A Birthday Style Tribute: Taylor 'I don't care' Momsen
Happy 18th birthday to Taylor Momsen. For this starlet and rock musician, public opinion means just about as much being fully clothed. And if you haven't been updated on Taylor's latest red carpet appearances, clothes just are not her thing.
Bursting onto the Hollywood "rising star" scene as the angelic "Cindy Lou Who" in the very PG-rated "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", Taylor Momsen has since become a notoriously R-rated style icon.
As "Jenny Humphrey" in her first season of "Gossip Girl", then fourteen-year-old Taylor sported teen-appropriate designer garbs alongside mainstream style icons Blake Lively and Leighton Meester. Audiences digested Momsen's style choices as trendy, neat, yet "safe." As the series progressed, however, Taylor and her character "Jenny" undoubtedly underwent a style evolution. Her eyeliner grew darker, skirts grew shorter, hair grew longer, and naïve smile faded.
Taylor's latent "rock star" was at long last released when her band "The Pretty Reckless" was signed to Interscope Records in 2009. For Taylor and her formerly "safe" style, there was no turning back.
Below, left: Extremely long platinum hair contrasted with heavy, dark eye makeup characterizes the "Momsen" look. Add a few leather (preferably studded) accessories, a pair of S&M-inspired and impossibly high platform boots or heels, a garter or two, and voilà, the "Pretty Reckless" lead singer is ready to rock…What about a shirt, you say? Or maybe pants? Taylor prefers lingerie-inspired looks…and in some of her recent concert style choices, just straight-up lingerie.
Above, right: As for pants, they are a Taylor "don't". This starlet prefers to don a dark, rock-inspired tee just long enough to conceal the more personal aspects of her anatomy. When Taylor decides to heed the advice of hopeful parents pleading for her to serve as a "role model", she throws on a leather jacket to "cover up."
Say what you may about Taylor "I don't care" Momsen and her personal style, but no one can deny that she deviates from mainstream "cookie cutter" starlet choices. And today, on her 18th birthday, I would like to commend Taylor, for daring to hit the red carpet in only knee highs and her favorite boxy tee. Rock on, Taylor. Pants are overrated.