Dolly Parton Talks Good American Collection & ‘Trashy’ Fashion Motto

Taking inspiration from its name, Good American has enlisted one of the greatest American stars for its new collaboration. The Khloé Kardashian and Emma Grede-owned brand partnered with Dolly Parton to create a limited-edition apparel collection filled with rhinestones, gingham and jeans — or “Joleans,” as Parton described them. 

“We tried to Dolly-ize it, if you will, as much as we could,” Parton told WWD in a Zoom call, while wearing an outfit from the collection reminiscent of her 1977 “Here You Come Again” album cover. Her signature looks are reflected throughout the Good American collaboration, which will be officially released on Thursday.

Few celebrities have a signature style that is as remarkable as Parton’s. Known for wearing blonde wigs, sparkling outfits and over-the-top glamour since the beginning of her career, the singer said her fashion inspirations came from two unexpected sources: the Frederick’s of Hollywood, a catalogue famous for its risqué photography and lingerie content in the 1960s, and “the town tramp” from her hometown.

“They called this lady ‘trash’ because she wore too much makeup, big hair, red nails, high heels, short skirts and all of that, but when I was little, that impressed me,” she said. “And then the Frederick’s, I used to look at that, and I would just see those lounge outfits, those beautiful robes, gowns….I just thought they weren’t even real people.” 

Early in her career, Parton famously said, “It costs a lot of money to look this cheap.” At 79 years old, she still lives by that philosophy.

“I want to look cheap. That’s my look. I want to look a little bit, you know, trashy. I don’t mean it in a bad way. I just like that kind of almost artificial look. I like the overdone. I like the bleached hair,” she said. “I do have some really beautiful clothes, but you would never know how much they cost, because the expensive ones look the same on me as the cheap ones for the most part.” 

One may argue that casual dressing is not part of Parton’s repertoire, but she disagrees. “I have what I call flop clothes,” she said. At her home in Brentwood, Tenn., the singer likes to get comfortable in her own way.

“I usually put on my makeup, and I fix my hair every, every day, and then I’ll wear very comfortable clothes. I’m going to put on pullover shirts and a pair of jeans, and if I think somebody’s coming, then I can put on a pair of earrings or a little string silver necklace,” she said.

Fashion has been a tool of self-expression and branding in Parton’s career. In the 1970s, she influenced mainstream trends and became the face of country style, but not without facing critics who would tell her to “go simpler.” Luckily, she never listened to them. 

“It doesn’t matter what anybody else says. If your mama doesn’t like the way you dress, especially if you’re a 30-year-old girl, a woman, if somebody doesn’t like the way you look.…Well, say, ‘To hell with you. This is me. I’m the one who has to wear this. You’re not wearing it’,” Parton said. 

This unapologetic confidence is something that she hopes to share through her Good American collaboration. “I hope [people] will feel they look good, and it’ll give them a little confidence and a little flair, and just feeling like ‘I’ve got a little bit of country flavor going on here. Got a little Dolly in there,’” she said.

“Dolly Parton is a true icon whose influence transcends generations, and partnering with her on this collection is an incredible honor,” Emma Grede, CEO and cofounder of Good American, said via statement. “Together, we created a collection that embodies self-expression and embracing what makes each of us unique.”

The Dolly Joleans collection will be available for a limited time at Good American stores and online, priced between $64 and $229, starting on Thursday.