Becky Ninkovic knows her retro-metallic stuff.

You Say Party! We Say Die! singer Becky Ninkovic has plenty to be cocky about these days. In just a couple of years, the dance-punk upstarts she fronts have gone from DIY hall shows in their Abbotsford hometown to being a favourite of the Pitchfork set. Not content with conquering Vancouver, YSP! WSD! has spent most of 2007 touring for its irresistible sophomore album, Lose All Time, racking up frequent-flyer points in Europe, and popping up in international publications ranging from America’s Alternative Press to England’s N.M.E. Tracked down in an Amsterdam hotel room, Ninkovic was happy to share her style secrets, but, forget being cocky—she was more concerned about making sure credit was given where it’s due. “Can we mention that my friend Vanessa Fischer, who lives in Toronto and sings for a band called Lioness—finds a lot of thrift-store stuff for me?” she asked. “I like old, dramatic clothes from between the ’70s and the ’80s, and she’s always helping me source that stuff.” With that shout-out taken care of, here’s Ninkovic’s shortlist of things to die for.

Desert-island accessory
“Aloe vera plants, in case they weren’t already growing there naturally. Or, if they were already there, some sort of almond oil or olive oil. Basically, something to keep my skin nice and moist, because I figure I’d be nude the whole time and getting a lot of sun.”

Current foot fetish
“My LA Gears. They are 1992, gold-lamé low-tops and they’re superb for…on-stage and on the dance floor, and everything in between. I bought them for $4 used at a thrift store. I pretty much wear them all the time—they’ve been worn into the ground.”

Fall obsession
“Anything metallic—especially gold—is what I’m really, really drawn to, kind of like a crow. I really love shiny metallic objects, garments, and anything basically that’s gold. There’s so much of it in Europe right now that I can’t believe it—I find myself staring at every window that I walk past.”

Lingerie philosophy
“I really like soft, breathable fabrics—nothing too itchy. I’m not into lace and fancy, weird, crazy, sexy stuff. I want something comfortable. I’m on tour all the time, so there’s no time to be all fancy and sexy—it’s more like it has to be functional.”

Favourite jacket
“It’s called the Virage Ladies’ Ski-Wear by Nevica. I think it was made in the ’80s or ’90s, and it’s a huge parka that’s big and warm and has a huge hood on it. There’s a really vibrant, colourful, floral-motif pattern on it, and a gold foil overlay. It’s quite eye-catching.”

Make-up must-have
“A good moisturizer. I use a brand called Jason—they do a natural product line. It’s an aloe vera-intense facial moisturizer.”

Top pick
“My favourite top is my metallic-gold, acetate, winged blazer. It’s called Diamond’s Run by Wayne Diamond, and it’s another thrift-store find.…I don’t know what else to call it, which is why I call it a blazer. It’s this thing where, when I put it on, it gives me these amazing gold wings. I wear it on-stage a lot.”