Madison news - madison water cooler: our unsung fashion heroes

Some people look up to Betty Suarez from the TV series Ugly Betty for fashion inspiration. (Her quirky style has even led to a resurgence of poncho wearers.) Others covet the late Amy Winehouse’s ‘50s flair – she was all big hair and sailor tattoos, pure retro, rock n’ roll style.

The truth is many people’s fashion tastes are met by someone you or I may not look at and think, “wow they have amazing style”.

There are traditional style icons, whose conventional and flawless fashion is always height of popularity. Their every move is documented, envied and even replicated. Then there are the others, who have sartorial flair in their own right, but don’t get quite the same exposure. And it’s these people who are currently intriguing us here at madison - the unacknowledged fashion icons.

Mine is singer Erykah Badu. I love the tribal trend and whenever I see her in a head dress or scarf, I just wish I could pull it off as well as she does.

When she isn’t wearing her head dress, I love her untamed mane and her luxe sportswear. It ain’t easy to walk down the street in a sports jacket, but she always seems to have this tough vintage look going on. But for some reason or another Badu isn’t a constant in best-dressed lists like other ladies, who I don’t think have a patch on her!

Which “less mainstream” person inspires you?

Launch our gallery to see other unsung fashion heroes, who madison staffers feel deserve more recognition in the style stakes…

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