sense.
When Rachel Zoe said, “Style expresses who you are without speaking,” she was likely inspired by Bianca Frazier’s famous quote, “Dress how you want to be addressed.”
However, as Zoe who is a renowned American fashion designer, has said, an individual’s style of outfit does not only position them as the way they would love to be addressed, it is the silent sender of a subtle message of who the person is in a general sense.
Outfits fall under the use of sign language to communicate and send a subtle signal to third parties. It appeals to the visual sense of people. In communication, a sign or symbol form of communication is seen as the most vital form of communication that adds flavour to physical interaction. Communicators believe that the use of sign language, tagged nonverbal technique of communication is the most convener of deep message in physical interaction. And as it is said, deep messages that hold deep meanings are not said by word of mouth.
This revelation is one of the defects of written communication and this is one of the reasons, writers who understand the indomitable effects of sign language in communication, often strive to be descriptive as much as they can in their expressions. Yet, it remains undoable.
In the past, the clothes people wore were a clear indication of their gender. Women would wear pleated linens with smooth creases while men would wear different types of clothing. Clothes were not only functional but also a way of communicating without uttering a word. In ancient Egypt, a woman who wore half-naked clothes was considered a slave. Covering one’s body was seen as a virtue and a sign of respect.
But women’s dress was unlike that of men’s who wore knee-length, plain kilt, probably on white or light in colour clothes. Usually fastened around the waist by a belt of cloth, papyrus rope, or leather. A cloth without a belt was like a king without its crown. This was then in the olden days of Egypt, not now where naked dressing, showing half of body parts are the order of the day.
Though it has been said to not judge a book by its cover, the tradition of judging people by their style of outfits is constant. It happens with the royals, whose royal regalia are always different from commoners or citizens own.
On this edge, it is reasonable to assume that the type of clothing one wears speaks volumes about their culture, traditions, and values. Perhaps this is what Zoe meant when she said that one’s attire says a lot about them. However, while some people like Zoe firmly believe in this idea and express it through their dress, others do not care. One such person is Kanye West, who has been accused of making his wife, Bianca Censori, dress provocatively just to create controversy and generate publicity. But Kanye is not the only one. The following is a list of 16 unconventional individuals who wear provocative, risqué, and overly confident outfits that have earned them the title of “all-time controversial dressers”.
Björk’s swan dress
Björk’s swan dress, designed by Marjan Pejoski, is undoubtedly the lead in our all-time controversial dressers. The dress was worn to the 2001 Oscars and was initially met with harsh criticism from the media. However, the dress has since been reevaluated and is now considered an iconic Oscar outfit, with the initial ridicule transformed into fondness. The dress has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art
Rose McGowan’s Naked Dress
Rose McGowan’s outfit at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) managed to slip into our all-time controversial dressers archive. The dress was a black beaded dress that was completely see-through, revealing a leopard-print thong and a whole lot of curves. The dress was designed by Maja Hanson and was worn to make a statement after McGowan’s alleged assault Harvey Weinstein. The dress has since been recognized as one of the earliest examples of a red carpet ‘naked dress’ and set the stage for Rihanna’s Swarovski crystal CFDA outfit in 2014.
Lady Gaga’s meat dress
Lady Gaga’s meat dress, which she wore to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), was a powerful political statement, referring to a speech she made, The Prime Rib of America, which urged the US military not to discriminate against gay men and lesbians from serving in the army. The dress was designed by Franc Fernandez and made from Argentinian beef, including her bag and her beret.
Cher’s black sequence outfit
For all-time controversial dressers, Cher’s two-piece black sequin outfit with the over-the-top, towering headpiece that Cher wore to present a Best Supporting Actor Award at the 1986 Oscars was designed by Bob Mackie. Cher’s bold and extravagant fashion choice, created by Mackie, showcased her unique style and fearlessness in making a statement on the red carpet.
Lil Kim’s lavender jumpsuit
Lil’ Kim’s iconic outfit at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards was a lavender jumpsuit featuring a one-sleeved design made of an iridescent, sheer, lilac Indian bridal fabric with silver and purple seashells embroidered throughout. The outfit, included among our all-time controversial dressers list, included a single lilac seashell-shaped pastie covering one side of her chest, complemented by a monochromatic lilac wig and silver glitter platform mules. This daring and influential look, created by stylist Misa Hylton, challenged traditional norms in the world of rap and hip-hop by embracing femininity and sexuality as assets rather than hindrances.
