U2's Sense of Style :)

Ah, Bono.

Where do I begin?

Bono and his cohorts in U2 opened their "360 tour" in Chicago last night. A stadium tour which (from where we sat) had great views all around, the lads are promoting their multi-textured latest release, "No Line on the Horizon" to tens of thousands of people each night. As possibly the biggest U2 fan in the Chicagoland area (and having been such since I was about 8 years old), my evening at Soldier Field was simply awe-inspiring and downright excellent.

(Our excitement could not be contained to just a photograph, but we tried..at right, my best friend Monica and I in our seats before showtime)

However, since this is a fashion blog, I feel we must turn to the matter at hand: what were the boys in the band attired in?






We'll start with Bono

Let's start with my hero/favorite/dream husband, Bono.

NOTE: my husband supports my Bono love...all is well in the Kendall household.

Last night, Bono took the stage attired in a black tee, black trousers, and piecework black leather jacket (along with the perfect specs). He truly made it look easy to perform in front of almost 70,000 people and not overheat in his "lea-thuh."

The original "black leather Bono" appeared during the band's 1992 ZooTV tour, and has come in various inceptions since then (lined with an American flag or red silk in the 2000's, glossy and lizard-y in the early 90's). The current inception seems natural, far from costume-like, and pretty cool to boot.

CONCLUSION: It seems leather and shades = the essence of Bono. Keep it up, Mr. Hewson :)

Edge, anyone?

U2's virtuoso genius, The Edge, has so many things going for him. The trademark facial hair, stevedore cap, and Chuck Taylors...alone, they are basic. On Edge, they are as recognizable as the opening riff of "Where the Streets Have No Name."

Edge also debuted this look during the ZooTV tour in 1992, though, again, it had theatrical elements to it. The jeans now are simple and broken in: back then, they were black and BeDazzled. The button-down (or tee shirt, which he also favors) is casually cool: the ripped vests of '92 were purple and loud.

CONCLUSION: Edge's fashion sense is akin to pizza: there's really no such thing as bad Edge (pizza), just different varieties (mushroom vs. peppers, the journey from glam to casually cool).

Shall we talk Adam Clayton?


Adam has always held the air of an English nobleman to me, which definitely suits his place as King of Bass in U2. Adam creates what Bill Flanagan once called the "fat, funky bottom" of U2's rhythm, and he himself has allowed his fashion to truly be funky as well. In a good way.

Observe last night's dark trousers and gorgeously detailed jacket. Rock star-appropriate, but not garish. The ZooTV tour brought out Adam's colorful side, plus a very bright blond hairdo. The close-cropped style he wears now definitely suits his features. Also, if instruments are fashionable, Adam wears bass couture on the 360 tour.

CONCLUSION: Lord Clayton has a valid claim to the throne of fashion royalty.

And, of course, the beloved Larry Mullen, Jr.

U2 would not exist without Mr. Mullen, a fact that many biographers relish with added stories of the band practicing in Larry's kitchen early on. Larry is, as Bono said last night, "the thunder and lighting of the band." He is the solid, steady force that makes the band as tight as it is.

Larry's fashion statement is the equivalent of the infinitely cool transfer student who sat behind you in high school English class: with only a tee shirt, jeans, and two drumsticks, he has no need for airs, for posing, or for extraneous speaking: he just is. And this is why we love Larry. He has worn this variation for many years, and has every right to do so for many more.

CONCLUSION: Both Larry's drumming and sense of style are direct, honest, and strong. If only we all could be so minimalistically cool.