THE STYLE OF STEVIE

The one attribute just as recognizable as Stevie Nicks' sweet sand paper voice would have to be her wardrobe. The dark and drapey garments she's known for may look plucked off the pages of an Anne Rice novel, but one L.A.-based fashion designer knows exactly where they derive.

Margi Kent has designed Nicks' wardrobe since before the rock icon ever had her heart broken by Lindsey Buckingham -- or broke the heart of Lindsay Lohan. They met in '77 after Nicks took notice of the gear Fleetwood Mac's opening act had been sporting and wanted to know how she could develop a signature look of her own.

"She had seen some things I did and said, 'I need to dress differently,' " recalls Kent. "She was the first person who decided to wear something specifically for the stage."

Prior to that, Nicks greeted fans onstage in the same duds she wore during rehearsals: denim bell-bottoms and teeny scarf tops. After collaborating with Kent, however, things took a much more distinct, ethereal turn. Victorian-style lace-up boots, dramatic hats, waist-nipped beaded jackets and lace-trimmed blouses all soon became synonymous with the doe-eyed woman who croons about Rhiannon and players who only love you when they're playin'.

Fleetwood Mac performs Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden arena. Kent doesn't know which looks Nicks will rock onstage, but one piece she's certain will make a cameo is the long cape she crafted for her client and friend to wear while singing "Gold Dust Woman." Without the cape, the song just isn't the same.

"Her fans all know certain pieces and if she doesn't have them then they're blogging, 'What happened?' before the show's even over," says Kent.

The same goes for the totem pole of scarves that hang from Nicks' microphone. You won't see her perform without them during a tour, which makes Kent all the more happier she suggested the idea in the first place. According to Kent, Nicks puts quality over all else when it comes to her wardrobe. Only the finest fabrics will do. Kent noticed her appreciation for the samples she was showing her and decided to make scarves out of each of them. Eventually they wound up as a stage staple.

Each look Nicks rocks onstage is some spin Kent put on about 16 basic pieces on which they've settled. The proportions and colors change, but the overall tone remains the same: pretty Goth. Even through the summer months her style stays true to its dark origins. The fabrics get lighter in weight, but Nicks always makes sure her throat is well-layered in garments or scarves to protect her vocal chords. As relevant as the suede boots and tailored jackets are, in the end it's about the performance.

"She holds the audience in the palm of her hand," says Kent, herself a fan. "She can bring it to such a quiet place and then completely explode."