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
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I am not trying to attack you or demean what you did in any way; this is a real question. Why on earth does a band need interns?
And to answer your question, i dont think less of a band for wearing designer clothes, but i do when it seems like they have put too much time into their look and their costumes.
once i was standing on the side of the stage at a need show and i noticed radio was wearing diesels and said something and her girlfriend, who was standing by me, quickly said “Oh they were a GIFT!!” because there was NO WAY she’d have bought them herself!!! ha!
Hey Laia,
No worries! I get that question a lot. I interned with the band’s management team, so tasks involved everything from communicating with fans to corresponding with their label to helping set up at show nights. All in all, it was a fun job, the people couldn’t have been nicer, and I recommend it to anyone interested in the music business.
- Natalie G.
Ah! That makes perfect sense. After I wrote the question, I was like “duh Laia, it’s probably with the label or something like that”, that’s cool that you got to do that, though.
I actually look to a lot of rockers for fashion inspo. Rock and fashion has always gone hand in hand, so it sort of makes sense.
and, Natalie, that sounds like a great internship. I’d love to do that!
Have you ever heard of Franz Ferdinand?!!? They wear Dior Homme (and other high fashion clothes) quite often and they are always extremely elegant, even in vintage stuffs. They do not have that trashy feeling and their art is art for real and it’s really complex: they know how to write, how to make songs sound good, how to perform live perfectly and are aware that outfits are very important. So no way, I don’t respect them less. And since Franz Ferdinand is my favourite band ever, I definitely don’t want them to change. It’s refreshing to see a band that doesn’t pretend they come from the street – they make art for art.
Random factoid:
The sex pistols were managed/created by Malcom Mclaren, Seditionaries co-owner and husband of Vivienne Westwood. He put together the band using Seditionaries patrons. Sid Vicious was hired on Westwoods recommendation.
I always thought there was a hierarchy of pop culture: hollywood
It doesn’t affect me at all, I don’t want this to sound shallow, but I like it when people take time with their appearance. It’s definitely more of a punk and hardcore ethos to have substance over style. Where people are chastised for taking too much time with their appearance. But plenty of bands I love are (were) in cahoots with designers. Dior Homme alone did Phoenix, Beck, The Rakes, Razorlight and the above mentioned Franz Ferdinand. and Kings Of Leon are always wearing their stuff. and of course the relationship with Hedi Slimane wand Pete Doherty was fairly well publicised. On the flipside to that, Carl Barat did a campagin for J. Lindeberg. along with Alison Mosshart from the Kills. Nick Jago from Black Rebel Motorcycle club is modelling for Wrangler ads and stuff. Fashion is cool, nothing wrong with it.
random question, natalie:
where you by any chance interning for the strokes??
In my opinion, Franz Ferdinand are the best dressed band around right now. They always look sharp and cool. I’m surprised they never modeled for Dior Homme because Hedi Slimane was giving them free clothes and they even wore Dior Homme in their music video for “Michael”. Maybe they just would rather do music than model designer clothes.
They are suppose to have a new album out by next year so since I am such a big FF fan I am very excited.
Brandon Flowers wears Dior Homme almost exclusively. He was once even quoted as saying, when he wears a Dior suit, its like hes wearing a suit of armor. I don’t think that caring about your appearance and loving fashion is something that bands (or anyone) should feel ashamed of; it doesn’t make you less of a man or ruin our musical credibility.
fun fact: Brandon’s wife used to be the manager of the Urban Outfitter at the Aladin in Vegas.
If I might shed a little light on the Jamie Burke / Calvin Klein union. Jamie was spotted at the Viper Room performing with his previous band when PR for Calvin Klein approached him. I can’t remember the exact quote, but what drew the PR person to him was Jamie’s own personal style. The bonus was he happened to be wearing CK Jeans that day.
As long the band or musician in question is more substance then style I dig. It’s when it’s more about the look(here’s looking at you Pete Wentz)than the music that annoys. Of course the band with the best style ever, in my opinion, was The Ramones. I don’t think they had to try very hard though.
And Betsey Johnson was married to John Cale.