Country Music and Fashion
Early this year, teen country sensation Taylor Swift collaborated with the Jones Apparel Group via the Jones Apparel Group’s “L.e.i”. brand to launch a line of sundresses to be sold exclusively at all Wal-Mart chains nationwide. Practically Swift’s uniform off the red carpet, sundresses are easy-to-wear clothes that allow a girl to dress up without trying too hard, which is exactly the singer’s fashion style.
The dresses, which have an average price of $14, are “cute and affordable” pieces. “In these hard times, making expensive dresses just doesn’t make any sense,” Swift shared. Don’t think the low price means cheap designs and quality though. If you admire the young singer’s fashion choices, then you can be sure her low-priced designs will allow you to copy her style without breaking the bank. Swift declared, “If I couldn’t see myself wearing them, I wasn’t interested in making them.”
Speaking of collaborations, another teen queen, Disney star Miley Cyrus, inked a deal with Wal-Mart last year to collaborate with the “hotter more than ever” designer Max Azria. The Miley Cyrus and Max Azria label carries inexpensive items such as graphic tees, tops, pants, and accessories, all perfect for little Miley Cyrus-wannabes. Azria, who has brought back the ubiquitous Herve Leger bandage dresses hugging some of Hollywood’s sexiest bodies, issued a statement saying, “Miley Cyrus is talented and approachable, so working with her sparked a line that is authentic and vibrant.”
Meanwhile, multitalented country superstar Reba McEntire was one of the few country artists who had enough star power to launch her own fashion line before it became “fashionable” to do so. Focusing more on the career woman, Reba’s designs are full of moderately priced mix-and-match pieces career and sportswear. “My philosophy is if you’re comfortable about how you wear your clothes, you’re not going to be worrying about them. You can do your job better. You have more confidence.” The eponymous clothing line is available at Dillard’s stores.
It is not just the ladies though who are venturing into the world of fashion, controversial Oklahoma crooner Toby Keith is leading the gents into better fashion sense when he unveiled the TK Steeelman clothing line. “Part rocker and part biker,” and with a “country-sexy” vibe best describes the merchandise, according to Keith, which includes long-sleeved shirts, polo shirts, jeans, cowboy hats, belts, and many other items that can make (or break) the man.
Kenny Chesney is another fashion aspirant who is dipping his boot-clad feet into the fashion arena. The Knoxville-born star launched his Blue Bay Chair label, which carried items for both men and women. Chesney said in an interview, “Blue Chair Bay is kind of like the place we’d all like to go if we had no obligations or nowhere to be, and that’s kind of what I want this clothing line to represent,” referring to his relaxed, comfortable style.
Actor and country music star Christian Kane, meanwhile, worked with stylist Heather Robinson to create, of all things, a rock and roll-inspired bikini and lingerie collection dubbed Maverix. Modern silhouettes and rock and roll-inspired themes define the collection.
