Ke$ha's Look: Garbage Chic or Just Plain Trash?

By Jo Piazza Posted Feb 7th 2010 01:00PM

Artfully dirty 22-year-old singing sensation Ke$ha is still leading the Billboard singles chart with her catchy 'TiK ToK.' Reigning pop princess Rihanna recently called her "dope", "incredible" and the new "it" girl. The New York Times is even a little swoony over her, but some fans are grossed out by her trashy look. Does she go too far? PopEater finds out.

Ke$ha's trademark is what she calls her "garbage chic" style, messed hair, smudged makeup, embracing imperfection rather than hiding her flaws.

"It was something that Ke$ha has said evolved from being poor and trying to brand herself as best she could on a budget -- it wasn't about going to Urban Outfitters and paying full price to look 'vintage,' although that's probably exactly what most fans will do," explains Marissa Gold of StyleList. "As for whether the look works or not -- it's definitely a win for the Ke$ha in terms of getting noticed, but it's not something that's going to be as charming in real-life."

Some fans want the girl with the dollar sign in her name to clean up her act just a little bit, especially when stepping out at something as time-honored as the Grammys' red carpet with music legends and rock royalty. From the moment Ke$ha walked out of her car and into the spotlight on Sunday night the twitters-sphere erupted with calls for the singer to at least bother to brush her hair or properly apply eyeliner.

Among the comments that inundated Twitter over Ke$ha's look: "She looks like she never bathes and if she does, it's in booze." "Looks like a mess and not a hot one." "Ke$ha looks disgusting at the Grammys."

Celebrity Stylist Mary Alice Stephenson agrees. "It's not a good sign when Britney is more stylish than you," Stephenson says.

"Messy, bedhead hair should look sexy, not dirty. And what's with the feathers? One of my personal style icons, Debbie Harry (of Blondie fame), was legendary for her tousled blonde mane...Ke$ha should definitely take a page from her book for inspiration. There is nothing 'chic' about garbage," says beauty and style blogger Africa Miranda of The Hairnista Chronicals.

We totally understand that this is a "style choice." Even Christina Aguilera went through her "dirrrty" phase. But Christina finally cleaned up and now flaunts a super glam style. Maybe that is part of Ke$ha's long-term strategy for spotlight staying power.

"It's hard to get noticed in the music industry. You have to create a recognizable image; there are a million pretty pop princess with mile long extensions. Ke$ha was smart by defining her style as 'garbage can chic,'" says Valerie Anderson of Hair on the Brain."She has the stories to back it up. She threw up in Paris Hilton's closet. She lived out of her car. She broke into Prince's house! If she sticks around, Ke$ha's garbage can chic is setting her up for a great transformation later in her career. She'll drop the money symbol and become 'Kesha', scrape off the glitter makeup, wash the bedhead and become glam--major news story. Everyone loves a makeover!"

Even the beauty industry is taking notice. Last month grooming website Lock & Mane composed a blog post entitled, "Ke$ha Can We Brush Your Hair?"

"It was a public service of sorts," explains Lock & Mane's Margaret Kelly. "Maybe she doesn't own a brush. We just want to help a young girl look her best."

Tags: Kesha

Comments

(33)

Sunday 07 February

By Debbie

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Um gee, let's see.....I would call her look - trashy/attention seeking/stupid-ugly. If she wants to look like an idiot, why not let her? She'll look back when she's older and say to herself, "What was I thinking"? We've all done it but if clothes, hair and makeup are the worst she's done, good for her.

Tuesday 09 February

By Peyton

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Wow, you have a lot to say. Why'd you click on the page? I think Kesha's An awesome person. I look up to her. Can you look any better?

By littlepjroll

Why are you so mean? She has a #1 song on the charts. Can you guys sing, i don't think so. Thank you to people who know what style is! and do you like avril Lavigne's style if you fo you should like hers.

By hillsamurai

Trashy. Talentless. Nuff said

By captn3dog1

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SHE I SO FRICKIN HOT!!!!!!!!!!!

By Katie

Hey, Madonna did it. Her first look was this DIY consignment-shop clothes look and hair/makeup, because she too had been poor before she made it. Then she cut and died her hair, scraped off the makeup & threw out the rags and junk jewelry and went for a classic movie star look. That was her first major re-invention and the start of a career of re-invention. Maybe this girl will take a cue.

Friday 03 September

By Morgan@

At least Madonna bathed

By biltbod8

Is there a diff between garbage chic & white trash? She looks like a country singer with bad eye makeup and pasty white legs.

Monday 08 February

By why?

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i bet she looks better than you..

By ric

Another No talent trash wanna be singer looking for attention and trash gets attention these days. Paris Hilton etc.

By Frugalosity

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I like her look. At least she is covered. I'm not that into her mucic, but there is nothing wrong with her fashion.

By Laura

It's her style. Why is she considered more trashy than Lady Gaga, Madonna, Christina Aguillera? She's young, cute...and her song is the #1 song in the country....I don't think anyone has anything to say.

By Mama

AMEN!! Thank You.

Tuesday 20 April

By Sonia

you are so right about kesha

By Essence

Read her interview in Rolling Stone. Two words - White trash!

By LongLiveRock

Never heard of her till now. Probably because i don't listen to that type of crappy (what some people call ) music.

By c murray

Who cares?

By MaryJane

She looks like her music sounds-crappy. There has to be people out there who can sing and write music worth listening to. What did this chick do to get on the radio...

By pppsfan

This chick has no voice, she sounds like some bad idol wannabe. She trys to sing and sounds as bad as she looks. Trailer park trash is too good for her.

By Rob

She's just another of the pre-fab pop stars blending the marginal talent of Britney Spears with the crack hoe aesthetics of Amy Winehouse.

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