Miley Cyrus’s harness-like outfit
Miley Cyrus made a splash at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards with her outrageous outfits as the host but out of all there was one in particular that got people talking. She wore a custom Versace silver harness-like top and bedazzling skirt, paired with thigh-high silver boots, shimmery hair accessories, and blonde dreadlocks, leaving nothing or something to the imagination.
Jared Leto’s Head accessory
Jared Leto made a statement at the 2019 Met Gala by carrying a replica of his head as an accessory. This was a nod to Gucci’s Autumn/Winter 2018runway show, which featured a weird science aesthetic and models carrying their heads. Leto’s look was a part of the camp theme of the event, and it was a reference to the Gucci fashion show. The actor was dressed by Alessandro Michele for Gucci in a billowing Victorian-esque scarlet gown draped in jewels, paired with the severed head prop.
Rihanna’s petal dress
Rihanna wore a Comme des Garçons look, straight off the Fall 2016 runway, to the 2017 Met Gala, which was a celebration of the Costume Institute exhibition “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between”. The sculptural piece was inspired by 18th-century “punks” and consisted of floral fabrics, layered and pulled apart like petals. The Comme des Garçons creation rocked the red carpet at the Met Gala, making her the ultimate best-dressed of the evening.
Pink’s extra low-rise jeans
Pink’s iconic performance at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards outfit showed the power of crazy imagination. She rocked a daring look featuring spiky hair, extra low-rise jeans, gold chains, and a fur-lined jacket.
Z Lala’s octopus dress
Z Lala wore an octopus-inspired outfit to the 2015 American Music Awards. The outfit was designed to resemble the tentacles of an octopus, with the singer/songwriter wearing a long, flowing dress with multiple tentacle-like extensions. The outfit was a unique and eye-catching choice, and it helped Z Lala stand out on the red carpet.
Rita Ora’s bathrobe dress
Rita Ora made a bold fashion statement at the 2017 MTV European Music Awards by wearing a white bathrobe and a matching towel around her head. This unconventional outfit, designed by Palomo Spain, was accessorized with diamonds around her neck, creating a unique and eye-catching red carpet look. Despite the unusual choice of attire, Rita Ora’s bathrobe ensemble received mostly supportive reactions, with MTV even calling it “iconic”
Katy Perry’s chandelier gown
Katy Perry did not even fret, making her be included among the all-time controversial dressers. Made a striking entrance at the 2019 Met Gala by wearing a custom chandelier gown designed by Jeremy Scott. The gown featured a crystal mini-dress attached to an actual chandelier fixture that orbited her waist and had working lights. Perry accessorized with a matching chandelier headpiece and diamond-studded heeled loafers, The outfit was a collaboration with Moschino’s Jeremy Scott and took a whole six weeks to create, with thousands of Swarovski crystals and actual chandelier pieces incorporated into the design. The gown had a built-in corset with 18 steel bones and hidden battery packs to illuminate the lights. What a person can do for fashion
Nikki Minaj’s cheetah print dress
Nicki Minaj makes it to the list. This time she wore a Givenchy Haute Couture gown at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2011. The outfit was a departure from traditional red carpet attire, featuring an eye-catching Cheetah animal print design. The Givenchy Haute Couture gown she wore was from the Fall/Winter 2007 collection, adding a touch of high fashion to her red carpet look.
Ezra’s black puffer gown
Since there is a puffer coat and jacket why not a puffer gown? Ezra Miller wore a black puffer gown to the Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald premiere in Paris in 2018. The gown was designed by Pierpaolo Piccioli for Moncler’s collaboration with Valentino, as part of their new Geniuses program. The unisex garment was reimagined from Moncler’s iconic puffer jackets as a series of column-like, near-monastic gowns in a variety of colors. The gown was made from a black puffer material and featured long sleeves, a high neckline, and a floor-length skirt. Miller paired the gown with black boots and a dark lip.
Billy Porter’s Egyptian wing outfit
Billy Porter is known for his extravagant and head-turning fashion choices, and his outfit at the 2019 Met Gala was no exception. He made a grand entrance by being carried on a litter by six shirtless men, wearing a custom “Sun God” ensemble by The Blonds. The outfit included a bejewelled catsuit with 10-foot wings, a 24-karat gold headpiece, custom gold-leaf Giuseppe Zanotti shoes, and fine jewels by Andreoli, John Hardy, and Oscar Heyman.
Cardi B’s dove cape
Cardi B who unveiled the cover for her new single “Enough (Miami)”, on March 11, 2024, in a most recent post on her Instagram page captioned “Jack your set”, shares a picture of herself wearing the most crazy outfit. She can be seen wearing a white flowing cape carried by two doves, with another couple of doves covering her nipples and a white thong showing off her beautiful curves. Insane yet beautiful.
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