Love Island Fashion First Impressions
The month of June marks many important holidays, traditions, and customs - none perhaps more important than Love Island. All jokes aside, the show may be simplistic in its nature, yet Love Island always manages to spark intense conversation worldwide. Even Americans couldn’t stay silent about the breakup from Love Island UK former power couple Molly Mae and Tommy Fury earlier this year. The cast announcement for both the guys and girls season received over 6,600 comments combined - and this was before the show even aired.
The slightly vapid Love Island has an indisputable charm and makes us want to fantasize about finding love in such a grandiose setting. Since clothing is the ultimate form of self-expression, especially for a life-changing introduction such as Love Island, could the contestants’ clothing choices for entering the villa inform the viewer of their personality?
It’s no secret that the contestants on the show are all drop-dead gorgeous, but having a tailored and exciting ensemble can take them to the next level. The host of the show, Ariana Madix, wore a custom gown by Taylor Jean Cox that featured 3,000 beads and crystals from nowhere else than New York City staple Mood Fabrics. The dress was perfect for showing off Madix’s flawless figure without stealing the show.
The first garment from a contestant that stood out was definitely Olandria. One of the first contestants to enter the villa, her rhinestoned aquamarine dress contrasted beautifully with her flawless dark skin. The elevator saleswoman from Decatur, Alabama made sure she was a force to be reckoned with as she sparkled among the backdrop of the Fijian sea. As she swooped in to steal a kiss from the dashing (if a bit basic) Nic, each rhinestone on the dress dazzled in the light.
Chelley wore an ombré cocktail dress that transitioned from blue on the bust to a bright red on bottom. The dress featured a slit on the back with a white inner lining. Contrasting beautifully from her soon-to-be boo Ace decked down in white, her cheeks turned as red as her hemline as the spicy Yulissa swooped in to successfully steal her man. The energetic 4’10” Miami hot girl matched Ace in white, with her dress intentionally using diagonal lines around the neck and midriff to make her appear slightly taller. Her choice of minimal jewelry made sure that her never-declining face card was the focus of the look.
The men on the show frankly left something to be desired. A special exception is owed to Jeremiah, who was not afraid to wear pink for his introduction to the villa. He paired a pink suede blazer with an open pink collared shirt to show off his defined chest, with black trousers as a nice contrast. The suede reflected well off of the camera, and Jeremiah gets bonus points for rejecting the advances of some of the women after he was coupled up with the breathtaking Huda. The fit of the jacket and trousers in tandem with his justified confidence, gold chain, and chiseled jawline made him a standout for this single, homosexual viewer.
The same can not be said of Jeremiah’s new “broskis” - none of which made a strong impression. While I respect the bold choice to wear a half red and half black blazer, country cowboy Taylor’s choice to wear nothing underneath did not make him a stylish standout. Perhaps his foot-related fervor docked him a few points, but even adding a black or red shirt underneath would change things. To make things worse, the jacket featured two tones of maroon on the red side with awkward seams and a black collar throughout. Though I commend him on his Southern charm and hospitality, his personality did not translate through his wardrobe. A cliche Western belt with an all-black jacket would be a chic way to translate his background in a slightly more refined way. Here is hoping that his Day 1 match Olandria can teach him a few things!
Charming, curly-haired Nic has an illuminating smile, but his blazer was distracting. The sleeves were too short, and every time he reached for his first match Belle-A (whose name is fascinating to me), we could see his forearms - which wouldn’t be as distracting if he wore a collared, long-sleeved shirt instead of a low-hanging tank top. It’s not all about showing chest!
Among the worst offenders from the cast would have to be Austin. The pool “technican” may have charming dimples and tattoos reminiscent of Harris Dickinson in Babygirl, but his style is all wrong. Entering the villa with a tea green jacket, classic white tank top, and white khakis that were two inches too short, Austin’s ensemble featured an ill-fitting black belt and clunky jewelry that didn’t quite make sense.
First impressions aren’t always everything, but in the Love Island villa, they are a hell of a lot. These beautiful singles will have their lives changed forever overnight, perceived instantly and thrown into the public eye. We’re hoping the next season of bombshells will take some notes before they enter the villa.
