It’s time for this month’s Songful Style challenge, and the ever-brilliant Shelbee chose Zombie by The Cranberries. And honestly… what a choice. I think you can probably guess why she picked it, considering the state of the world right now. It’s one of those songs that hits a little differently depending on what’s going on around us. It stirs something deep — anger, sadness, reflection — but I’m not going down that road here. This space is about creativity, expression, and a bit of magic… and that’s exactly what this song gave me. Because despite what Zombie is about, it’s absolutely gorgeous.
If you’re new here, Songful Style is a monthly styling challenge I co-host with Shelbee and Marsha, where we create outfits inspired by a chosen song. We’ve been doing this for a few years now and it’s always such good fun—seeing how differently everyone interprets the same piece of music is honestly one of my favourite parts. If you fancy joining in, you’re more than welcome! Last month’s song was chosen by Marsha and was I Love Rock n Roll by Joan Jett. And if you’re curious about next month’s song, scroll to the end of the post where I’ll be sharing my pick.
Released in 1994 on the album No Need to Argue, Zombie was a bit of a departure from their earlier, softer sound. It’s heavier, more raw, more… angry. And rightly so. Dolores O’Riordan wrote the song after a tragic bombing in Warrington, England, and you can feel that emotion in every note. It’s not polished or pretty in the traditional sense—it’s gritty, haunting, and real. And her voice… wow. She had one of those voices you instantly recognise. That almost yodel-like lift, the emotional cracks, the way she could go from soft and ethereal to powerful and almost primal. I’ve always thought she had one of the most unique and beautiful voices in music. Interestingly, the band leaned into a louder, more grunge-inspired sound here, influenced by the alternative rock scene at the time, with shades of Nirvana in the mix. It was quite a bold move for them, and it paid off massively.
The second the video started, I knew exactly what I was going to wear. Those opening scenes with the soldiers in camo trousers and jackets? That was it, decision made. There are also those incredibly powerful shots of Dolores painted in gold, surrounded by children, with strong religious imagery and flashes of red. It’s visually striking and almost surreal at times. I did briefly consider going down that route because I do love a bit of drama, but the only gold piece I own is a very eighties dress I bought years ago for photography, and it just wasn’t the vibe. So I reined it in a bit and kept things more wearable. I did, however, put on a bit of gold eye-shadow!
I went straight for my camo trousers, which I’ve had for years. I used to wear them all the time, but a couple of years ago Michael casually mentioned they made my bum look flat, and for some reason that stuck with me, so I stopped wearing them as much. But now? Honestly… who cares if my bum looks flat. It’s my bum and it’s doing just fine. That’s kind of the energy I’m embracing more and more lately—wearing things because I like them, not because they tick some imaginary “flattering” box. I paired them with a red long sleeved tee and chunky black boots, which is very me, very comfortable, and very wearable. That’s usually my aim with these challenges—to create outfits I’d actually wear in real life, and this one I absolutely would. The only thing I don’t really wear much these days is my black leather Massimo Dutti jacket, because if I need a jacket, I usually opt for something a tad warmer!
I also added a necklace that felt a bit more in keeping with the mood of the song—slightly grungy, a little more aggressive, and definitely less on the girly side. It’s this unusual goldy-bronze piece with dark blue details with an animal’s head, and it just has this raw, edgy feel to it. Not the kind of thing I’d usually reach for, which is probably why I loved it so much for this challenge—it felt a bit bolder, a bit darker, and just right for the whole Zombie vibe.
Then I added a little twist. I grabbed my Victoria’s Secret bag covered in hearts, which is basically the complete opposite of the rest of the outfit. Soft, girly, sweet… against something a bit more rugged and edgy. I really loved that contrast. There’s something fun about mixing those energies—tough and tender, bold and soft. It felt very “me”, and also strangely fitting for a song like Zombie.
Even all these years later, Zombie still has an effect, maybe even more so now. But what I love most is that it can inspire something completely different too—creativity, expression, even fashion. That’s the magic of music. It meets you where you are and then transforms into whatever you need it to be. And for me, this time, it became camo trousers, chunky boots, and a love heart and kisses handbag. Not bad for a song that started with so much heaviness.
If you’re taking part in Songful Style this month, I’d love to know what you created. And if you’re just here for the outfit or the music, I hope this gave you a little spark of inspiration. And please come and join us next month (the last Monday of each month) where we’ll be styling Build Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations, which should be fun! Now, please add your links to the link-up below…
