Do DJs Actually Know Anything About Fashion?

We live in a world that is utterly fixated on trends, and with the passing of every minute, someone’s Next Big Thing fades into obscurity. We watch flash-in-the-pan fads cycle in and out every where we look, from web digs like Doge, Nyan Cat, or Self-Aware Roomba, to retro style recuperations like ten-gallon hats and skinny ties, to news stories about crazy things kids do these days—Snapchat selfies, lethal games of Knockout, or wine enemas (please, never, ever, do that).

Dance music especially is susceptible to the fickle whims of the market, and every time we blink there’s a new subgenre creeping up the Beatport charts. DJs, producers, radio hosts and artists are the trendcasters of our generation—walking, talking, crystal balls that will supposedly reveal to us our Next Big Genre.

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If these people are trusted to spot the hottest new moves in music, does it then follow that we trust them in other stylistic arenas? Like, fashion for example?

Well, seeing that it’s the final days of Fashion Week here in New York City I deemed it an appropriate time to shine a light on some DJs who have had their time under the fashion spotlight, or more appropriately, on the runway.

Ryan Hemsworth:

You might be surprised to see indie producer Ryan Hemsworth appearing on billboards and bus stops around the streets of major metropolitan cities (and in glossy magazine pages). But if you do a little digging, you’ll see that the Converse CONS project Ryan is a part of couldn’t be more fitting. This is a series of global projects and workshops that hope to inspire and teach students who find their creative outlets in music. Ryan sure does make wearing a plain grey hoodie look easy!

Dillon Francis:

Mr. Francis seems to be everywhere these days. From providing the audio for Super Bowl commercials, to having his infamous Instagram account with a slew of personas like DJ Hanzel (so hot right now, Hanzel), to finding himself in the pages of magazines like Rolling Stone where he has appeared as a model for Ray-Ban. In addition to his affinity for trap rhythms and raucous comedy, Dillon has often been known as quite the fashionisto, seen around town sporting a dapper pompadour and a sharp suit or two. We all know that nothing compliments swagger like a pair of Ray-Ban specs. My money’s on DJ Snake or Carnage for the next trap fashionisto.

Avicii:

While certain DJs might seem like unlikely entries into fashion’s inner circle, the flaxen-haired Swedish super star Avicii was just waiting for his inevitable time to shine under the lights. And if you know anything about Timmy you know that he almost only wears plaid flannel shirts. Enter Polo Ralph Lauren, an outlet universally known for… plaid and flannel. It didn’t take long for these two mammoth brands to intersect and form the world’s first Swedo-flannel superpower. Avicii flexed his fashion muscle in some videos and print advertisements for Denim & Supply, Ralph Lauren’s fall campaign a couple years back. “Most days you can find me in jeans and a flannel shirt, so to me, Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren fits my lifestyle and aesthetic.” Yawn. Can you please wake me up when we get there? No pun intended.

Daft Punk:

Who ever said you had to be human to be a fashion model? Everyone’s favorite cyborgs are no strangers to the fashion scene—which works for everyone given that they are the most recognizable musicians on the planet. Thomas and Guy-Man used the fashion scene to help build the buzz around their long-awaited album, and they were joined by supermodel Karlie Kloss back in July for a Manhattan photo shoot as part of a Vogue spread for Yves St. Laurent. For their second shoot with the iconic fashion brand they were joined by Milla Jovovich (pictured above). Between their baller white suits at the Grammys, their glitzy shining get ups from the “Get Lucky” video, and the sleek blazers from YSL, the duo’s swagger is officially at interstellar levels. Now there’s only one question for the duo who appears to enjoy working with super models: do robots get boners?

Tiesto:

For years Tiesto’s fashion stylings have consisted of tight fitting v-neck t-shirts and Ed Hardy-style accessories. I guess it seemed like a no-brainer for Tijs to partner with one of the world’s original purveyors of tight v-necks, Guess. This v-neck perfect storm took place back in the summer of 2012 and included a “multi-functional” limited edition watch as well as a full apparel collection that would follow a few months later. This wasn’t the first time Tiesto has given fashion a try—he had a previous partnership with Armani, which involved another custom watch, and in 2013 he launched CLVB LVFE, a line that consists of—you got it—a lot of tight-fitting v-neck T-shirts.

Nervo:

While all the previously mentioned people on this list are DJs-turned-models, twins Mim and Liv Nervo are the only ones who can actually say that they are models-turned-DJs. These two Australian beat slingers got their start with the Australian Chadwick Models Agency and were also early ambassadors of the L’ Oreal Fashion Festival. Since those early days the duo have become two of the most sought after big room house DJs and have lent their talents on Grammy Award-winning singles and countless other festival anthems. While they currently have their eyes and ears on their music careers, they still find the time to pose as L’Oreal Covergirls, appearing throughout television and in print magazines.

L-Vis 1990:

While we’re not sure if L-Vis 1990 has ever actually modeled articles of clothing, he did indeed take part in this year’s New York Fashion Week as he provided the soundtrack for the Opening Ceremony’s Spring/Summer 2014 runway show. (And played at London’s Fashion Week as well.) You can check out a recording of his set here: