There was a time when wearing American flag garb meant you were some kind of hillbilly or shit kicker. Over time, however, it’s evolved in a way that makes it acceptable for celebrities to graft the flag for their own selfish, career-oriented purposes. It’s time to honor those who have made the American flag a source of both glamor and camp as much as we honor the flag itself come Independence Day. Ginger Spice betrays her country for a minute
Ginger Spice: Proving that she was the ballsiest Brit of the quintet, Ginger Spice rocked an American flag leotard that showed the late 90s what kitsch was really about. In the video for “American Pie”
Madonna: Although Madonna has shown her love for the American flag in other instances of her career, including her Rock the Vote commercial in 1990 and the video for “American Life,” she was at her most elegant when displaying her love for Americana in 2000’s “American Pie,” a cover of Don McLean’s beloved classic. Kesha, the embodiment of Southern trash, uses the American flag as a symbol of her background
Kesha: While Kesha may not be the person you automatically associate with “classing up” the flag, she is certainly a strong representation of its southern ties. Raised in Tennessee, Kesha knows these colors run deep. Beyonce’s too cool to wear an American flag on her body, but she’ll still show love for country on her face
Beyonce: Why would Beyonce wear the American flag as couture when she could think outside the box and wear it as makeup? LDR: the ultimate proponent of American flag fashion
Lana Del Rey: No other celebrity has advocated for the acceptance of the American flag as everyday fashion quite like Lana Del Rey. Even her lyrics support the idea of “fall[ing] asleep in an American flag.” Posing for a Phillipp Plein ad campaign
Lindsay Lohan: Who better understands the rise and fall of the American dream quite like Lindsay Lohan? Her refined ad campaign for Phillipp Plein shows she knows just how to put the American flag on display in a couture-driven manner. Posing for Rolling Stone
Britney Spears: Another symbol of Americana in and of herself, Britney Spears’ 2000 cover for Rolling Stone was not only the height of her sanity, but also the height of her appeal to Middle America before she couldn’t suppress her sexuality any longer. Kanye and Jay Z in the video for “Otis”
Kanye West and Jay-Z: Maybe because they sampled from Otis Redding in the single, “Otis,” Kanye and Jay-Z knew they had to maintain a modicum of polish–which is presumably where the American flag backdrop comes in.
