Icons: Brandon Flowers

"Controversy is never a bad thing." 

Forefront of the critically acclaimed indie rock band The Killers, practicing mormon and usher of unconvention, Brandon Flowers has certainly been noted for his insane style. Both a favorite singer and a style icon to me, Flower's style is ever changing but always acute. A man of many fashions, he's worn everything from the infamous 'guyliner' to feathers epaulettes; no current singer in our waves of One Direction clones can match his fierce aptitude for fashion. 

The bastion of Flower's fashion comes from his love of the stage. He dresses for the stage and for the performance; bordering stage props. This contradicts the whole "Rock stars don't try" element of his music genre, and Flowers appears as if he is trying, hard, to look good. Though his 'costumes' have changed dramatically overtime (depending on his current album) they all serve one purpose; to heighten and strengthen his mellifluous yet soaring rhythms of his songs. Clothes are married to the music.

Flowers and ergo the Killers entered the glossy plains of fame in 2004. The baby-faced singer dared to take advantage of the increasingly liberal world, he chose to wear the gender-experimental shocker that is 'guyliner'. This bold statement was coupled with a plume of vibrant velvet blazers, eccentric shirts, tops and ties. He clearly wanted to make a spectacle of himself. 

The band's next album took inspiration from the corrupt glamour of Las Vegas, where Flowers himself grew up in. This rather drastic transformation saw a new western themed assembles come about. Deriving much of his wardrobe choices from raw American trends such as colonal/bolo ties, ritzy varsity jackets and the iconic introduction of the denim jacket. Many instances saw his outfits resemble ringmaster's uniform, but his more athletic physique complimented his tailored blazers. To accentuate the glam-cowboy fusion further, Flowers grew facial hair... something that he claimed to be proud of. 

Lampooning right in the epaulettes was the key to Flowers' 2008+ visions. Theatricality was pivotal as a reworked classic tuxedo jacket with eye-catching feathered epaulettes debuted at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards in Liverpool.This sent ripples across the media conscious and Flowers pushed the boundaries of what it and isn't fashion, playing on the trendy military attire, he adopted a flamboyant niche in addition to a new crew-cut hair cut. His extravagant stage wear quickly became known. 

Beginning his solo career, Flowers opted to wear a more simple look as if to stay "this is me and only me." Without the extravagance of his fellow band, Flowers exposed a solitary aesthetic of denim, flannel and suspenders. Yet kept true to both his roots and the 80's raunchy theme of his album by preserving that hint of Vegas glamour via button up suits. It seemed that (even though his distinguishable vocals would still scream 'The Killers') he wanted to make sure that, for once, attention was focused on the music and not the clothing. 

The recent release of the now reunited Killers album "Battle Born" has seen a more ominous, darker image burst forth. As the album came out only recently, what new fashion Flowers will don remains a mystery, but that in itself appears to be the new theme. The artwork sees Flowers wear dank, grungy looks and is reprising the material fad of denim with the leather motorcycle jacket instead. Essentially translating the darker sounds of the music into clothing, but appropriately contrasts the colorfulness of modern pop and that of his original style over 11 years ago.  

The main point to consider in what has changed Brandon Flowers the most is maturity. The development of the his artistic perceptions seemed to randomly fluctuate, once quoted as saying "I feel like I become what the songs are...", but Flowers is creating a rather firm foot in the fashion world's doors by keeping to refined staple pieces. Slim-fitting jeans and jackets are becoming increasingly common but simultaneously adorns his signature pieces that really push conventions and norms. Thus, retaining his dernier cri look that fans and the public alike have grown to love.

Inspiring music, inspiring style. I can only imagine what Brandon will wear next.