Look Back at All of Amy Winehouse's Bold Sartorial Choices

Beloved British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse has been remembered in pop culture for her rich, soulful voice since her tragic passing in 2011, but an equally enduring element of the star's persona is her emblematic style. 

"She's a style icon. She's not only a muse; she's a genius. She's one of the greatest voices today," Karl Lagerfeld told British Vogue in 2007, praising the singer ahead of the Chanel Metiers d'Art show in 2007, which was directly inspired by Winehouse's style. 

Of course, one of the most memorable aspects of the singer's appearance was her classic beauty look. Winehouse was rarely spotted without her oversized, rounded cat eye-style eyeliner and her signature bold lipstick, often in bright pink or red hues. Even more iconic than her eyeliner was her hair, which was typically styled in a Brigitte Bardot-inspired beehive. Although the look started as a joke between Winehouse and her hairstylist, it instantly became one of the most recognizable traits of the singer's appearance. 

Throughout her career, Winehouse was lauded as a style chameleon, shifting the energy of her outfits based on the day. Although the singer sported numerous styles throughout the years, some of her most famous looks took on '50s and '60s aesthetics infused with the modern-day raw grungy aspects of classic London fashion. Winehouse often wore vintage dresses accentuated with oversized belts—a look that she typically paired with an accent bandana to tie the whole look together. Other sartorial staples of Winehouse's wardrobe were polka dots—often in the form of dresses with vintage-inspired sweetheart silhouettes—and halter necklines.

As Winehouse leaned into the edgier side of her personal style later in her career, simple tanktops with skinny jeans, paired of course with a bandana and peep-toe platform heels or her beloved silk ballet flats, became commonplace.

Over the course of most of her career, the singer worked closely with stylist Naomi Parry, who often sourced vintage looks and designed custom outfits for Winehouse, but Parry has been vocal about the "Valerie" singer's role in the wardrobe department. “No matter what I put her in, Amy was very much the architect of her ultimate appearance,” Parry told the Sydney Morning Herald in 2021. “It didn’t matter how armed I was with the correct underwear, tit tape, sewing kit, safety pins—she would always add the Amy edge, the imperfection of the look that ultimately was the ingredient that made her unique.” 

Whether you're looking to draw style inspiration from the many iconic Amy Winehouse outfits, or simply in a mood to reminisce on the singer's best fashion moments, join L'OFFICIEL in exploring all of Amy Winehouse's best styles over the years.