Baggy shirts, usually checkered or pin-striped, this was Flowers' scruffiest look. A young, naive kid thrusted into the lime light early on following the release of everyone's favourite club anthem, 'Mr. Brightside', alongside one of the greatest debut albums of all time, Flowers likely had little care about what he wore, or what his outfits said about him. He quickly got to grips with the fashion side of music however.
His first big step was the appearance of the notorious guy liner. Using makeup to provide a feminine touch to his youthful face. He then began to sport colourful jackets. A crisp white blazer, a hot pink coat, even a pastel pink jacket. As his band blew up and gained worldwide recognition, Flowers quickly adapted his style to show people he was the real deal. This was the first piece of evidence that Brandon Flowers was destined to be a star.
This album saw The Killers tap into their Las Vegas roots, creating a record based on their childhood casino. Flowers' used fashion to add a visual element to this album, using influences from the ol' Wild West. He grew out a slick moustache, with a defining center parting. He opted for a smart, monotone wardrobe, often a black or grey suit with a white shirt. Occassionally he brought out a pinstriped waist coast. The defining part of this era's look was the maverick bow tie however. This made it clear Flowers was using his fashion to add to the aura of Sam's Town casino.
This look was vintage, retro of course. Inspired by the old Wild West and an ode to the old dress codes in casinos that dominate his hometown. The suits were well-fitted, the moustache well-kept and neatly trimmed, he created the character of a casino owner and portrayed it perfectly. This was Flowers' first step from an anxious young performer, into a professional superstar.
DAY & AGE
As The Killers' sound developed, so to did Flowers' confidence. Day & Age saw them move from post-punk pop to electro-synth pop. As The Killers unveiled anthems like 'Human' and 'Spaceman', Flowers adapted his look and his style became more modern . Unlike the first two records, where Flowers played on a style and theme, with various variations, Day & Age's style was based around one staple item.
This phase saw Brandon predominantly in all black, occasionally adding a white shirt to the mix. Flowers' used Day & Age to make a bold statement. Since it first appeared in the music video for lead single, 'Human', the Dior black blazer with accompanying feather epaulettes was ever present during this era. It showcased a man who had finally understood the requirements of being one of the world's best. The outfit was smart and slick, even simple to an extent but with one iconic, pioneering, career defining feature. Like Bowie's lightning bolt, Flowers' feathers will always be remembered. It embodied the album perfectly too as The Killers ventured out from the Las Vegas strip and its casinos, the feathers an ode to the unique wildlife living in the Mojave desert.
BATTLE BORN
After the highs of Day & Age and the feather epaulettes, The Killers and Brandon took a stumble, falling right on their faces. Battle Born was The Killers reality check, proof that they weren't invincible as they produced a bland album. Flowers' outfits during this era matched the dry sound of Battle Born. His outfits didn't scream 'style icon', more All Saints model.
He looked cool, yes but it's an outfit you see on most high streets. The leather biker jacket is a classic, timeless look especially in the rock'n'roll world and Flowers can certainly pull it off however after the iconic, pioneering outfits he wore previously, this just seemed a tad boring. Unlike the previous three styles, this look didn't add a lot to the album, but then again could any outfit save Battle Born from the title of 'worst Killers' album'?
WONDERFUL WONDERFUL
Last year, after a 5 year break, The Killers returned with an album nobody expected. A personal experience about Flowers' wife as well as a reflection on his own youthful arrogance and long-distance family struggles, Wonderful Wonderful mixed disco-tinged pop brilliance with dark, atmospheric genius. After the dip that was Battle Born, The Killers were back to their best, despite losing two members for their live shows. Here, Flowers reached the height of his showmanship, and truly became The Man.
On The Killers' return to Britain, nearly a year ago now at Hyde Park, Flowers strutted onto the stage in a bright pink leather blazer to match the confetti showering down onto the 60,000 strong crowd. Half way through that same gig, he switched jackets, this time revealing a smart black blazer with rainbow coloured lapels, featuring palm tree silhouettes. Since he has appeared in a beige suit, a rusty red, Western patterned blazer and a slick, shiny navy suit featuring illustrations of a tiger. His wardrobe for this latest record is brimming with outrageous, one-of-a-kind jackets. They all scream confidence, swagger and, once again, glamour. These jackets, made by the famous Ray Brown, were intricate in design, featuring subdued western patterns such as smiley, slit pockets, detailing on the sleeves or subtle tassels. Growing up in a town where the Wild West roots are ever-present, but where glitz, glamour and bright lights have taken over, Flowers merged both parts of the Las Vegas identity into a series of stunning ensembles.
This era will be remembered for one outfit however. The iconic golden suit. Flowers wore this, with accompanying aviator sun glasses, during the encores of the Wonderful Wonderful World Tour, strutting along to 'The Calling', controlling the crowd like the man with the golden touch. This suit reminded us that Flowers is the ultimate showman and whilst his Battle Born ensemble made him seem human, Wonderful Wonderful has reinstated him as one of the untouchable gods in the rock world.
Comments
Post a Comment