Last spring, I interned for a high-profile New York band. It was surprising how goofy the “jaded” rockers were, and how their cool style came as naturally as a catchy guitar riff.
Some wrote them off as models rather than real musicians, and we can’t tell you how many prestigious campaigns they turned down, but they preferred instead to work on an upcoming album. They’re still writing it.
But lately, rock stars have craved more from the fashion world than just its trophy wives — and designers are more than willing to oblige. It’s a symbiotic relationship: the designers score some pop-culture cred, the musicians get free publicity.
This explains the love affair between Karl Lagerfeld and Chan Marshall, or why Bloody Social frontman Jamie Burke — the one-time boyfriend of Kate Moss and Sienna Miller — is lending his scratchy black nails to Calvin Klein.
There’s also Hedi Slimane, who championed the ghoulish threads of the Horrors, and John Varvatos, who crafted an entire ad campaign featuring Iggy Pop and Alice Cooper traipsing in posh suits. Varvatos’ newest project is a boutique in the old CBGB space.
Gwen Stefani may get dressed by Dior, but we can’t envision any self-respecting rock star dropping 3 grand on a jacket (stealing one is another story…). And though the Sex Pistols were outfitted in Vivienne Westwood in the ’70s, they would never have gone into Seditionaries and actually bought her clothes.
But nobody really wants their rock idol to admit wearing expensive and manufactured style – something that’s a little revered in the hip hop community, but not with rock bands. If you know your favorite band is wearing designer outfits, do you respect them less as musicians?
– NATALIE GUEVARA