k.d. lang Edmonton Folk Festival Stage Outfit

This ensemble was part of k.d. lang’s signature “cow-punk” style that epitomized her early career in country music. Influenced by the flashy country and western clothes of the 1930s and ‘40s, she would often find her outfits at Value Village or get her mom to make skirts from old curtains. The outfit seen here was worn by lang at the Edmonton Folk Fest in 1984. That gig became a turning point in her career, when lang had to extend her 25-minute set by 50 minutes after the headlining act got lost on the way to the festival. With a background in performance art and a healthy dose of stage presence, lang seized the opportunity to wow the crowds, continually upping the energy level until she ended with a standing ovation.

Donated by k.d. lang