Welcome to the seventh installment of Style Thief, where I steal the clothes off queer style icons’ backs. Metaphorically, that is. I’ll try figure out just exactly what makes queer style icons tick by breaking down their look into itty bitty bite size pieces. I get a lot of questions about how to look like different celebrities/characters, so I’m finally tackling the question “How the hell do I dress like that?”
Header by Rory Midhani
Get ready to hug the nearest woman with your legs in friendship, because this week we’re stripping down Ellen Page. Ellen Page reminds us that you don’t have to be a lesbian for us to worship at your style feet. You can just be super hot Canadian of undisclosed sexual orientation!
VIA LADYLOVEDAILY.COM
Ellen Page’s look is best described as just slightly femme of tomboy. The tomboy components are all there: jeans, button-ups, sneakers but her hair hangs loose and her face is softly framed by a never ending supply of scarves.
Starting off, Ellen seems to live in worn out skinny jeans. Jeans that were once as tight as leggings but have since been worn day after day without washing until they hang loose at the knees and ankles. Though stores are filled with the classic black or dark blue skinny jeans, Ellen rocks grey jeans in a big way. The secret to wearing grey jeans is to pick a dark enough shade that the front center seam up towards the zipper doesn’t show. If you pick too light a shade of grey, and this seam shows, you’ll look like you have a permanent camel toe. Ellen also wears sturdy denim skinny jeans in a good old classic medium blue. Most importantly, don’t be scared of a few rips. That’s how people know you love your jeans to death.
On top you’re basically looking at either a button-up or a T-shirt. For a button-up your obvious first choice is a plaid. Forget all those stores selling curvy cuts and forget about blues and yellows. This is a classic lumberjack red and grey plaid situation. If plaid isn’t your color, you could also try a light colored chambray shirt. If you opt for a T-shirt go for something black that you genuinely want to wear. You want a comfy faded T-shirt of a band you actually listen to or a design you actually like. Remember, you’re not trying to be ironic here. Your look shouldn’t say, “Hey remember the 90’s?!” It should say, “Just so you know, I fuck like it’s the 90’s.”
VIA WHOSDATEDWHO.COM
Now that you have your base, it’s time to layer. You’re in LA, the temperature has finally dropped enough that you should probably put on a coat, but instead you’re going to try to get away with just a sweater or sweatshirt. To be warm enough you’re probably going to need a lightweight scarf and a hat. This is the weather at all times in Ellen Page’s world.
VIA JUSTJARED.COM
The sweatshirt is easy. It’s a grey or a black American Apparel hoodie. You want the white zipper, the white strings and no logos or other such nonsense. As for the sweater, it’s kind of grandpa sweater but also just sort of a cardigan. Ellen’s sweaters always looks vaguely like they came from a second hand store, except that the fit is so flattering that it’s probably from Nordstrom. This is a difficult balance to strike, but the key is to prioritize high quality materials and flattering cuts while shopping for a neutral color and worn in feel.
As for the hat, Ellen basically wears a slouchy grey knit hat or a brown trucker hat. When I wear slouch hats I am chronically tempted to try to stuff all of my hair inside of it like the hat is my new knit wig. On the contrary, Ellen shows us that by far the coolest way to wear a slouchy knit hat is by wearing your hair down and wavy in front of your shoulders. Then you sort of perch your hat on top of you hair. It’s totally okay to pull you hat a bit down your forehead to help it stay on, but I think it looks better a bit further up in front.
VIA WHOSDATEDWHO.COM
Similarly with a trucker hat, you just pull it over your loose hair. Resist the erge to put your hair in a pony tail out the back hole or tuck your hair behind your ears. You’re a casual free wheeling kind of girl! You can’t be bothered to do things like tuck your hair back. More importantly, choose a subtle trucker hat– perhaps the name of a hotel or cafe– and wear your hat just simply forward. Again, you’re not trying to be ironic.
THE BEST PART OF THIS PICTURE ISN’T CLEA DUVALL, IT’S ELLEN PAGE’S OUTFIT
The most important part of Ellen Page’s look are those scarfs. Well, actually, it’s almost always a bandana. The key is to start with a square bandana or scarf and fold it diagonally. Then tie the two back corners into a small knot. Be sure not to tie your bandana too tight. Pull the scarf forward so it sits like a loose necklace. Alternatively, you can tie the back once (but don’t knot it) and pull the ends forward. If a classic bandana isn’t your style, Ellen sometimes opts for a silk bandana. A double looped infinity scarf is also an option. You could even sew one yourself. Regardless of your bandana/scarf choice, go for something black or navy with either a classic bandana print or a black and white striped motif.
