The Style of Sound: Selena Quintanilla — Siempre Diva, Nunca Sencilla
Ever since the Queen of Tejano music’s reign on ‘90s fashion, Selena has had us doing more than just the washing machine.
From the stage to the runway, The Style of Sound is a series that explores the intricate relationships forged between your favorite artists and their iconic fashion statements.
Written and illustrated by Samantha Paradiso
At 5410 Leopard Street in sunny Corpus Christi, TX stands a modest, trailer-style building. Its neutral-toned exterior is adorned with a faded canopy, imprinted with Selena’s iconic signature. Though the outside is unassuming, its interior is lined with a rich, velvety purple carpet and decked out with her memorabilia from floor to ceiling. Featured throughout the museum are her red convertible and her numerous awards, but what truly stands out are the glass displays with the most recognizable costumes of her career. Bedazzled ‘busti-cacas,’ leather bomber hats, cowhide matching ensembles, and more — all of these outfits marked integral moments of the Mexican American singer’s career. Selena Quintanilla may have established her place in Tejano culture as one of the greatest singers of all time, but her vocals weren’t the only talent that left a lasting impression on her fans.
Photo courtesy of the Quintanilla Family
The iconic “Reloj no marques las horas [Clock, don’t strike the time]” scene from the titular 1997 film “Selena” illustrates the semi-tumultuous birth of Selena Y Los Dinos, the family band comprised of her and her siblings. Fictional plot aside, Selena began her career when most kids her age were still mastering their multiplication charts. By the eighth grade, her father Abraham withdrew Selena from school to dedicate more time to touring, with the band eventually opening for popular Tejano acts Mazz and La Mafia. As she grew, however, so did her interests, and by the time of her death, Selena had not only become a composer and producer, but also a celebrated fashion designer and model. Fully decked with a boutique, an in-house beauty salon, and clothing store, the extremely popular small chain of Selena Etc. boutiques spanned across Texas, with plans for another one to be built in Monterrey, Mexico prior to her murder.
The Tejano singer’s keen eye for fashion is undoubtedly part of what has made her an everlasting figure in music and pop culture. Accompanied by fashion designer Martin Gomez, the two went on to create some of the artist’s most recognizable pieces, including her black, two-piece flamenco inspired costume. Her clothing and singing became inextricably tied as her career soared, comparing her to the likes of Diana Ross, and she was even lauded as the ‘Tejano Madonna.’ In branding herself, Selena created a look that many have tried to emulate and embody through the decades, often a fan favorite for Halloween homages. Her costuming fluctuated with the times, but as fashion trends came and went, her look remained timeless.
Photo courtesy of John Everett
Probably her most iconic — and reproduced — costume to date is the purple bedazzled jumpsuit she wore for her 1995 performance at the Houston Astrodome. The setlist was one of her most popular, diverging from her original work into a Donna Summer tribute better known as her “Disco Medley.” Vibrant, jewel-toned ensembles, bomber hats, skin-tight mesh: in wearing these trendy and refreshing pieces, it’s hard to remember Selena’s work is rooted in Tejano music — a traditionally conservative and male-dominated genre. Stepping out from the typical uniform button ups and snakeskin botas of her contemporaries, Selena challenged the genre in asserting her femininity. After the singer’s fatal passing in 1995, the 2000s Latin pop genre was dominated by the likes of Thalia, Paulina Rubio, Christina Aguilera, Shakira and co. Oil-slick belly dancing, multicolored highlights, cheeky scarves for blouses and bare midriffs: these were necessities of the Y2K era. And although the flirty pop frills of that time differ greatly from the plucky banda of Tejano, the “Dreaming of You'' singer paved the way for the women of Latin music as they dared to express their womanhood.
The theatrics of Latin costumery in music is nothing new. There’s the satin sets of ‘El Divo de Juárez,’ Juan Gabriel, the opulent gowns of the “Mariposa de Barrio” Jenni Rivera, the gold trimmed silver fox of Mexico Vicente Fernandez, and the masterful wigs of “Rie y Llora” reigning queen of Cuba, Celia Cruz. But where vibrant color and stylish flair was welcomed and lauded, modesty has always been a priority. Although Selena was performing at a different time than her contemporaries, she was still subject to the conservative values of the Latinx community — and her family. Abraham Quintanilla’s strict hold on his daughter was no secret. Managed by her father and produced by her brother A.B., Selena's control over her autonomy shone through in her clothing. Selena was a singer and performer, but she was also a young woman with passions outside the profession that her father dominated with a tight grip. Secret sewing sessions with her mom, last minute touches to the pair of boots worn during her final performance at the Astrodome, and eventually a business full of her own personal designs: sequined tops and hoop earrings weren’t just a form of self-expression, but a fierce reclamation.
Photo courtesy of Al Rendon
Selena’s impact, however, shouldn’t be reduced to her vibrant lipstick or flashy garb. At the height of her career, the Corpus Christi native was on the brink of reaching audiences far past the big belt buckles and paisa boots of the Lone Star State. Where beer companies signed Tejano groups, Selena collaborated with more universal companies like Coca-Cola. She interviewed with Chilean sweetheart Don Francisco on Univision’s “Sabado Gigante,” and Cuban talk show host Cristina Saralegui in her titular show “El Show de Cristina,” two of the biggest Latin entertainment shows broadcasted. It was only after her death, unfortunately, that she was featured in the likes of Time and People. Prior to her passing, the star had been working on her English crossover album, Dreaming of You, which was released posthumously. Had her life not been cut short, Selena would have accomplished what no other Hispanic artist had achieved yet in releasing it. (The next notable transition from Spanish to English singing came from Shakira’s rebranding and shift to American audiences with her 2001 album Laundry Service.)
Gif courtesy of Gfycat
The Tejano singer’s image has been forever memorialized in the hearts of her fans and community. Her penchant for effortlessly combining high fashion with her Tejana roots while unabashedly embracing her femininity in the face of machismo uplifted the young women who identified with her. It’s why over twenty five years after her passing there are annual events and dedications held in her name. People dress up to look like her, line up for notable collaborations with brands like MAC Cosmetics, and jump at the chance to see her perform again, even if it’s in the form of a hologram. Selena cemented her place in pop culture as one of the greatest Hispanic artists of all time, and we have not only her music, but her unparalleled fashion to remember her for it.