The July issue of W magazine celebrates the influence music has on fashion by having global fashion power houses choose famous musicians that inspire their work the most. Photographed by Max Vadukul, renowned designers such as Francisco Costa, Donatella Versace and Karl Lagerfeld are lensed alongside their precious muses such as Kanye West, Florence Welch and Diplo for the issue — thus capturing the love affair between fashion and music.
Gucci’s creative director Frida Giannini and her muse indie rock frontwoman Florence Welch.
Gucci designed Flo’s costumes for her current tour and the labels’s fall 2011 collection will be inspired by the singer. Giannini says the following in the magazine about her flame-haired muse:
“I was captivated by her eccentric style and her willingness to dare. She embodies the cinematic allure and seductive power that is its essence”.
Rodarte designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy (sisters), chose rapper Kanye West as their muse.
The rapper made a lasting impression on the sisters during his set at Coachella earlier this year.
“It’s one of the most incredible shows you’ll ever see. I think it’s because he’s such a visual artist as well”, Kate tells W.
Sister Laura adds, “That mixing of art forms and genres, that’s something I respond to”.
Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace is inspired by rapper M.I.A.
Donatella says the following on her 36-year-old muse:
“Her music and style seemed so fresh and innovative…She is a total artist”.
Calvin Klein’s women’s creative director Francisco Costa chose American jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding as the musician who inspires him the most.
Costa tells W the following on his 26-year-old Grammy-winning muse:
“I admire her passion and confidence — she is truly a free spirit”.
Fashion designer Alexander Wang chose renowned DJ and producer Diplo as his muse.
The 32-year-old DJ, who was the face of Wang’s T menswear line this past spring, tells the magazine the following:
“Before, I’d talk to girls about my music and they’d say, ‘Yeah, that’s cool’. Now I tell them I’m in the Alex Wang ads, and they want to have my children”.
Burberry’s creative director Christopher Bailey chose British indie rock group One Night Only’s frontman George Craig as the musician who inspires him the most.
Bailey says the following on his muse, who stars in Burberry’s spring 2010 Ad campaign:
“For me, George embodies the modern British look”.
Chanel’s creative director Karl Lagerfeld is mostly inspired by musician Janelle Monae.
Lagerfeld tells W the following on his 25-year-old muse:
“We liked each other from the first second on. Not just because of our style, but also the name — Janelle rhymes with Chanel no?”.
Proenza Schouler designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez are inspired by the legendary Yoko Ono.
Hernandez says the following on the fashion power house’s muse:
“We’re really attracted to independent spirits, people who don’t follow trends. Yoko pretty much personifies that”
