Up until last year, if the subject of my singleness came up, people would always say, “Oh, don’t worry, you have time yet.” Then, some time last year, the conversation changed- it went from “you have plenty of time” to “You’re not getting any younger… have you tried online dating?” Sigh. I guess it’s no surprise that miss A’s latest single, “I Don’t Need a Man“, totally hits home for me. In contrast to their sad, fragile images in February’s, “Touch“, this video has the girls sporting a tough, independent image with fashion to match.
For some of their individual shots, the girls wore white oxford shirts and black pants. They all wore messy ponytails, dark eyeliner, and nude lips. Min accessorized with a studded tie, Fei with a black hat and a polka-dot scarf in her chest pocket, Suzy with suspenders, a bow tie, and a finger mustache, and Jia with a black blazer and a mustache shaped pin. Meanwhile, Jia’s dog wears a little doggy-sized suit and accessorizes with pink and gold chains. Suzy’s styling is my favorite in this group of shots, as the suspenders and tie give the shirt a little more definition.
For other scenes, the girls wore tight leather and plaid as they stood near classic symbols of femininity- such as red lipstick and stiletto pumps- contrasted with imagery used in the song- such as a car (which, in the song, they say they bought with their own hard work and money) and physical strength (demonstrated by Jia’s flexed biceps). The red patches on Fei’s jacket make a heart shape when she has her arms down, contrasting a masculine cut with a feminine detail. Min’s red belt is an interesting style point against her black leather minidress, but it’s Jia’s striking pants that look especially great in this set. By contrasting feminine items such as crop tops, mini dresses, and stiletto knee-highs, with lyrics and images that speak of a woman making her own way in life, the girls show that femininity does not preclude strength and independence.
Black and beige are a color combo that has been all over the runway recently. Miss A’s take on the look involved crop tops, black shorts, beige blazers, and chunky ankle boots.
In front of a graffiti-style mural of their band name, the girls danced in matching blazers, short shorts, and stiletto boots. I think Min pulls this look off best, as her lighter hair contrasts with the dark outfit- the other girls are a little boxed in by having so much black so close to their faces in such a high-contrast shot.
In this scene, the girls get to wear more diverse outfits. Suzy wears a black crop top, leather shorts, and an open, plaid button-down with a pair of black wedge heels and chain necklaces. Jia wears a white graphic tee with an ankle-length, white, tulle skirt and black boots with a black cuff bracelet and a black fingerless glove, as well as a narrow silver crown on top of her head. Fei also wears a graphic, cropped tee and leather shorts with black boots. Min wears a grey mini-dress with matching shorts, gold chains and pins, black boots, and a black fingerless glove. These outfits and the corresponding sets we find the girls in (a beauty salon, a jewelry store, etc.) are another look at stereotypical feminine imagery, and how women can exist within those stereotypes and still be strong and independent.
They all kept their hair very simple throughout, though Fei has my favorite accessory of the video with her tiara-like headband. Jia went for a red lip, but otherwise the makeup in these scenes was clean and basic.
For the main dance sequences, the girls wore matching polka dot crop tops, grey blazers, black shorts, and work boots. I love Fei’s fluffy hair! As opposed to some of the very feminine or very masculine looks they wear in other parts of the video, this look is a kind of middle-ground between the two.
All in all, the girls look like they’re ready to take on the world, which just adds to the song’s ideas of hard work and independence. By wearing a wide range of styles- from a menswear-inspired button-down and a finger mustache or a super-feminine minidress, or even a bridal-inspired tulle skirt and tiara- miss A shows us that any woman, regardless of what people think about her at first glance, can be an independent lady who lets people into her life because she wants them there, not because she needs them there. She doesn’t have to choose between femininity and strength- she can have as much of both as she wants!
My favorite outfits are Jia’s plaid pants and crop top and Min’s grey minidress and shorts- what are your favorites?
