Explain

Would You Wear a Total Look?

madonna wears a look right off the louis vuitton spring 09 runway.jpgWe can’t get Madonna’s green shag Louis Vuitton outfit out of our mind. Not because it’s hideous, but because it’s a total look from the Spring 09 Louis Vuitton runway. So instead of reacting with, “What the hell is that?” like our boyfriend did, we said “Who the hell wears practically a whole look?”

We love the runway - the innovation, the style, the down-to-the-last-detail polish. And we love integrating the pieces we can into our wardrobe, even the inspired-by steals. But a head-to-look isn’t just the total yawn it is in editorials - in real life, it kind of feels like cheating, too.

And think about it - Madonna is Madonna, obviously, and even she’s washed out by the runway reference (not to mention said shag), so we can’t imagine how even a regular person wouldn’t feel like some Burberry impersonator if they wore a total Burberry look. Besides, isn’t it more fun to make designer pieces (or ideas) work with what you have to create your own version of something everybody’s already seen?

The outfits we admire are always those that seem to have the most genuine personality - take Kate Moss, or the Olsens, for instance, who have yet to be photographed in a head-to-toe look (other than when on the runway).

But what do you think? Are total looks totally acceptable? Or total cop-outs?

—HAYLEY PHELAN

Comments

1

posted by LauraMilli

Nov 25, 2008 5:55PM

Never. Ever.

2

posted by cesarcmma

Nov 25, 2008 5:57PM

No thanks! total looks are like walking advertisements... and BTW Siri looks so much better in that outfit.

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3

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 6:05PM

i don't think it's that deplorable. i'm personally invested in it because i bought one of the pajama looks from the prada men's s/s 08 collection. styling is very important. changing a shoe or adding a pair of sunglasses can drastically change the feeling of a look. but if you do go for full head-to-toe, you have to remember that you and lily donaldson will wear the same look completely differently, and even without styling, if your personality is unique enough, it'll come through. and also, if you think a look is perfect, isn't it a little unfair to change it just to make sure you aren't a walking runway look.

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4

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 6:26PM

Its totally not acceptable to wear a look head to toe! It displays a lack of creativity not to mention that it looks so boring. Her stylist should have known better, obviously she/he is sleeping on the job. I admire Madonna for being so fit however I think she needs to tone down those bulging muscles a little, in my opinion if her body looked a bit leaner and a bit more feminine she would look even more beautiful

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5

posted by williamwallace

Nov 25, 2008 6:26PM

...and now, fashionista has a communal boyfriend.

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6

posted by williamwallace

Nov 25, 2008 6:27PM

...and now, fashionista has a communal boyfriend.

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7

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 6:50PM

Why just carry a muff when you can BE the muff.

8

posted by hommenivore

Nov 25, 2008 7:04PM

God, this is so insane.

Of COURSE you can wear an entire look. You can do whatever you want. Wearing a total look is perfectly acceptable way to honor a designer's vision. If that's the only way you ever wear those pieces, then that's up to you. You can integrate them, split them up, wipe your ass with them, whatever. Magazines and stylists love to talk in absolutes and hand down arbitrary rules, but no one need follow them. You can "mix it up" or "pair it with a vintage belt" or have it "set off a berry lip and shit-stained eyeshadow," and it can still look "studied." And even if it IS studied, you've paid for pieces; or hell, even if they've been given to you—they're yours to do with what you want.

And let's be honest, this total look is stronger and smarter than 90% of what Madonna's been wearing lately.

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9

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 7:13PM

In most cases total looks are boring- but are you kidding she looks amazing!! Changing the shoes would barely make a creative difference in this case. Love the tights, love the hair... it's neither safe nor boring nor a cop out... and never in a million years would I call Madonna an impersonator.

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10

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 7:17PM

More importantly, why isn't she wearing a complete GUCCI look? Head-to-toe LV at a Gucci event could not have gone over well.

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11

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 7:19PM

rumour is that madonna is going to be in the next lv campaign, so that would probably explain things.

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12

posted by etoilee8

Nov 25, 2008 7:52PM

I don't like it on her. Her top half looks HUGE her bottom half looks small. . . it just looks weird. But I do think total looks are pretty dull. Show some originality, Madge. I mean, you're an icon. . .you didn't earn that title for pulling looks straight from the runway and boring us all to tears, so stop slacking.

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13

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 9:31PM

i think its great to wear it right off the runway, i loved everything from versace spring 09 and will wear the entire look ....why wouldnt I. I love the look so why change it ? lol I dont care what anyone thinks ...you don't have to like it.
I agree with #12....I don't like it on her, if she was petite then itd be perfect but it looks too short and too big on top and her arms are too buff I'm sorry I love Madonna she's from rochester ,mi like me but I think she should lose all that muscle mass and look more like a lady its not very becoming on her.

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14

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 9:57PM

who else wears total looks? KELLY WEARSTLER from Top Design. WHAT A MESS. please, someone do something about her. Seriously what a mess. She's a fleshy mannequin. I just threw up in my mouth.

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15

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 10:08PM

Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery but it's also the sincerest form of the unimaginative. Of course you *can* do anything you want with your own clothing but I think the question is *should* you, and my answer is NO.

