The Metamorphosis of Avril Lavigne

I've been thinking about writing on this topic for a while, at least since the release of her second album but especially since January when something somewhat unexpected happened. Well, it wasn't completely unexpected, but the extent was definitely unexpected.

Bursting into the pop music scene in 2002 as part of the *anti-Britney* wave of young female performers, Avril was marketed as a *punk* or *skater girl*. Accordingly, she appeared with ugly clothes, bad hair, racoon eyed kohl circles around her eyes (above), and in her music clips appeared playing a guitar and skate-boarding. She would be invariably making strange hand gestures (right) with her tongue sticking out and doing other apparently anti-social activities, all in keeping with the *punk* persona. Her first album Let Go sold 15 million copies and spawned the...er... fashion...mmm...phenomenon whereby little girls would steal their Dads' ties to wear with wife beaters.

When asked for her opinions on The Sex Pistols, she admitted she didn't know who they were. A punk who doesn't know The Sex Pistols!?!?!? AS IF!!!! Naturally the backlash came prior to release of her second album, Under My Skin. While still selling 9 million copies worldwide, the music was less *punky* and featured marketing that showed Avril being a bit more groomed. The hair, while still loose, was at least styled to be off her face. (Ugh, all those early photos make me want to run a comb over her.) The makeup became a little bit more refined (above) while the clothes became less ugly and more black and simple. I found this pic of her in a corset...a bit goth maybe?


Regardless, her transformation away from the grubby little thing Avril used to be towards something a little bit more normal was established. And what a transformation! The girl discovered Chanel (left - love those little 2 -toned pumps)! She appears to be modelling herself after Nicole Kidman (below).
(these pics came out in January)

But anyway, compare the photo below which apparently comes from her Ford Model Agency card to the first two photos.
Who would have thought that ugly duckling would turn into a swan? Then again, seeing as it was all a marketed image anyway, who would have thought her advisors or herself would let her get pushed all the way to the other end of the spectrum? Another fake punk dies and the world goes back to classics, so as a role-model to those who are more foolish than me when it comes to fashion, Avril Lavigne, I tip one of my hats to you.

(God, who thought I'd ever say that 3 years ago?)