Musicians have forever remained at the height of style. Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Paul Weller, Alex Turner - the list goes on. To celebrate the looming London Collections: Men, we have spoken to some of today’s most style conscious artists. First we talk to Steven Ansell, drummer from heavy rock two piece Blood Red Shoes, about his leather jacket clad icons and why music and fashion have always been intrinsically linked.
Blood Red Shoes - Picture From lostinconcert.com
How do you think fashion and music relate?
I guess, from the beginning, the rebelliousness of the rock ‘n’ roll thing wasn’t just about the music, it was a presentation thing; presenting yourself in a way society thought wasn’t the standard way to look. It was a rebellious gesture in the way that making music was a rebellious gesture. So since that point there’s been a correlation between the two.
Who do you think the best dressed musician of all time is?
Of all time? Hmm, I’m trying to think of ones that didn’t end up looking really lame later on in life. Laura (shouts to Laura, the other half of Blood Red Shoes), who’s the best dressed musician? It’s tricky, because everyone ends up looking really bad at some point. PATTI SMITH! She’s maintained herself androgynously; it’s an interesting style that’s not common.
Patti Smith - Picture From huffingtonpost.com
Do you think artists have stopped caring about fashion as much compared to the times of Bowie and Reed?
No, a lot of bands care way more about style. I mean that not just in terms of how they dress, but in terms of their music; quite stylised overall – before they’ve actually figured out basic stuff like how to be in a good band, or write good songs, or get some good chemistry going with the people in the band.
Not to cause arguments, but who would you say is the best dressed out of Blood Red Shoes?
Laura! I just stick to leather jacket and jeans all the time – I’m sticking to the classics! I just want to look like I’m in The Clash.
The Clash - Picture From last.fm
Are you keeping your leather jacket on in even though you’re in Australia at the moment?
No, I took my t-shirts out of my suitcase and cut all the arms off and I rolled my jeans up to my knees because I don’t own a pair of shorts!
What’s the fashion in Brighton like? We imagine it to be a clichéd ‘mods and rockers’ kind of scene.
It’s crazy and eclectic; really old school mods and people that are really into old shit. Like women into ‘30s and ‘40s dresses, and guys who go out in really old school moustaches, suits and pipes as a look. Guys that are like 25. There’s a real trend for that in Brighton – real old eccentric British. I don’t see that so much anywhere else. There’s also an art university in Brighton that has insane art kids that come out with their own fashions that look like some sort of post modern hybrid of any element of fashion of the last 50 years.
Blood Red Shoes’ new EP ‘The Water’ is out Monday, January 21st on V2 records. They will play London’s Shepherds Bush Empire on Tuesday, January 22nd.
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