Songful Style: Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Welcome to the April edition of Songful Style! Hosted by myself, Shelbee (Shelbee on the Edge), Marsha (Marsha in the Middle) and Michelle (Funky Fashion Style), Songful Style is a collaboration featuring outfits inspired by songs. We’re also inviting anyone who would like to join us, to post their own outfits in the link-up below. It doesn’t matter from what angle the song inspires the outfit, it can be from the lyrics, the title, the tune itself, the album cover, music video, etc. Last month our song was Sweet Baby James by James Taylor and was chosen by Shelbee. This month, our Songful Style song was chosen by Marsha and is Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper.

Can you believe that I actually really struggled with this challenge?! I grew up in the 80s when this was one of my favourite songs, alongside Madonna’s latest hits. I adored everything these women wore… their soft punk outfits were the epitome of cool to me. But fast forward thirty years and I found myself at a loss as to how I could make a Girls Just Want to Have Fun style statement without looking like I was going to a fancy dress party! Admittedly, Cyndi wore a lot of skirts (often at once), with a lot of tulle, and I’m just not really a skirt kinda gal. I own a few but I rarely wear them. And I have one tulle skirt but it’s black and kind of bland. And I didn’t want to put an outfit together that I would be uncomfortable to wear out of the house.

So, I re-watched the music video (several times over), scoured though images of Cyndi and read a bit more about her. I paused the video when she’s in her house wearing pyjamas because I thought perhaps I could create a look wearing the same leopard print. I duly put on a leopard print top I’d bought a few months ago, combined with that black tulle skirt, I added an 80s inspired stretchy belt and stared at my reflection in the mirror. Honestly, I hated it. It just felt so wrong. Perhaps it’s because the top had shoulder pads which Trinny is always banging on about…but they just don’t look right on me, probably because I actually have decent shoulders to start with lol. I don’t know. Either that or my hormones were just messing with me.

Anyway, I quickly got undressed and tried again. This time, I figured I should style an outfit I would happily wear every day…just adding a few things that I thought Cyndi would apply to her own look. That’s when my eyes settled on the brightly coloured t-shirt I bought last year from Zara. Back in the 80s, Cyndi clearly loved colour and she was also well known for wearing crazy prints (often favouring over-sized Hawaiian shirts. Did you know that?), so this tee seemed perfect. Now, if I’d had some colourful tulle skirts, I would have worn them (because even though I’m not a skirts kinda gal, I do love bright colourful tulle skirt) and added a pair of trainers. But I don’t so I opted for a pair of jeans instead. After all, I feel more like me when I’m wearing jeans! And these aren’t just any pair of jeans…

I’d been searching for the perfect pair of jeans for…well, years actually. And I’d never found them. Until now. I just happened to be in Salsa with Michael, who loves their jeans. And he suggested I try them. I already have one pair from last year but they’ve got that special butt ‘enhancing’ something or other in them and I don’t like how tight they are. So, when the sales assistant approached me, I told her what I liked and what I didn’t like. And she brought me these. Well… it was instant. They’re exactly what I wanted. Very little stretch. A nice high waist but not too high. Not too tight, not too loose but still flattering on the butt! And they’re super comfortable. So I bought them and also a second pair in a darker wash but those ones had a raw hem which I hate. So I asked them to take them up. I picked them up this week and I should’ve gone a tad shorter but they’re still pretty good.

Sorry, I’ve digressed. I chose to wear these jeans for the Girls Just Want to Have Fun challenge because I feel like they’ve got a bit of an 80s feel to them. And adding a pair of ballet flats (from Calla) made it feel even more 80s…do you know what I mean? The final touches came in the form of lots of jewellery. I could have gone overboard of course, but I still wanted to feel like ‘me’ so I just added enough necklaces (I think there are four silver chains), bracelets (three in total), a chunky ring and some fun green floral raffia earrings (currently available from Mango). My fun purple handbag (inherited) and fine knit green cardigan (also from Mango. Still available in stores now) finished off the look—apart from a slick of bright pink lipstick of course. Et voila…my interpretation of an everyday look for Cyndi’s song, Girls Just Want to Have Fun. I know it’s quite subdued but it’s very me and it was also a look I could wear to go out to the Outlet Shopping Mall, where we took the photos.

Now, how would you style this song? It might seem easy…but I’d bet you’d be surprised how difficult it is lol. Please link your posts to the link-up below, and don’t forget to check out Shelbee’s (Shelbee on the Edge), Marsha’s (Marsha in the Middle) and Michelle’s (Funky Fashion Style) looks. And do join us for next month’s Songful Style challenge when we’ll be styling the awesome song, All About That Bass, by Meghan Trainor.