Spotlight: Beth Ditto

Ever since I got into The Gossip's sassy, sultry sound in early 2006, I have not been able to take my eyes off Beth Ditto. She is a fascinating, inspiring, beautiful woman, and she is one of Plus Size Fashion's top icons. Let's take a look at her influence in the fashion world and some of her best looks:

"Over the last three years Ms. Ditto has gone from nobody to superstar. She has been hailed as an icon by everyone from women weight activists to gay rights campaigners. She has appeared nude on a glossy magazine cover and has attacked major fashion brands for not selling clothes in big sizes.

Now the fashion industry has decided it can’t get enough of her. The Arkansas-born singer has been a fixture at this week’s fashion events. Whether at Stella McCartneyorChanel, rarely a day has gone by without her sitting in a front row seat at an exclusive runway show." (wsj.com)

What I love most about her is that she's not afraid to bare it all, whether it be onstage during one of her killer concerts, or on the cover of one of the many mags she's graced in the past six years.

Starting with her topless cover on On Our Backs in June/July 2003, Ditto has shown that she's not shy about baring some skin--and I love it!

Since then she has continued to shock (and titillate) with her revealing photo shoots, from June 2007's NME...

...to February's edition of Conde Nast LOVE Magazine. Ditto is getting more glamorous all the time. We've seen her as an edgy rocker chick, and lately we've been able to see her softer side:

This month's issue of Attitude boasts a clothed (though no less sassy) Ditto:

This month also saw the release of Ditto's own fashion line, available online through Evans, offering jumpsuits, biker jackets, and fat girl friendly leggings! Of course, this line is not for the faint of heart, and it requires a lot of attitude, but the dresses are friendly for most any figure.

Says Ditto on her fashion line: "I like wearing clothes, so it made sense." And her fashion makes sense as well. Never afraid to wear something because of perceived "size" limitations, Ditto does not shy away from spandex, excess fabric, or short skirts, which are hammered home as fashion DON'T's for big girls. Some of her best looks include those where she is breaking the most "rules" for plus-size attire:

Here Ditto is rocking a custom-made chiffon gown by Alexander McQueen. McQueen was so inspired by her that he has promised to create a number of designs for Ditto. He said, "I have three words for Beth: heart and soul."

Beth struts her stuff at the 2008 Brit Music Awards in this stunning custom-made tulle dress by Luella. The dress is adorable and it makes her shoulders look great! Besides, that is one HOT color.

Look at these moves! Beth looks like she could kick some serious ass in this lycra number from Johnny Blue Eye's House of Blue Eyes. Curve-hugging and outrageous, it makes her breasts look amazing, and I'm sold on any outfit that will allow me to move like that!

This June 2009 draped Miu Miu dress is the perfect blend of feminine and funky, and Beth looks brilliant! It shows off her arms (with her hot tats!), compliments her fair skin, and even looks super comfortable. The uneven hemline paired with the statement necklace gives this gown an edgy look.

I think what's most important about Beth's sense of style, what makes her a fashion icon, is that she has a great confidence about her and is not afraid to try anything. In fact, it was her series of bold nude magazine covers that got her all those invites to fashion shows. Says Ditto, "It’s funny how something so normal and mundane that you see every day—your body—can be controversial. The shock value is intense. It’s like carrying an art piece around with you all the time. I don’t really care about other people’s prejudices. I don’t take things super personally, unless it’s someone I really respect. It’s really about making an art piece out of what you’ve been handed. It is about being resourceful. When all you have is an ugly sweater-vest, cut it up and make a really cool skirt out of it! When all you have are these really hateful people, cut them up and make something funny out of them."