Totally M.I.A.

I was going to do a Culture Clash post on Sri Lankan singer M.I.A’s newish album… That idea was aborted when I started doing some reading about what the forever feisty lady in question has been up to. It seems there was a controversial New York Times Magazine article that portrayed her as hypocritical, naive and airheaded. After perusing said article, I decided to make this M.I.A. post about her completely singular style instead.

After all, there is a lot to be said about the eclectic pop star’s wardrobe. Much like her music, it is an amalgam of traditional, punk, English, ethnic and pop influences that is always thought provoking and attention grabbing. M.I.A. stomps around in Sri Lankan garb, studs, and hipster ware and yet it always looks effortless and not studied at all. There is an ineffable cool about her and a certain sophisticated playfulness at hand beneath the bright, clashing colors and patterns. Her makeup usually looks flawless, whether she’s rocking avant garde looks or a classic face. Likewise, her hair always looks up to date, hip and comepletely appropriate. She has gone from long, dark waves to short and highlighted, straightened and back again all within a blink  of an eye. Yet, it always feels right. Like her predecessor Madonna, M.I.A. is genius at mining the zeitgeist and combining the best of it in a fabulously post-modern way. Who can argue her style (or street cred) after starring in an amazing Marc Jacobs campaign by Juergen Teller or sporting an outrageous sheer, stretchy mini dress while pregnant to a music awards show?