Kelly (Bellefire)

Madonna was a huge influence on me when I was growing up. The great thing about Madonna is that she is feminine but not afraid to be strong. She works in a very male-dominated industry, and in this industry she is one artist with an edge.

My favourite, style-era of hers would be the ‘Into The Groove’ period in the early ’80s. Her look was edgy, messy but perfect, a mix of lace and leather, which came across as a blend of femininity and attitude. She was taking her style from the street, from the city where she lived (NYC) and while it was really current, she was wearing exactly what she felt like wearing.

I also loved it when she wore suits. It reminded me of artists like Annie Lennox and Chrissie Hynde. On the right person, with the right attitude, a suit can look completely dramatic.

I loved her jewellery, especially the crosses she wore around that time. When I was younger, I experimented a lot with eyeliner to see if I could get the same look. I really wanted very short hair when I was younger, but I wasn’t allowed to get it cut that short! In fact, when I was eight, I tried to cut it myself…

When I was younger, my friends and I were really into the ‘bohemian’ look – ironically, it came back into fashion a while ago. Stevie Nicks wore these very pretty flowing dresses, and you get the message that she was a strong woman who didn’t allow herself to be dictated to. I love the ’70s look anyway. It was a time when women were not afraid to be a little mad. In some cases, it got a little grubbier, for example with faded denims.

With regards to someone like Avril Lavigne, I think she’s the real deal. I don’t think her look is contrived or dictated by the record company. In fact, I think record companies are seeing that this is how teenagers dress, and that it’s a good idea to let a teenager dress that way. Every teenager goes through a similar fashion phase. I know I did 10 years ago when grunge was a big scene here. It’s possible that Avril will emerge the other side of her teens looking much sleeker and sophisticated.