TECHNICALLY THESE ARE FROM INCEPTION, BUT STILL (VIA PANTRYFIRE.TUMBLR.COM)
Finally we finish off with a few simple accessories. Ellen’s accessories are easy: no jewelry, wayfarer sunglasses and converse sneakers. It’s just that simple. Following her personal color scheme, she nearly always wears either high black converse sneakers or low red ones. When Ellen isn’t wearing converse sneakers, she sometimes wears brown or black Vans or other skate-style shoes. While skate shoes can be outrageously expensive, if you’re not actually skate boarding there’s no harm in picking up a cheap off brand pair. Ellen opts for all black wayfarers with black lenses. These look particularly good peeking out from underneath a hat, but aren’t as distracting as brightly colored sunglasses might be. Additionally, wayfarers have the added benefit of looking good on basically everyone.
The great thing about Ellen Page’s look is that it’s all about convenience. You can wear the same jeans, T-shirt and hoodie every single day and that is totally totally fine. Her look says “Nope, I didn’t blow my hair dry or put on any makeup today, but that’s okay because I still look awesome.” I think we need more women who are willing to create a personal style around that sort of laid back mentality.
This week also marks the beginning of a Style Thief collaboration with artist Rory Midhani. Rory will be drawing paper dolls for our spotlight icon so you can dress up and strip down our featured woman to your heart’s content. Just look how cute Ellen Page is!
Obsessed with our Ellen Page paper doll? Check out more of Rory Midhani’s awesome paper dolls!
If there’s a queer style icon you’d like to see stripped down in Style Thief, send me an ASS message, ask on my formspring, or tweet me @Ohheyitslizz
I didn’t realized how much I wanted an Ellen Page paper doll until now.
I didn’t realize how much I wanted Ellen Page until
…my sophomore year of high school. Oh.
Ellen Page is my life icon.
But also she dresses cool.
Actually, I think my crush on Clea Duvall kinda took the shine on the usually scene-stealing Ellen because I kept looking at Clea because of duh.
Also, perhaps I should visit Halifax because two of my recent potential interests have both hailed from there…that and Manitoba.
Also, now while I’m at it, could Ms. Duvall in question be featured in the next Style thief perhaps? Especially we can pictures of her look in that beautiful overhyped masterpiece that was Argo.
there are other people from manitoba????? whaaaaaat
Hey Sophie!
I am not from Manitoba (I live in BC actually) unfortunately and Ellen is from Halifax…where my crushes have either studied there or travelled there!
And some of other crushes seem to hail from Alberta as well!
So essentially I have reasons to visit both places and brave the weather conditions!
I AM! Are you in Winnipeg?
You know that picture of Ellen Page AND Clea Duvall? Yeah? I’m going to print it, frame it and put it on my nightstand. (And that’s not creepy at all).
The year I was an RA in college was the year right after Inception came out, and my school is really hard core about choosing dorm themes and making elaborate decorations, so naturally we chose Inception as our dorm theme. The dorm was divided into 6 different halls which each get their own sub-theme, so the staff decided to name each of the halls after a character in the movie. At our staff meeting when were deciding how to divide it up, the female staff members had a massive competition over who would get Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character. Meanwhile, I was in the corner like “PSH. Dibs on Ellen Paige, KTHXBYE!!”
And then I put up massive posters of her face all over my hall.
yea I’m all about this pic of Ellen + Clea which is rockin’ my pants world right now, so I gotta ask – – Is this from a movie set, or just lezi bff-ness? Is there some project I should be watching that involves both of them?
I almost fell out of my chair from excitement and moving to click on this as quickly as possible.
“slightly femme of tomboy”
This!
Ah, Ellen Page…….I actually paused for thought then. She is quite wonderful!
Where is that tan cardigan from? I’ve been looking for a short cardigan with pockets but I don’t know where to look and that one looks perfect.
Also I can’t tell whether I’m lusting after Ellen’s clothes or the lady herself, both I guess, both is good.
