I was headed out the door when the BET Awards came on last night, but I noticed my Twitter timeline blowing up with derogatory references to singer Usher and his “pink boots.” During dinner, I kept wondering what he was wearing to cause such shock and dismay. For some reason, I kept envisioning baby-pink cowboy boots. No such luck. The footwear that was causing people to clutch their pearls in horror was this:
I have no idea how this color or shoe style read in person, but in the pictures, at least, it looks like he’s wearing neon-pink sneakers, making him right on trend. If the sneakers aren’t neon, he’s still gone for the “pop of color” so adored by fashionistas everywhere
Seriously? This is the scandal? I can’t even get excited enough to give Usher one of my Best Dressed/Wear What You Want awards. If I bumped into him, I’d probably say, “Cool shoes, man. I like that color.” I definitely wouldn’t scream, “Damn, Usher, you went for it!” After all, I grew up crushing on guys like Mick Jagger …
… David Bowie …
… Freddie Mercury …
… Adam Ant …
… and all of Duran Duran, but especially John Taylor (second from left) and Nick Rhodes (far right).
Y’all are going crazy because Usher is wearing pink shoes? GTFOH. I swear, if Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie needed to pop over to the supermarket to buy kitty litter, he might throw on Usher’s outfit so as not to draw attention to himself. That’s how radical Usher’s look is. It’s David Bowie’s fucking kitty litter ensemble. Young people, today! I’m very disappointed in you. You’re uptight in weird ways. You’re okay with using your phones to tape yourselves having terrible sex but you’re scared of pink sneakers? SMH.
On a happier fashion note, the photo of Duran Duran above reminds me that one of the newspaper clippings that’s been floating around my apartment is an interview the Wall Street Journal did with Duran Duran’s keyboardist, Nick Rhodes, last December. Describing Rhodes as having a “… decades-long love affair with steroidal-shouldered jackets, tie-dye headdresses and black eyeliner …”, the Journal asked him about style. I tingled all over when Nick, who turned 50 last month, said, “I find that the older you get, the more helpful eyeliner is. I like [MAC’s] Fluidline in Blacktrack.” He also said his ultimate style icon is Grace Jones; that he has a “penchant for goth elegance”; and owns a pair of sunglasses that make him look like a bug. As for musicians today, Rhodes said:
“….I prefer people who stand out. Brandon Flowers from The Killers has great style. He’s not afraid of feathers. I always love a man who is not afraid of feathers.”
For his personal appearance, fashion philosophy and feather love, Nick Rhodes is officially one of my Wear What You Want icons, joining previous awardees Grace Jones, Iggy Pop, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, and Angry Bird lady Teija Vesterbacka. I hope he enjoys his eyeliner for many years to come. I also hope that, someday soon, he enjoys one of my goth-elegant cufflink designs.
How about my 18K gold Memento Mori cufflinks?
In the Journal interview, he mentioned he has gargoyle cufflinks with moving parts. Who loves mechanical jewelry more than I do? My whole line is his style. Nick, call me!
I can’t resist when you mention Nick Rhodes and Adam Ant in the same post!! I had so many posters of them on my walls that they were also on my ceiling and lining my closet. Speaking of kitty litter and Usher’s outfit, there was a photo from about a year ago of Glenn Danzig buying kitty litter and he was wearing an outfit very much like Usher is wearing (with black boots of course). Here’s the link:
http://stereogum.com/560502/danzig-defends-kitty-litter-pic/news/
So very spot on with the “rocker buying kitty litter” reference.
Nothing shocking about a pair of pink boots – though they do make Usher’s feet look small. He looks like he might topple over. David Bowie/ Mick Jagger he ain’t.
Nick Rhodes is the Perfect recipient for your Memento Mori cufflinks!! I’m off to get me some mac eyeliner. ( I will never reveal what I wear when I’m sourcing my own kitty litter!)
“Sourcing my own kitty litter” — love it.
Yay! I saw “Nick Rhodes” in the title of your post and I nearly squealed like I did when I was a teen. Nick and John were my faves, too. I had the other poster where they were in all in some kind of white pant with those white oxfords. Ah, the memories…
xoxo
Cyrillynn
I wish more photographers would think twice about which lens they use for these red carpet snaps. I mean, sure, we expect actors and celebs to be on the shorter side but let’s not make them miniature and so out-of-proportion.
My anti-spam word is bewilder, which is fitting!
OMG, so true. Someone took a shot of me like that at a fashion event earlier in the year. Hello!
I see Nick’s point about eyeliner.
Oh… thank you for this post!
I love Nick’s comment about eyeliner (and that he has a brand that he recommends!). Nick = swoon city!
D-squared, A-squared, Bowie, Freddy, Iggy, Billy, David Johansen… they don’t make ’em like that anymore 🙁 Usher who???
Yeah, and meanwhile people are freaking out about Usher like he’s pushing the envelope!
Ooh, Adam Ant…*sigh* I would dress like that every day.
Usher’s boring! Hell, man, my husband dresses more exciting than that.
What’s wrong with this pic of Usher it looks like his legs are a quarter of the size they should be. I still Adam Ant looks great in the pic above. As a kid from this era I still like goth and I like the term “goth elegance”
Marti
“You’re uptight in weird ways. You’re okay with using your phones to tape yourselves having terrible sex but you’re scared of pink sneakers?”
Love you, WendyB. Absolutely love you!
Can I just add that your use of the word “tape” is from another time altogether; those young ones won’t know what you mean by that at all =P
I know! “Record” seemed weird too though. I couldn’t decide what to call it!