Kylie Minogue releases fashion retrospective book

NEW YORK — Before Lady Gaga, Rihanna or Katy Perry married music with fashion, there was Kylie Minogue.

The singer compiled a look at her fashion choices, particularly her stage costumes, in a new book called "Kylie Fashion" (Running Press).

"It was lots of fun to look at my life in fashion through the years," said Minogue in a recent interview. "There've been ups and downs and fabulous moments and not so fabulous moments, but basically the book was a celebration of 25 years."

Yes, the 45-year-old even admits to some fashion faux pas.

"I had to include some moments that were less than stellar because we all make mistakes along the way. Some ideas that we thought were fantastic at that point in time were upon reflection, a big mistake," she said. "That's all part of my journey and actually it's what I like about fashion."

From skimpy outfits to showgirl costumes with plume headdresses, Minogue is game to try it all. For performances, she looks for showstoppers that will look good from the back of a large venue and hold up through 100 shows.

"I was about to say, 'things you can move in...' wait a second, about half my costumes you can't move in," she said with a laugh.

She learned that lesson the hard way decked out in headdresses, feathers and corsets on her Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour in 2005.

"That's why showgirls have to have poise because you can't actually tip your head," she recalled.

Minogue says there have been times when she got costumes so late that she's jumped in to help stitch them up backstage. Then there's the "quick change" in and out of elaborate costumes — something she compares to a Formula One pit stop, with four people helping her.

"A lot of stuff goes down in the quick change. It depends if the show is going well or not going well what type of vocabulary I choose," she said with a laugh.

Minogue says there's no time to be bashful when hurrying to change clothes, joking, "you kind of pass first base."

When she's away from the stage and at home, Minogue insists she "can go to total frumpsville for sure."

"I'm a complete letdown. At home the stilettos come off. The comfy clothes go on. I'd love to maintain this illusion that I kind of elegantly waft around home or something but I need that balance in my life ... to just be completely anti-fashion and just put whatever's closest on, and home is the place to do that."

Besides her book, Minogue is also back in the music studio. She recently signed with Roc Nation and says she's working with some great producers who she said were on her "wish list."

"I kind of had to pinch myself and say, 'This is great,'" she said.