Lisbeth Salander is many things. A feminist heroine, a survivor that took the world by storm. The hugely successful 'Trilogy' by Stieg Larsson, wrapped a sinister web of tales around this fascinatingly strong and unforgettable character. She certainly is unforgettable. It's not surprising that the adaptation of the movie made such an impact on pop culture. Her character epitomizes speed and a strong will, together with keen survival instincts. Her unmistakable air of mystery, combined with a hard exterior and a soft, gentle soul, creates such a complex persona. So it was amazing to see how the Hollywood version of our heroine, translated from the page. With Rooney Mara as the dark haired, pale skinned and skinny Lisbeth, they successfully transformed a perfect, sun-kissed girl-next-door, into this unforgettable gothic being.
Her black leather-clad figure makes us want to reach out for our leather, biker jacket, teamed with faux leather leggings. Her bleached brows and high fringe, might not be what we aspire to, but the soft drapery of the white tee shirt and charcoal sweatshirt, and other Alexander Wang inspired outfits, are certainly the classics we like.
The spring and summer 2012 collection from Ann Demeulemeester is a strong reminder of the movie. As reviewed by Vogue, the collections ask us to "Imagine the outfits Lisbeth Salander would splurge on when she suddenly felt inclined by her financial chicanery toward high fashion. Demeulemeester's new designs had Salander's 'kick-ass', high-performance quality. There was a pointy sharpness to the layered garments on leather jackets that suggested warrior action, as did the stiffened sculptured, leather neckpieces. The sleek, linear quality of suits made of bias-cuts, funnel-necked jackets and pencil skirts, provided a fierce new silhouette for the designer."
We can plainly see that Lisbeth is becoming a major influence on the fashion credits front. It is surprising to see just how wearable her wardrobe is, for it can easily translate into our day-to-day busy life. In David Finchley's stylish adaptation, she confidently rides her motorcycle through an ice storm, discovering sinister murderous crimes. She weaves through crowds of 60s inspired, well-heeled suburbanites and in her imaginative clothing, stands out from the crowd in her rebellious colours.
Her daily outfits consist of many layers of tee shirts that pile over each other with lots of ripped seams. The sweat shirts and comfy knits lean heavily on shades of charcoal. The leather, biker jacket is her armour through life, the trusty dark jeans and the nailed and studded biker boots make sure she can cause damage. They guarantee quiet confidence and a steel-cold personality, enough to ward off any uninvited attention.
We can all have a bit of gothic in us. Imagine a day when nothing is better than a weather-proof leather jacket, and skin-tight, black jeans with combat boots. So go out there, and face the world like our heroine, and, if you are brave enough, consider that a high hair line could potentially stir the world.