Watching the trailer for the Amy Winehouse documentary Amy made me feel all of the feels, but also made me remember how much of a splash she made in fashion back in the early aughts. Whether you loved her or hated her, there's no denying that Amy Winehouse's style has become iconic.
Winehouse's style was such a modern-day take on the pinup girls of days past, a retro feel that Winehouse clearly adored if the collection of pinup girl tattoos on her arms was any kind of indication. Winehouse's outfits were never totally "perfect," but they were always her own, and her idiosyncrasy was what made her look both so compelling and so open to criticism.
In 2007, the year Winehouse won a Grammy for Record of the Year, Karl Lagerfeld cited Winehouse as an inspiration for Chanel's collection, while Brooklyn Vegan hypothesized that "Amy Winehouse" was the year's most popular Halloween costume. It might have been polarizing, but it was always Winehouse.
It's really only been after her death in 2011 that the lasting influence of Winehouse's style has become apparent. Take, for example, Jean Paul Gautier's 2012 collection that served as a tribute to the then-recently deceased artist, or even Lady Gaga's bedroom selfie, taken in 2014, that channeled Winehouse's vibes.
But what exactly made Amy Winehouse's look so memorable? What are the elements that made her style her own? And why is it a look that we're still clamoring for today? As an unofficial scholar of all things Winehouse, I give you 11 of the accessories and outfits that defined her unique and undeniably iconic style:
1. Beehive Hair-Do
Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
It would be almost sacrilegious to write a list of iconic Amy Winehouse looks without including that beehive, so let's just get it out of the way. At this point, it's all but impossible to see that up-do and not think of Winehouse.
2. Winged Eyeliner
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Ditto to the dramatic eye makeup, which became another of her signatures. That thick cat-eyeliner was delightfully retro with a modern twist, especially when paired with her take on the beehive and her Monroe piercing.
3. LBDs
Kevin Winter/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Every respectable jazz singer has a LBD, and Amy was no exception, which was especially appropriate since her second and final album was called Back to Black. She often paired these short, Bettie Page-style dresses with a wide belt.
4. Short Cocktail Dresses
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Not all of her outfits were dark though, and Winehouse wore a good collection of bright, and short, cocktail dresses like this yellow one from the 2007 Brit Awards. (Winehouse's wax figure at Madame Tussaud's in London is actually wearing this same dress.)
5. Short Floral Dresses
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If it wasn't a black or brightly colored dress, it was probably printed with florals. But no matter what the pattern, the dress was usually pretty short.
6. Fred Perry Polo Shirts
One of Winehouse's staples was polo shirts, specifically those from Fred Perry, and in 2010, Winehouse actually partnered with the British brand to create her own collection. Now, proceeds from Fred Perry's Amy Winehouse Collection support the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which works to empower young people with music therapy programs.
7. Tank Tops And Jeans
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Winehouse was regularly spotted by the paparazzi walking around her London neighborhood of Camden in some variation of this outfit: A solid tank top, either white or black, paired with short denim cut-offs or skinny jeans, and a pair of white ballet flats.
8. Pink Bowling Shirt
Winehouse was also repeatedly seen wearing this shirt around Camden, with the phrase "Blake's Girl," a reference to her husband Blake Fielder-Civil, embroidered above the heart. This shirt has total Pink Lady vibes, in all the best ways.
9. Argyle Sweaters
"Argyle" doesn't exactly scream "rock and roll," but it was a pattern Winehouse rocked regularly, especially in variations of pink, white, and grey.
10. Hair Accessories, From Bandanas To Pins
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Winehouse's beehive was regularly adorned with trinkets and accessories, from a red bandana or silk scarf to a crown of roses. One of her most memorable hair accessories was this classic tattoo-inspired pin, with her husband's name "Blake" emblazoned on a white ribbon across the red heart.
11. Pretty Much Anything Leopard
From scarves to capri pants to pencil skirts, Winehouse wore a fair bit of leopard print, another pinup girl staple. Her ability to take a bold print and work it in anywhere was classic Winehouse.
Images: Getty (7); amywinehousetribute (3), amywinehouse.mermaid/Instagram
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