Fashion Icon - Florence Welch

Career: Successful recording artist.

Influences: Françoise Hardy, Stevie Nicks, The Cockettes.

Style Credentials: Gucci muse, A/W 2011. Vogue cover girl, January 2012. Performance on the Chanel catwalk at Paris Fashion Week 2012.

Without a doubt, Florence Welch is the poster girl for both festival chic and ethereal elegance. I confess, I am a massive fan of Florence, having listened to both of her albums on almost constant repeat. However, perhaps more so than her music, it is her style that sets Florence apart. The stark contrast between her daytime and evening looks certainly adds to her appeal and establishes her as a true British fashion icon. Florence is unique, and she is indisputably cool: her striking appearance, with trademark auburn hair and heavy fringe, perfectly compliments the timeless allure of her unusual fashion choices. 

As a regular headline act, Miss Welch has mastered the art of festival dressing, consequently inspiring thousands of other girls with her look. Often selecting quirky accessories to compliment her look, such as the John Lennon-style sunglasses, wicker handbag with bull embellishment, and white polka-dot socks that she chose as a backstage look for the Isle of Wight festival in 2010, Florence proves that even the simplest outfit can provide a unique and quirky look when paired with the right accessories. Even with a casual outfit, the use of decadent materials, from delicate chiffon and silk, to luxurious velvet, add an elegant edge to her otherwise nonchalant look. 

As a contrast to the laidback chic of her daytime look, embellished maxi dresses often provide the focus for Florence's chic evening style. Evidently, the 25 year-old has a particular penchant for couture, often opting for gowns from brands such as Valentino, Givenchy and Yves Saint Laurent. Nevertheless, no matter which designer she chooses, Florence's style is unmistakably her own. When Giannini selected her as the Gucci muse for their A/W collection in 2011, he described her as "strong and somewhat mysterious", and nowhere is this more evident than in her evening attire. Whether paired with an elegant up-do or flowing curls, there is frequently a distinct 1920s influence to Florence's outfits, a look that endures to this day as the epitome of elegance, liberation, and class. 

However, ultimately Florence Welch is a born performer, and her outfit choices are an important aspect of her stage presence. In May 2011, Florence described her onstage style as "Lady of Shalott meets Ophelia", a reference to the romantic heroines of Tennyson and Shakespeare respectively, and her mystical and dramatic appearance certainly compliments her music perfectly. I recently saw Florence perform during her Ceremonials tour, where a flowing black cape provided the centrepiece to her stage look. This proved to be an inspired and clever choice that allowed for a dramatic disrobing during a climactic part of a song, therefore reinforcing Florence's status as one of the brightest fashion icons of the modern era.