YES! And I thought I died of happiness at Carrie Brownstein – I don’t think I can handle this.
How about Amber from f(x)?!
Step 1: Be super skinny. That helps pull off just about whatever look.
http://www.autostraddle.com/style-thief-how-to-dress-like-beth-ditto-151626/
” Your look shouldn’t say, “Hey remember the 90’s?!” It should say, “Just so you know, I fuck like it’s the 90’s.”
Oh! Hey! Is that you, Autostradde, creeping in through my windows at night? Because this just about sums me up.
Love her, love her style, love this. Thank you. :)
I already own everything I need to pull off that outfit in the first picture. (Hooray for thrift shops that sell cheap quality grandpa cardigans).
Ellen Page’s style is near perfection. One can never have enough slouch beanies…but I have never seen the appeal of a trucker hat – even during its height back in the Ashton Kutcher “Punk’d” days.
Posted that Ellen with Clea pic on my facebook. A storm of speculative comments ensued. Queers wanna know who Ellen’s batting for.
http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Ellen-ellen-page-732731_399_600.jpg
i feel like this solitary pic is more than relevant to your maelstrom
Wow, I’ve never realized that I dress like Ellen Page (or she dresses like me).
ellen also rocks Keep shoes, which are vegan, unisex and adorable. I’m pretty sure she’s wearing a pair in the fourth picture. if you like her style you should check them out! http://www.keepcompany.com/categories/Shoes
oh lawd ellen page.
…i already dress like here so im just here for the shiny pictures and word things.
someone drank tonight.
I’ve scrolled up and down this post about 5 times, and I keep thinking Clea and Ellen are holding hands — every single time. Wishful thinking?
I’m just going to assume that photo of Clea Duval and Ellen Page are just for me.
Do any of my fellow pear-shaped humans have tips for pulling off skinny jeans? I wear them sometimes with boots but I wish I could wear them with Converse! Ugh…
Hey Jana! I am both a fellow pear-shaped human and a very short human with very substantial calves, so I thought I couldn’t go anywhere near skinny jeans for the LONGEST time. But I recently went out on a limb and found some that worked for me, which are the Stet slim ankle by Pilcro and the Letterpress. They unfortunately only go up to 32, so are not an option for the full range of humans, but I was able to size down quite a bit, so anyone who usually wears a 33 or 34 should probs still give them a shot! The style comes in multiple lengths and tons of colors/patterns, and gets bonus points for nerdy type references: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/search/search.jsp?searchPhrase=stet
(Full disclosure, I worked at Anthropologie, so I got a pretty pleasing discount and also the opportunity to try on everything ever.)
I think there are a few tricks here —
1) They are designed to be “slim”, rather than “skinny”, so they have enough room to fit my super-muscular legs closely without looking like jeggings, but also don’t bag too much.
2) I felt self-conscious about my legs for about 5 minutes the first time I wore them, and then realized that I was 110% comfortable, so who cares.
3) I have a lady partner who is super-complimentary about how I look in everything, and she issued her official seal of approval on these pants. So I definitely recommend finding a fellow human who’s guaranteed to tell you how great you look in your skinnies.
4) When I wear skirts, which is almost always, I tuck shirts and wear belts without fail to highlight my waist, but with these jeans I wear my shirt not-tucked-in to help even out the proportions.
Hope this helps, and I look forward to hearing other people’s hints!
I’m here to represent appreciators of pear shaped females and say; Wear those skinny jeans however you want and with your head held high – it will be appreciated!
As a fellow pear-shaper who lived in skinny jeans and Converse all through college, the answer is always oversized cardigans and not giving a fuck. Or really just any top that covers your hips. It’s magic, I swear.
Thanks!! I am so going to rock some skinny jeans now. I love you all!!
Huh, I guess I dress like a slightly more colourful Ellen Page. I must be doing something right!
I’m loving the black laces instead of white in Clea and Ellen’s black Converse….
Ellen Page is the only celebrity I’ve ever met, and she was fantastic! Super down-to-earth and sweet!
oh you guys <3 I just realised I pretty much dress exactly along these lines (except not deliberately). now I feel legitimised!
Now I want bandanas in every colour possible, Ellen Page is epic
I so so so want her to be queer… <3
Yum.