Daily Dish

American Idol's Haley Reinhart Dishes on Personal Style, Touring, and Her Fabulous Hair

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(Photo courtesy of Haley Reinhart)

American Idol star Haley Reinhart glammed it up this weekend at the Do Something Awards. But before she jet-setted off to California and bedecked herself in that stunning sequin dress, we got the chance to catch up with the wavy-haired wonder.

Here's what she shared with us about her style, dreams of becoming a shoe designer, and—of course we had to ask—her secret behind those absolutely enviable curls!

StyleBistro: Tell us a little bit about your style, especially the incredible looks from your album.

Haley Reinhart: I’ve done a lot of different looks for my album, and as far as the album artwork goes, I went for a little more of the '50s, sexy Chanel look, which fit pretty well. I really adore that. I've also always been into '60s style, '70s psychedelic, and crazy patterns—there’s something so free about it. I think having all these colors that attracts you, it says a lot about your personality. I feel a lot more free-spirited when I wear those vibrant patterns and colors.

(Photos by Getty Images) Haley Reinhart's stage style.

SB: How does what you're wearing on-stage differ from what you wear in your downtime?

HR: It’s definitely a little more flashy on stage. I love sequins, and if I couldn't wear those or get my nails done I wouldn't feel complete. As much as I love the casual laid-back look, I also like the sparkles and glamour when the bright lights are on me. That's something I want to bring out when I'm on stage.

SB: You just wrapped up a record-setting gig as the first American Idol contestant to play at Lollapalooza. What'd you wear and what was it like?

HR: It was more than a crazy week for me. I feel like I've lived a few different lives in the past few weeks, actually. All my family got up there. I got the chance to play with some cool bands and had a chance to be part of something awesome.

It was so hot out—it was blazing, so I dressed comfortable and cool. I wore this loose-fitting tie-dye T-shirt with sleeves, but the pants are what made the outfit cool. They were these bright blue high-waisted bell-bottoms that were netted and see-through. I picked up all of the glass and trash on the bottom of the hems by the end of the show. It definitely fit in with the scene.

SB: Even though you look amazing in whatever you wear, is there anything you refuse to dress in?

HR: There's nothing I’d say right off the bat. It's surprising because a lot of things look better on—that’s why I’m such a shopaholic. I try it on, and I have to buy. I think it's good to be open to things. Clothing is more than just a piece of cloth, for me it’s an expression. Day-to-day life is about changing feelings, so that reflects what you're going to put on.

I did realize while working with my [American Idol] stylist—since we went for this '50s kind of groove—I ended up really loving the crop tops and short skirts. But I do want to make sure I don’t stick to one thing. I want to keep my look fresh and make sure I'm able to evolve my style as time goes on.

(Photo by Getty)

SB: Because you're traveling so much now, what are the three things in your suitcase you could never live without?

HR: One—my hairbrush. I actually just bought a new one because I lost the first one. It’s a huge square Conair paddlebrush with jelly on the bottom that kind of squishes. It’s comfortable because I have a lion’s mane.

Two—gum. I love Orbit white bubblemint and always get as big of a pack as I can.

Three—my shades. It’s been blazzing, and I just got some nice ones from Guess. They're more like aviators, and they're beautiful.

SB: Speaking of your hair, we’re obsessed with your gorgeous natural curls—what’s your secret for making them look so incredible?

HR: I don’t do much, I figured out that it curls naturally and straightening it everyday ends up hurting it. I use an Herbal Essence curl booster called Totally Twisted. And my brush comes in handy when I leave my curls in and want to make my hair bigger. I brush through and then its huge.

My hair stylist told me it’s actually more damaging to wash every day, so I wash it every other day. Sometimes you want to give your hair a break, so a shower cap is in my best interest to let the natural oils shine through.

SB: On a scale of 1 to 10, how into fashion are you?

HR: Probably a 10-and-a-half! Ever since I was little, I’ve spent big bucks with my mom on anything, and we'd have a blast shopping together. I’d always get a really, really nice dress. Even through I'm not the most girly girl, I still like looking nice and feeling great. My friends hate shopping with me because I want to stop and look at everything. It's making me run out of closet space.

(Photos by Getty) Reinhart's shoes from the NARM Music Biz Awards Dinner Party and the American Idol 2011 Finale Results Show.

SB: Does this mean we should expect something fashion-related from you in the future, say a clothing line, perhaps?

HR: Most definitely, I think being in the music industry, it's so cool how many doors can open for you. I really, really adore fashion, and I know retro is in anyways. I’ve also got probably over 60 pairs of shoes and would love to do a heel line of my own one day. I love sparkles and glitter. And I'd love to incorporate glitter on the back of my shoes!

SB: 60 pairs? Holy smokes! Out of all of those do you have a favorite?

HR: its so hard, I feel bad picking one. The ones that I love now are the ones that are most comfortable. My feet are pretty much destroyed now—I swear they used to look nice. I do have one pair of Aldo cheetah-print shoes, though. They’re so comfy, and they’re 5-inch heels!

Be sure to check out Reinhart's debut album Listen Up! on iTunes now!

Are you a fan of Haley's style? What about her hair? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!