From Catwalk to Concert: Designers Bring Fashion To The Main Stage
The marriage between music and fashion has been widely celebrated throughout history. Designers prize music as a key part of their work, from the inception of their next collection to the moment models hit the runway. On the other side of the coin, styling has become an integral proponent of a music artists’ reputation. Finding a signature look is usually a priority for not just the artist but their management teams who understand the public’s natural inclination to connect visual aesthetics to brand identity. Ultimately, musicians and designers lean on each other’s cosigns for an added sense of relevancy and cool points that will hopefully have clothes flying off the shelves and albums climbing the charts.
One of the pinnacles of this partnership is when a designer creates a custom wardrobe for an artist. A successful pairing has the power to catalyze the career trajectory of the latter while attracting a new following of possible clientele to the former. Here are a few notable examples where that link up was oh so right.
Whitney Houston x Dolce & Gabbana
Celebrating her return to the studio after an eight year break, Whitney Houston’s “My Love Is Your Love” era ushered in an updated image for the singer. After Stefano Gabbana, one half of Dolce & Gabbana, spotted her on television in one of their jumpsuits he immediately reached out to her and offered to create pieces for her tour, much to her delight. After a quick fitting in New York, the deal was signed and the Italian duo got right to work. Drawing from their Fall/Winter 1999 collection, Whitney wore a medley of brightly colored furs, satin bustiers, animal prints, and plenty of sparkle.
2. A$AP Rocky x Prada
Prada’s partnership with Your Royal Jiggy-ness A$AP Rocky for his 2018 “Injured Generation” Tour was a match made in fashion killa heaven. Riffing off of the crash dummy theme of his album “Testing”, the brand channeled its Linea Rossa line to produce an assortment of relaxed, sporty fits with pops of cautionary neon.
3. Rihanna x Givenchy
After the bright and playful looks of her LOUD era, Rihanna’s style took a darker turn for the 2013 Diamonds World Tour. Riccardo Tisci, heavily lauded for his creative direction at Givenchy, infused his darkly romantic edge into her opening looks. Highlights such as a pair of sexy nappa leather thigh high boots and a parka emblazoned with prints from the fashion house’s Autumn/Winter 2013 collection echoed the street couture vibe that has come to be the bad gal’s signature.
4. Grace Jones x Eiko Ishioka
Only a true visionary could properly accommodate the larger than life stage persona of the enigmatic Grace Jones. Enter Eiko Ishioka; art director, costume designer and Grace’s longtime collaborator known for award winning work including wardrobe for Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) and The Cell (2000). For Grace’s 2009 Hurricane Tour she designed a series of fantastical costumes spanning from a second skin tribal print catsuit to a menacing black cape that billowed across the stage. Master milliner Phillip Treacy, another close friend to Grace, provided equally jaw dropping headpieces to accent each look.
5. Kanye West x Maison Margiela
Before pop culture provocateur Kanye West stuck his flag in the ground with the debut of Yeezy, he commanded stages outfitted in wardrobe by elusive fashion house Maison Margiela. Despite the rapper’s tumultuous relationship with the media, the house affirmed its support commenting “we didn't pay attention to what is being said about him in the press, we just focused on what could be done with him”. Using the vision of Vanessa Beecroft, artist and art director for the Yeezus Tour, as a launching pad Margiela crafted updated versions of archive pieces and adapted them for the stage. One key element was the brand’s embellished couture masks that punctuated each of Kanye’s looks and spawned several fan replicas.
6. Beyoncé x Thierry Mugler
