Cut to the Chic Cheat chase, already
On searching for latest newsworthy fashion reports, I was hoping to find something major, like when and where this year’s Fashion Rocks will take place. No news online so far, which is perhaps to be expected if the event’s not likely to take place until around October, but there is a reason for me mentioning it here, and how it’s all about the inextricable connection between fashion and modern popular music. As we all know, a good pop star needs an image and a good designer needs a muse. K D Lang pointed out in Versace’s Fashion Memoir book, Rock and Royalty: “As part of a performance fashion must be thematically in sync with the vibe of the music.” (written in tall red type, rather confusingly, over a picture of Madonna.)
Well, here’s some fashion news I bet you never knew about. There’s another pillar of contemporary youth culture whose influence seems to have inexplicably wormed its way into fashion’s consciousness – and there’s no denying the connection. Yes, fashion feeds off music… and computer games.
Bonkers as it may sound, you’ve only got to look at the evidence to hear the connection scream louder than the winner of a Drag Queens’ Beauty Pageant:
Exhibit 1: Balmain and Call of Duty series
Take Balmain’s Spring/Summer 2010 show, for instance. A massive critical success, the show and its military aesthetic of bullet-riddled textures and colour scheme more than echoed the look of hit computer game from the same quarter, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Could the cyber-combat of Call of Duty have heralded a call of beauty among the fashionable illuminati? Well, the game’s predecessor Call of Duty: World at War, has sold more than 11 million copies as of July 2009 – the perfect time to inspire and lead up to a hit fashion show, non?
Exhibit 2 – Beyoncé and Cammy from Street Fighter
You’ve only got to look at the leotard, the endless blonde locks and the – dead giveaway – knuckledusters, and you’ve got yourself an unlikely fashion icon, as we were to find out 16 years afterwards. Okay, for the pedantic among us, Beyoncé might have plumped for a half-ponytail instead of plaits and a beret, stiletto heels instead of army boots and a one-shoulder leotard instead of a halter neck, and yes, Beyoncé’s knuckle duster is gold, but fads like that were different back in 1993. How prophetical Cammy’s creators were. I even remember seeing her in Super Street Fighter 2 at the age of ten and thinking “Wow, she is cool!” What can I say – I knew a fashion icon when I saw one. I liked Cammy. I should have put a ring on her, shouldn’t I?
Exhibit 3 – Alexander McQueen, Versailles and Soul Calibur
…And now for an artist I’m actually into – insane Japanese metal band, Versailles. Notice the opulent black and gold-braided coat sported by frontman, Kamijo… now notice the similar black coat on Soul Calibur’s Raphael… and finally compare it to the black cloak on the right from Alexander McQueen’s last collection. Can you spot the difference? Didn’t think so. Versailles Trivia: Despite their appearance in the above picture, believe it or not, they’re actually all blokes!
As I said, the contents of Exhibit 3 have to be my favourites out of the bunch, and, for some hot fashion rocks, I particularly like the following ankle boots from the collection:
Want to know how to make some? Of course you do. Please read on…
Difficulty
Medium/ Easy
I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot by promising an easy-as-falling-of-a-log outlook, but I’d say this one was pretty straightforward.
Hours
The work itself is doable in an evening but you may have to allow longer for the paint to dry at the beginning.
You will need
- Chunky black platform ankle boots mine cost me £15 from Raid
- Tiger eye stones
- Gold spray paint
- Clear lacquer – about £7 from Halfords
- 2 Broad gold chains – I cut some off hair bands I found on sale at £1 each in Miss Selfridge
- Black plaited leather rope – about 40p/metre from my local haberdashery
- 2 carrier bags
- Parcel tape
- Glue gun
- Newspaper
And this is how we do it…
Cover your shoes with the carrier bags, except for the heels and bottom of the soles. Secure the carrier bags in place with parcel tape, making sure you go right up to the edge.
Spray paint the bases and heels of your shoes gold, and also most of your tiger eye stones. I suggest you do this on your newspaper to avoid damaging any surfaces. Leave to dry.
After your gold paint has dried, spray on your clear lacquer. This might well take a day to dry.
Using a glue gun, stick on all of your stones for about an inch around the ball of the foot of each shoe.
Now for the chains. If, like me, you used the aforementioned ones from Miss Selfridge, you need to cut away the ribbons and elastics. Then, you have to take your black leather cord, cut it in half and weave it in and out of your chains. Secure it with glue at either end.
Glue your chain in a spiral around the heel of the shoe and end it so that it covers the top of the heel.
And there you have it – creative problem solved- it really is that simple. Only one question remains and that is whose collection World of Warcraft is likely to inspire. Answers on a postcard to the usual address.