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.
NBC/Getty Images
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.
