Music and fashion have long gone hand in hand. As Madonna reveals the designers behind her costumes for her upcoming Rebel Heart tour, we take a look at the performers adding sweet music to the fashion world.
By Natalie Trevis
Jeremy Scott for Moschino, Alexander Wang, Fausto Puglisi, Prada, Swarovski, Lebanon’s Nicolas Jebran and Alessandro Michele of Gucci all step into the frame as the designers who will be dressing the queen of reinvention for her Rebel Heart tour beginning this September. With a design squad like that it’s certain we’ll see some show stopping costumes on stage, but it’s not a one way street. Fashion frequently turns to the world of music not just for A-list campaign stars (although there are plenty of those) but to add star-studded musical atmosphere at live runway performances, presentations and fashion after-parties. Revelling in surprise casting, the musicians selected by fashion houses to vocalise their collections may reveal as much about the designers’ psyche as a peek into their personal playlists.
Hedi Slimane’s intense relationship with music is well documented. With indie artists like Tom Burke and Ariel Pink walking in his debut show for Saint Laurent and the likes of Cherry Glazerr and the Mystic Braves writing new tracks for his shows, Slimane has long looked to music, both new and old, for inspiration, and finds his own unique synergies between the industries. His photography exhibition Sonic and self-shot campaign Psyche Rock attest to that. Christopher Bailey at Burberry can no doubt relate, having successfully championed many musicians himself, including British singer-song writer James Bay, who performed original track Let It Go at Burberry's SS15 show. Burberry Acoustic, the brand’s online music site, promotes new artists and functions almost as Bailey’s talent scout, bringing attention to fledgling stars like Bay, Ezra and Tom Odell.
At the other end of the musical spectrum Stella McCartney took us back in time at her AW15 after party in Paris earlier this year with a set by British R&B group Soul II Soul (best known for Keep on Movin’). Caron Wheeler’s stellar vocals proved a sure fire way to fill the dance floor, especially when followed by a set by DJ and uber-producer Mark Ronson. Likewise, a musical throwback of sorts courtesy of Valentino’s couture event, Mirabilia Romae. Known for sprinkling in an unexpected performance amidst a sea of elegance (most recently Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson brought a little dose of Zoolander 2 to the Valentino AW15 runway), it was Mika that sat front row at the couture show, looking dapper in a swallow-printed suit, and later performed hits Grace Kelly and Love Today at an exclusive dinner at Villa Aurelia.
How to celebrate unveiling an inaugural boutique in Paris? Tory Burch set the bar when she commemorated her new Rue Saint Honoré store with a grand soiree at Place Hôtel de Sully on the Place des Vosges this summer. A soulful performance by Lauryn Hill induced more than a few goose bumps of appreciation with tracks like Ex-Factor, not least in Olivier Rousteing of Balmain who attended with Jessica Alba and professed himself Lauryn’s biggest fan ever.
Dolce&Gabbana know how to stage a show. The flower-adorned Alta Moda show high above the Tigullio Gulf offered the designers’ take on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream last month, and who better to sing out the night than pop darling and longtime supporter Kylie Minogue. Drawing festivities to a close at Covo di Nord Est nightclub, the singer donned her glitziest star-encrusted costume and ensured the crowd lived la dolce vita for just a few hours longer. Fresh from performing a special Happy Birthday at Lancôme’s lavish 80th anniversary bash at Casino de Paris, Kylie is firmly in favour on the fashion and beauty party circuit this summer.
On the 10th anniversary of perfume Flowerbomb, Viktor & Rolf invited Tori Amos to perform during celebrations at Paris’ Le Trianon theatre. Not only a milestone for the fragrance but also for designers Rolf Snoeren and Viktor Horsting as they looked back on their first collaboration with Amos a decade ago when she performed on their AW05 runway. ‘It is exactly ten years ago that she performed at one of our shows. We have seen countless concerts before that and ever since. We are still loyal to her because we love her,’ Snoeren told Women's Wear Daily. ‘Because she is unique, and because it seems that the longer she is in the business, the better she gets.’
