New York – If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, it’s likely we’ll see a lot of girls dressed like Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale and Monique Coleman this fall.
They’re the female leads of “High School Musical 2,” and many tween girls have been eagerly counting down to the premiere of the new movie Friday on the Disney Channel.
Each of the three young female stars has a distinct style: bohemian, high-style and body-conscious.
It’s a bit different from what they wear on the screen: For example, Tisdale’s Sharpay is all glitz and sparkle, but for an interview the real Tisdale shows up in a sophisticated Rebecca Taylor crocheted minidress and Moschino red platform sandals.
The success of the original “High School Musical” went far beyond Disney’s original intention to keep connected with tweens during the dreary winter months of 2006. The movie has been seen by more than 160 million people in more than 100 countries; its soundtrack was the best-selling album of 2006; and its stars became bona fide big names and trendsetters.
Disney’s Consumer Products division rushed out branded T-shirts, pajamas and backpacks into stores after failing to anticipate the initial demand for products, but this time there’s a more cohesive marketing plan now with major retailers including Wal-Mart and Macy’s.
Potential breakout looks from the new movie include Sharpay’s shiny star necklace or Gabriella’s girlie white eyelet pieces.
Hudgens, Tisdale and Coleman talked about their personal style – and even gushed like the high school girls they portray about how much they liked each other’s looks:
Vanessa Hudgens: Hudgens looks older than her 18 years when she’s dressed up in an Alice McCall silver sleeveless blouse with a green ribbon around the neckline and Jimmy Choo snakeskin heels. She acknowledges, though, that as much fun as it’s been having access to designer clothes and the occasions to wear them, she also likes to wear more comfortable bohemian- style clothes that match her personality.
Aside from the fedora moment she’s having, she’s been wearing a lot of minidresses and oversized off-the-shoulder T-shirts. She also loves clunky, chunky boots. But since she’s in Los Angeles most of the time, she mostly wears sandals.
“Growing up, most of my clothes were hand-me-downs, or from Goodwill or a tag sale, but I didn’t really care about my clothes,” Hudgens says. Or, at least she didn’t care until she was on the verge of being a teenager.
“At 12 I got my first pair of Frankie Bs, my first pair of cool jeans,” she recalls.
Both Hudgens and Tisdale discourage their fans, especially young ones, from spending their money on pricey things with a fancy label.
“It’s all about finding one cool piece – that’s what I do at vintage shops, it’s what I do at home. I pick one thing I really want to wear and plan everything around it,” Hudgens says.
Ashley Tisdale: “Everyone goes through an awkward stage,” said Tisdale, who at 22 is clearly past hers.
She looks every bit the Hollywood starlet with perfectly styled hair and dark Chanel sunglasses, but Tisdale also seems very aware of all the ups and downs tween and teen girls go through, especially when it comes to their appearance.
She likes to see everyone put a bit of their personality into their look.
Tisdale already started shopping for fall, picking up a parachute jacket from Ruehl No. 925 on a recent trip to New York.
Monique Coleman: She’s the oldest of the bunch at 26, but Coleman says she’s learned a lot about confidence and how to carry herself from her co-stars.
When she first began riding the “High School Musical” bandwagon, she took the word of her stylist as gospel. She looked great but she didn’t think she looked like herself.
“You know your body better than anyone and you know what you feel comfortable in,” Coleman says, who plays the brainy character Taylor.
For her, key pieces include empire waist dresses (she’s wearing a black silk one by Joie on this day) and shorts. She’s very aware of her curvy figure and takes care to balance her outfit with a conservative bottom or top if her dress has a revealing neckline or her shorts are particularly short.
