Ever since I first heard Lily Allen’s singsong-y “Smile” back in 2006 (when I was definitely too young to be worrying about anyone “****ing that girl next door”), I knew I would forever be a fan of her straightforward and occasionally petty lyrics. Plus, we share a last name, so I feel a kinship. Whereas other stars tend to keep things discreet and inoffensively vague, the drag-that-man Lily Allen approach is so much more fun, and far more akin to the oversharing-on-Close-Friends moment we find ourselves in currently.
Since she dropped comeback album West End Girl in October and laid the inspiration bare in British Vogue, she’s embraced revenge dressing in a manner that would make Princess Diana proud. Whether taking the high-fashion high road in ab-flashing Colleen Allen, or donning an orange wig to cosplay as everyone’s favourite storybook schoolgirl with appendicitis, Madeline (vape in hand), the singer hasn’t passed up a single opportunity to make a statement.
Her latest knowing look? A polka-dot puffer—one that looks extremely familiar, given its resemblance to the artwork for West End Girl, a portrait of Lily painted by Nieves González. Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Lily brought the London-girl staple (the all-weather puffer) to a US audience with a very deliberate wink. As they say, art imitates life—and this is an image we’re more than happy to see IRL. The same probably can’t be said for David Harbour’s PR team.
This story originally appeared in Vogue.co.uk
