Get The Look: Marla Singer

Originally, I had intended on blogging about my favourite alternative style moments in pop culture history. In fact, this blog started out as a Pop Cult Instagram account which documented and celebrated alternative style.

I’ve been thinking about revisiting the original concept for a while, and I’ve now decided to do a regular ‘Get The Look’ post. And who better to start with than the bad-bitch Marla Singer from Fight Club. I’ve always admired her don’t-give-a-fuck attitude and I feel it’s heavily reflected in her style. Helena Bonham Carter was excellent as the likeable but melancholy chainsmoking nutjob who steals clothes from the laundrette and sells them to charity shops, who is in perfect health yet sits on cancer support groups for entertainment. A mysterious woman who hides behind dark shades and a lit cigarette.

Marla’s look is trashy and rough around the edges. Sure she wears pink lace and sequins but her clothes are worn, likely foraged from the bargain bin at a charity shop. She wears a lot of black, her hair left intentionally messy. He dark clothes match her dark makeup which matches her dark attitude towards life.

“I got this dress at a thrift store for one dollar. It’s a bridesmaid’s dress, someone loved it intensely for one day, and then tossed it. Like a Christmas tree. So special. Then, BAM, it’s on the side of the road. Tinsel still clinging to it. Like a sex crime victim. Underwear inside out. Bound with electrical tape.” – Marla

My favourite thing about Marla is her shaggy black fur coat. I had one like it but since it came back from the dry cleaners, it’s never been quite the same (bummer) so I’ve been looking for a replacement for Winter. The jacket in the image below is my favourite, it’s €75 from MissGuided and it’s about the closest in terms of shaggy the fur is. There are also some pretty cool vintage versions, like this one, available from Etsy if you have the cash to splash.

The next Marla-esque item you’ll need is an ill-fitted cami-style dress or a tight black skirt with a simple crop top. If you really want to go all out on the shabby-chic aesthetic, you’ll probably be better off browsing your local thrift shop for something unique. If that’s not your thing then you can consider buying something like this little black number from MissGuided or this dusty pink Cami from Forever 21. This blue sequined cami dress from ASOS would also look great. Velvet and silk would work great for this look, especially if you want a real 90s vibe.

This gorgeous ‘Disturbed’ lipstick by Urban Decay is a perfect dark lippy to complete the Marla Singer look. A brown-ish shade like this one would also work well. Pair it with some heavy kohl liner and you’re all set.

Marla loves her chunky platform heels. Here are two gorgeous pairs from ASOS that I love. The first can be purchased here and the second pair here.

Ok, so Marla’s hat looks a little worse for wear in comparison to this one… Pair this style of hat with some dark black sunglasses so that you can shield your eyes when you and your lover blow up the world’s financial institutions. You can get this hat from Forever21 by clicking here.

And there you have it, all you need to finish the look is a pack of smokes and a punk attitude.

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