Like etoilee8 said, you don't get to be an icon by copying total looks.

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16

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 10:46PM

LOL@ 7

17

posted by allisonwrote

Nov 25, 2008 10:48PM

hommenivore, i think i love you. shit-stained eyeshadow is SO this season.

x
allison

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18

posted by guest

Nov 26, 2008 3:04AM

madonna is so ugly.

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19

posted by guest

Nov 26, 2008 7:15AM

oh , leave her alone already ,it is a one piece dress ,you can't style the dress
so you change the shoes. she wore her own stockings and different jewelry.and kate
moss and the olsens have you seen them
lately, ugh, you have got to be kidding.

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20

posted by CluelessFashionista

Nov 26, 2008 7:58AM

For someone who isn't as creative fashion wise, wearing a total look could be a way to start considering other styling options using someone else's vision but Madonna is a style icon. She has been creating and recreating her style for decades. I definitely expect her to have the creativity to take a look off of the runway and make it her own. I do like that she added the bracelets but it seems like she didn't really try with the outfit. She took the easy way out.

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21

posted by guest

Nov 26, 2008 8:21AM

Versace is expanding into the China market more because the consumers there are more willing to do the entire look thing. This was in an article the other day (forget where or when)

22

posted by Tricky

Nov 26, 2008 8:25AM

I think it's okay. If you think about it someone else took th etim eto think of how that shag will look its best on a person. Besides, Madonna did add her own accessories and fishnets.

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23

posted by guest

Nov 26, 2008 9:39AM

I think that you could do as you please, the thing is that you may become a fashion victim. although i kind of like the whole, i just don't think it looks good on Madonna. Maybe because of her age or body type? Maybe. I think it would've looked so much better on Rihanna or someone young and edgy.

Even if i could afford all of the expensive labels i'd like, i wouldnt like to be known as the label whore; i'd like to be known as the guy with style (whatever designer i may be wearing.)

walking ads are so passe.

24

posted by rf

Nov 26, 2008 9:49AM

jennifer connelly balenciaga.

no, not her ad campaign--remember when she was on the red carpet? google it. this is not the first time someone's worn a total look.

high five, hommenivore. i, too, think i love you!

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25

posted by guest

Nov 26, 2008 9:57AM

It's definitely a cop-out, but there's something fabulous about the green feathers with that hair and a bold red lip. I'd like to see that dress with denim skinnies and flats.


http://thesexypedestrian.blogspot.com/

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26

posted by guest

Nov 26, 2008 10:07AM

i don't get it rf, who said it was the first time? it's definitely the most recent time, but that's about it.

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27

posted by guest

Nov 26, 2008 12:45PM

How was she suppose to wear it "creatively"? Switch the green heels for a pair of black heels? Geez. Lighten up.

What does it matter that Madonna wasn't being ~original~, she's a singer at a event, not a model in an editorial. Or does everyone in the world have to follow the unspoken rules of fashion now?

Although, I will admit, that dress does not look good on her.

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28

posted by guest

Nov 26, 2008 2:47PM

Full look or not, this was the totally wrong thing for her to wear from that collection...

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29

posted by guest

Nov 26, 2008 4:05PM

The dress is teetering on the precipice of absurdity no matter how you accessorize it, so I think it's pretty bold of Madonna to even put it on in the first place. And she does have different jewelry, hairstyle, belt, and tights from the runway look, so not sure what you mean by a "total look" here. The dress itself is sort of a scene-stealer, so even different shoes would hardly make it noticeably distinct from the model's.

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30

posted by hipstersdontlie

Nov 26, 2008 5:50PM

Madonna isn't wearing a total look. She's got on hose, bangles and the belt looks different.

But anyway lighten up. It's not a major crime.

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31

posted by guest

Nov 26, 2008 7:00PM

Madonna looks awful, like an old peacock...
Siri looks awesome on the runway!

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32

posted by guest

Nov 27, 2008 11:32AM

aaaah If I was being paid Millions of dollars to be the face of a Brand then YES I would wear a total look..

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33

posted by guest

Nov 27, 2008 9:33PM

Lucky me, this is one of those dilemmas I'll never have to confront in real life!

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34

posted by guest

Nov 28, 2008 12:42AM

blame (or give kudos to?) arianne at the end of the day for this one...

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35

posted by guest

Nov 28, 2008 10:37AM

the correct terminology is "complete" look

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36

posted by guest

Nov 28, 2008 12:58PM

35:
finnicky much?
and no, i wouldn't. that just shows a lack of creativity.

37

posted by w4yy2g00d4u

Nov 28, 2008 11:53PM

NEVER!

not because its un-original. but a total look really usually is more artistic than it should be wearable...can't be pulled off unless one is on the runway

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38

posted by guest

Nov 29, 2008 5:42AM

Hommenivore said it all...
Wear whatever and however you want to, its your stuff!!!
Now that outfit is dreadful, i know christmas is coming but thats no reason to starts dressing up as a tree...hallowen was in october!!

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39

posted by guest

Nov 29, 2008 7:54PM

Never ever copy a look. Its like stealing someones signature style. A high fashion garment should be used with your own sense of style. Runway looks are for the runway... Buurrrrr Madonna should be arrested! :-/

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