Kassi Ashton Created ‘Taxidermy’ Fashion From Scratch

Missouri native and rising star Kassi Ashton is a jack of all trades, creating unapologetic music and the fashion to go along with it.

Written by Lauren Laffer
Kassi Ashton Created ‘Taxidermy’ Fashion From Scratch
Kassi Ashton; Photo credit: Alysse Gafkjen

Kassi Ashton is one of country music’s freshest new acts. A native of California, Missouri, as documented in her first release, the budding star has endless bounds of talent, both musically and otherwise. The gun-toting, pageant girl has taken up many hobbies in her young life, one of which helps with her musical prowess.

As documented by her Instagram, Ashton had a hand in making all of the clothes for the “Taxidermy” promo videos, a trade she learned at an early age from her mother.

“My mom started making clothes because she grew up poor and she would have clothes donated to her so she learned how to take them in drastically, and that’s where I picked it up from,” shared Ashton with Sounds Like Nashville and other media ahead of the 12th ACM Honors celebration. “I’ve always been the kind to if it doesn’t exist, to create it. And that’s pretty much where the clothes thing came in. If I get an idea in my head and I can’t find it I’m forced to sew it. And I don’t think I’m very good sewer, I just have good ideas.”

The inspiration to share how one article of clothing turned into another was inspired by former country music star Taylor Swift, who has been transparent about her ability to create things from scratch.

“I got really inspired when Taylor Swift showed all the behind the scenes videos of her making the album, like her actually writing songs,” recalled Ashton. “I thought that was great because a lot of people don’t get credit for the stuff that they’re actually good at. So, I just decided to film it.”

And film it she did, chronicling the process of dying gloves a certain color or adding feathers to a long, flowing robe.

While she contributed fully to the creation of her “Taxidermy” clothing, Ashton continued to create one-of-a-kind pieces, including the one she donned on the ACM Honors carpet.

When she’s not putting her fashion sense to use, the singer is busy readying new music, which she teases will come “very soon.”

Check out all of the amazing fashion below…

#TAXIDERMY OUTFIT NUMBER ONE! The infamous “oh hell no he did not cheat on me” yellow ensemble. Perhaps my favorite of all the looks because I love dramatic dressing gowns with long trains and feathers. But I looked at the price of one and shouted out loud, “no way in hell”! So I ordered a short gown off of Amazon, dyed it yellow (which many of you thought was egg drop soup), added a train, and hand stitched feathers all the way around. This was my first time making pants. I wish I had a video of my happy dance when I got them right on the first try. What I didn’t get right on the first try, was a bralette. I attempted one out of the same yellow satin about five times before admitting I was sucking and should probably not quit my day job. So I bought a VS white bralette and died it yellow. Topped it all off with yellow baby hair clips, yellow beaded earrings, and a canary yellow engagement ring. Now I just need a huge mansion so I can wear this robe every morning. (SWIPE FOR ALL PICS AND UGLY VIDEOS OF ME SEWING).

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#TAXIDERMY OUTFIT NUMBER TWOO!! The “either way you sip it, I’m winning” poison special! This look was inspired by the dress and gloves Rihanna wore during her Victoria Secret Fashion show performance. I ordered the corset, (no way in hell I could make one) OFF OF AMAZON. AMAZON. Lol. I made the skirt from a really gorgeous iridescent fabric with slit up to my neck. Shoes are @dollskill. I ordered the gloves in white and hand dyed them orange. I think I called them a “hot Cheeto” two or seven times in the process. TLC buns for a 90s flare and some gorgeous gem earrings. I photoshopped the arsenic label and stuck it on a bottle I bought from Target. I already had the knife (because, ya know, I’m me). 🤷🏻‍♀️

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#TAXIDERMY OUTFIT NUMBER THREE! “If I ever move to Albuquerque, I’m gon’ strap you to my Chevy Impalaaaa”! This look was inspired by the always chic, Naomi Campbell photographed in a plaid skirt set walking out of a nightclub in the 90s. I lucked out and found a tweed skirt suit that reminded me of Cher in Clueless at Nordstrom. After taking about 6 inches off the skirt and taking in the jacket, (sorry grandma), it was perfect. Shoes are from @dollskill. Knee highs are an @amazon special. Baby pink lace bra and some red sunglasses that I hot glued gems and skulls on to do the most. Ratchet straps were already in the garage. 💅🏼 And to top it all off, the best accessory was definitely the GORGEOUS ‘61 Chevy Impala behind me. “Do these glasses look like I just killed someone”?

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#TAXIDERMY OUTFIT NUMBER FOUR! The 12 gauge shot gun shell cover shot!! (No pun intended). I imagined in my head that I now had to do something with all my ex husband’s shit. So naturally, I would cut up all his nice shirts and possibly steal a few. So a men’s paisley button up, chopped half off was more than necessary. The sparkly Pom Pom pants are from @nastygal. I owned the burgundy velvet boots and the bra is from @victoriassecret. The gorgeous chain earrings are @hm. Ya girl already owned the shells and the smirk. 💅🏼 Also, all of these looks this week couldn’t have been as successful without @lindsay.doyle on the hair and makeup. She made me feel sexy and threatening at the same time. If you haven’t heard #Taxidermy yet, click the link in my bio. 💫

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Oh, hell no. // FRIDAY.

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This tall drink I’m mixin’, either way you sip it I’m winnin’. // FRIDAY.

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Strap you to my Chevy Impala. // FRIDAY.

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