Janis Joplin festival style

Over the Easter holiday I enjoyed catching up on a bit of television, and one thing that I watched was a docu-film about the legendary Janis Joplin. Called ‘Janis Joplin – Little Girl Blue’, it was a story that told about her life, her work, her problems and showed many of her legendary performances, including ‘Ball and Chain’, ‘Cry Baby’ and ‘Another Piece of My Heart.’

One of the things I noticed whilst watching the film was what incredible style Janis had. This was the late 1960s when hippy chick was all the rage, and with festival fever taking off with Monteray, Woodstock and The Isle of Wight festivals amongst others, Janis was really the first woman to perfect the festival Chic looks that we now see everywhere from Coachella to Glastonbury each year.

Janis was a fashion magpie who loved bright colours, beautiful fabrics and lots of jewellery as part of her overall look. Think floral print trousers, Kimono style jackets, long rows of beads and acres and acres of jangling bangles. Add into the mix the sort of bell bottomed jeans that made such a comeback last year, teamed with boho style blouses with bell shaped sleeves and then layered with waistcoats and Afghan coats, and you get a look that is strangely modern and actually fairly perfect for festival season in the weather challenged UK.

79f31095ca55eecd714b91c1ef540422 — This look has been co-opted by Kristen Stewart

bd4a2dcbbb6ed1ba885d87ff8bf2578d — The layered look

Janis Joplin © Jim Marshall Photography LLC

janis-joplin-e1449467117127 — Bell bottoms, stack heels and lots of bright colours

Janis-Joplin-Photos-janis-joplin-24124628-500-481 — Classic Janis

Janis’s look has inspired so many icons of style, from Kate Moss and Kristen Stewart, to Stevie Nicks and Billie Piper. Her incredible voice and performances mean that she will remain an ultimate musical icon, but the woman who was plagued with the thought that she was never pretty enough was actually beautiful, stylish and vibrant, and continues to inspire with her music, her passion and her wardrobe.

Get the Janis Look with Miss Selfridge