Okay, here’s my take on a blog post about recreating Janet Jackson’s iconic outfits.
Alright y’all, so I went on a whole Janet Jackson kick recently. Like, hardcore. And, being the crafty type, I didn’t just listen to Rhythm Nation on repeat (though I did plenty of that, too!). I decided I needed to wear the Rhythm Nation, you know? Recreate some of those iconic looks. It was a whole thing.
First up? The “Rhythm Nation 1814” military-inspired look. Now, I ain’t got a costume budget, so this was all about thrifting and DIY. I started by hitting up every thrift store within a 20-mile radius. Seriously, I was digging. What I wanted, it was the jacket. I found a kinda-sorta military-style blazer at Goodwill. It was navy blue, not black, but hey, details, details. The important thing, it was the cut.
The Jacket Transformation
- I snipped off the existing buttons. Those were going NOWHERE.
- Next, gold buttons. I bought a pack of gold buttons, big and flashy, from the fabric store. I sowed on.
- I needed the shoulder pads. The bigger the better.I got these HUGE shoulder pads from another ugly 80s jacket I found. Cut them out and sewed them inside the blazer.
- Added some gold trim. Found some gold ribbon at the craft store and sewed it along the collar and cuffs. It wasn’t perfect, but it gave the right vibe.
The Rest of the Outfit
Lucky, I already had some black leggings. Boom. And black combat boots? Check. A white mock-neck top? Found one hiding in the back of my closet, thank goodness. The belt was a little trickier. Ended up using a wide black belt I already owned and added some gold paint to the buckle to make it pop more.
Next I tried was her “If” music video look. That one’s all about the tight black dress and the crazy headpiece.
- The Dress: I actually cheated a little and bought a simple, form-fitting black dress online. It was cheap and saved me a ton of time trying to sew one myself.
- The Headpiece: This was the fun part! I used thick wire as a base and bent it into the right shape. Then, I covered it in black fabric and added a bunch of beads and sequins. I’m no expert, but it looked close enough!
The biggest challenge was getting the confidence to actually wear these outfits out! I went out! I did it! I went to the grocery store in my Rhythm Nation jacket and nobody even batted an eye! Okay, maybe one person did a double-take, but whatever. It was worth it.
Honestly, this whole project was a blast. It reminded me that fashion is about having fun and expressing yourself, even if you’re just doing it for yourself. And, let’s be real, Janet Jackson’s style is timeless. Now, I am gonna start searching for her All For You Era. Wish me luck!
