STYLE INSPIRATION: MICHAEL JACKSON

I've already done a post on his sister, Janet Jackson, so why not him? Michael's style was (sighs) one that can really be talked about. 

STEP ONE: JACKETS

I swear, he always wore some sort of jacket. Whether it be made out of satin, diamonds or just a plain black blazer, there is ALWAYS some sort of jacket involved and that is awesome. If you want to sparkle like some of his iconic pieces, then just glue some plastic jewels on whatever you have and then you're instantly channeling Michael Jackson (even better if it accentuates your shoulders).

STEP TWO: EXPERIMENT WITH EVERYTHING

So one thing that I think you can notice instantly, is that Michael always experimented. With different textures, pieces, layers, colours EVERYTHING. It is actually very inspirational when I go thrifting. Just pick out stuff you like and if you know you like it and you like how it looks then that'll come across to other people. I mean some of the stuff he wore is questionable (in my opinion) but who cares? He wore it and owned it. So experiment!

STEP THREE: SUNGLASSES

So whilst I was searching for a recurring theme in all of the clothes Michael wore (quite difficult), I noticed that he wore sunglasses a lot. Like everywhere and I'm pretty sure half of the time it wasn't sunny. You don't have to wear sunglasses everywhere you go though, but you could experiment with just wearing different frames. Buy some plastic glasses and fool everyone into thinking you actually need them. If you're like me and actually need glasses, then maybe we can just skip this step and not experiment with glasses that haven't been prescribed to us.

STYLE INSPIRATION: LISA BONET

STEP ONE: COLOUR AND VARIATION IN GENERAL

I think that I'll have no real objection, if I come and say that Lisa Bonet's style is full of colour. Blues, reds, greens, yellows, oranges, the whole lot. Different shapes, vibrant patterns, everything. She is a walking rainbow and it's gorgeous. Change up the texture of your clothes. Layer denim, velvet AND faux fur if you have it. Experiment. Fill up your wardrobe with all sorts of colourful things and flaunt them as you wish. For example, a Joseph Coat (DIY) which will be coming to you all very soon.

STEP TWO: ACCESSORISE!!!!

Strap on the pieces of wool and tie them round your wrists, waxy leather cords, beads, friendship bracelets, chains and more. Lisa Bonet does a lot of accessorising, and if you want to channel her, then you have to do some yourself too. If you're not that big on accessorising, then wear a simple headband, or a loose necklace, nothing too tight. I'm not that big on earrings myself, since they always end up pinching my ears, but if I'm accessorising, I always go for my rings and chokers. Find your favourite accessory and try and stick with it.

STEP THREE: MINIMAL MAKEUP

The last thing that I'm going to put is makeup, because I feel that Lisa Bonet's simple or non existent make up is also a running theme in her style and look. Try and keep everything fresh. If you feel the need to wear makeup, then I'll give you some help on how to minimise the amount you use. Try using just tinted moisturiser, curl your eyelashes, put a dash of mascara on too. If you want to keep your face matte, maybe let your moisturiser have mattifying properties, or put a little bit of powder (or talcum powder) to keep the oil queen away. Maybe a dash of highlighter here and there too, to increase your inner glow. If you're like me and you're trying to stay away from that, try and only put two products on your face. For me it's either eyebrow pencil and mascara or an eyebrow pencil and eyeliner.

STYLE INSIPIRATION: JANET JACKSON

So as you can see, I've been drawn to a particular era in Janet Jackson's musical career. The CONTROL, era. It was quite hard to pick between that, Rhythm Nation and the 90s (Poetic Justice), but at the moment I'm definitely more drawn to the all black. So who doesn't love Janet? She's gorgeous, incredibly talented and wears the most incredible clothes. So if you're like me, and you're wondering how you can adopt this particular look of Janet's, keep reading!

STEP ONE: BLACK

Now that isn't particularly hard, since a lot of people are drawn to the all black look. Black is flattering, and it suits everyone, no matter how pale or dark you are. 

STEP TWO: SOME SORT BLACK COAT

So I've been sifting through a couple of photos during the CONTROL era, and I've noticed a consistent theme. In almost every one of the photos I've looked at, Janet is wearing some sort of black coat/jacket. Whether it be an oversized blazer, a cropped leather jacket or just a regular coat with shoulder pads; she's wearing it. 

STEP THREE: BLACK SHOES

Whether it be little ankle boots with heels, knee high boots, Chelsea you name it. Janet is always wearing some sort of black shoe. If you're not into boots, then you can even swap the boots for some nice black Mary Janes.

STEP FOUR: BLACK TROUSERS

If I were to try and adopt this style, I would certainly go for either black skinny jeans or tapered trousers. However, if you're not a fan of jeans or trousers, some nice black jeggings or even leggings would do. A black denim A line skirt with a white blouse, and a large jacket with some black heeled boots would look great too!

STEP FIVE: MAKEUP+ACCESSORIES

Finally the face and the accessories. In every photo I've seen of Janet in this era, she has a matte face. So make sure you pump up on the powder and cover your face in it. Minimal makeup really, with a nice red or pink lip to complete your look. Janet always tends to wear silver jewellery (or have something silver on, against all of that black!) and sometimes likes to accessories with gloves as well.

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So there you have it! The amazing Janet Jackson broken down into five simple steps. Play around with this guide, and see if you can incorporate the CONTROL look into your own style!