MUSIC AND FASHION JOIN HANDS
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger
Photographer: George Whylie
Videographer: Maxine Nolan
Photos Courtesy of John Varvatos Facebook Page and www.fashionqande.com
You might say that music and fashion just seem to click together.
There has been a direct correlation between music and fashion over the decades. Designers create the fashions, rock and punk bands and musical artists wear the fashions and fans translate that style, buy it and become it. Thus, the evolution of trends and the rising popularity of specific designers.
The latest union of this artistic creativity is American Contemporary high-fashion menswear designer, John Varvatos, with American punk rock band, Green Day. This high-energy band will be the new face of the Varvatos 2012 Spring Campaign. Varvatos has earned quite a reputation. In 2000, he was honored by the Council of Fashion Designers of America with the Perry Ellis Menswear Award for the most promising new talent in the industry. He went on to win the CFDA’s Designer of the Year Award the next year. In 2005, John received the CFDA’s 2005 Menswear Designer of the Year Award claiming victory over Ralph Lauren. In 2007, Varvatos was GQ’s Designer of the Year.
In the past, Varvatos has used ‘The Roots’, ‘Cheap Trick’, Alice Cooper and Iggy Pop to sell his chic fashions.
The list is almost endless of the many musicians and rock stars that have inspired designers to create some of their best collections. Designer of perfection, Donatella Versace, was taken by Christina Aguilera whose singing talent and entrancing beauty captivated the fashion world. She became the face of ‘Versace’ where glamour abounds.
David Bowie was one of the musical giants of pop music and he was always dressed to perfection. He created a futuristic image with ‘Ziggy Stardust’ and caught the attention of many a designer with his starstruck look. The most coveted designer of all was Gucci who used this concept complete with glitter and sequins to create his Fall 2006 Collection. It was flashy with gold lame, velvet pantsuits, beading and space-dyed mini skirts.
Twin brothers Dean and Dan Caten, are designers with a passion for making their styles work and making their collections come alive on the runway. They have attracted musicians such as Fergie, Madonna, Lenny Kravitz and Justin Timberlake who love their clothing and wear their designs.
The ‘D Squared2? Spring 2008 Collection in Milan came about when superstar, Rihanna, gave them an idea with her best-selling album, “Good Girls Gone Bad’. She had that special gift of fashion sense.
Long-time English designer, Vivienne Westwood, was part of the 1970?s London Punk Movement with a unique style that has been widely accepted by the celebrity world. She shocked and interested many with her provocative designs and her inspiration was the punk band, SEX Pistols, daring in their own right and now almost synonymous with her earlier lines.
The 90?s brought some exciting years and European designer genius, Jean Paul Gaultier, rocked the fashion world with his alliance with the magnetic Madonna who was making a name for herself. She made history in that era wearing Gaultier’s bondage lingerie and pushing a baby carriage down the runway. She had no inhibitions. Gaultier has even designed outfits for her “Blond Ambition” and “Confessions Tour”.
Then there were musicians who create their own style and have designers attempting to follow in their footsteps. Lenny Kravitz, Mick Jagger and Bruce Springsteen all lay the groundwork for curious designers to blaze that trail.
Each generation harbors a few iconic legends that will set the fashion world on fire and inspire many a new and established designer to create an out-of-this-world collection followed by a seasonal campaign.
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