Swagger Jagger

Swagger Jagger..

Sir Mick Jagger, The Rolling Bones front man (Rolling Stones) and uber icon of music and style has inspired one of my favourite tracks right now.

"Moves Like Jagger" is a definite departure for Maroon 5, with the band's front man Adam Levine admitting the new sound was a commercial risk (but given the amount of air play the song's getting, it's fair to assume the risk paid off).

A genre-defying blend of funk, R&B, pop, rock and dance, the track's music video concept and direction was left in the more than capable hands of Jonas Akerlund.Akerlund's previous music video credits include the Prodigy's "Smack My Bitch Up" and Madonna's "Ray of Light", making him the go-to man for cutting edge and progressive visual imagery.

The track features a Ruben-esque Christina Aguilera, who brings her mega-lung, little-lady-big-sound to the mix. The video itself is a riot to watch, with various Jagger imitators taking to a large stage to strut, prance and rock-out in various 70's style outfits. Levine channels Jagger in a pair of hip-hugging uber skinny black trousers (bare chested naturally), while Aguilera's styling seems to reference Rolling Stones babes Bianca Jagger and Anita Pallenberg in a Biba-esque / Ossie Clark ensemble accessorised with a wide rimmed floppy black felt hat. It's worth mentioning that the majority of the extras look like they escaped from a) Woodstock, b) a 70's Fleetwood Mac concert or c) Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous (one of my all time favourite films). The styling in the latter is superb, with Kate Hudson the epitome of bohemian chic in a series of diaphanous chiffon outfits, punctuated with shag-tastic fur trimmed Afghan coats (Yeah Baby Yeah).

Adam and the artist formerly known as X-Tina doin' their thang

Now, a look at Jagger and friends over the decades:

Marianne Faithful and Mick circa the 60's

Mick and Bianca circa the 70's

Anita Pallenberg and Keith Richards circa the 70's

Andy Warhol and Mick circa the 70's

A Warhol print of Mick circa the 70's

Mick and Jerry Hall circa the late 70's / early 80's

Mick flanked by Keith Richards (who seems to be spoofing his signature posturing and pout)

The iconic Rolling Stones Hot Lips logo

The Rolling Stones Hot Lips logo immortalised in this equally iconic piece of bijoux from uber-jeweller Solange Azagury Partridge (sigh).

The making of Maroon 5's Moves Like Jagger (featuring Christina Aguilera), directed by Jonas Akerlund

The official music video of Maroon 5's Move Like Jagger (featuring Christina Aguilera), directed by Jonas Akerlund

We All Have Our Price

We All Have Our Price..

I was browsing the Topman website last night and came across the Antony Price Priceless collection (his fourth limited edition collection for the high street chain). The collaboration had been on my radar for a few seasons but it was this AW10 collection that really piqued my interest. At first glance, the stark and edgy campaign imagery could be vintage Hedi Slimane era Dior Homme. The campaign star, Polish model Tomek Szczukiecki (signed to FM model agency in London), already has a host of major designer campaigns under his belt, including Dior Homme, Versace and Paul Smith. His cool rock-androgyny demeanour, coupled with the minimal set, styling and black and white photography, combine to make the collection look more haute couture than high street.

Photographic wizardry and international male models aside, I think you could have shot these garments flat on the pavement and it still would have looked like Lenny Kravitz had just walked by and inadvertently dropped his jacket. But then you'd expect nothing less from Antony Price, the man that could be justly credited as THE defining rock n' roll stylist of the century.

In the 60's we had Britain's Tommy Nutter, who was arguably the most influential tailor of that decade. Twiggy, Mick and Bianca Jagger and Elton John were all fans, as were The Beatles. Nutter was famous for dressing three out of the four Beatles for the cover of their seminal Abbey Road album in 1969. Though George Harrison opted to wear jeans, John, Paul and Ringo were suited and booted Nutter-style.

But there's no question that the 70's and 80's belonged to Price. His client list reads like the rock n' roll hall of fame. He dressed the Rolling Stones for their 1969 American tour and went on to collaborate with Lou Reed on his Transformer album. Price designed the super-tight "Arse" trousers, the crotch of which had been photographed (in close proximity) for the album's back cover artwork. The risque shot showcased what appeared to be Lou Reed's sizeable erection but it was in fact a model, with a cucumber shoved down his trousers for visual effect. Whoever came up with the concept was certainly adept at marketing, as the homoerotic image was bound to get people talking. A little public scandal and outrage has never had an adverse effect on record sales - just look at Madonna or The Sex Pistols.

So successful were Price's "Arse" trousers, that when Vivienne Westwood's clients complained to her about the comparably unflattering fit of the drop crotch trousers from her Pirate collection, she is alleged to have retorted "well go to Antony Price then". He went on to work with David Bowie, Jerry Hall, Steve Strange and Duran Duran. However, it was his work with Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music that really cemented his status as a cult designer and stylist. The album cover artwork of Roxy Music's first eight albums were all Price collaborations. The most iconic was probably their 1975 Siren album, featuring a smoking-hot Jerry Hall, her pneumatic body encased in an Antony Price Couture mermaid dress.

Despite my initial desire to shop for myself, rather ironically, I ended up purchasing a Christmas gift for my partner instead. He'd been wanting to replace his navy Hugo Boss peacoat for a while, so I showed him The Black Wool Military Peacoat (pictured above) and it was fashion lust at first sight. Though I'm yet to see the garment in real life, from the photo it appears that the fabric, fit and finish are not only beautiful but executed to a high standard. I suppose the proof will be in the pudding when he opens up his presents on Christmas Day. My partner has a broad torso and shoulders so the clever positioning of the seams and inverted triangle shape created by the metal crested buttons will really work to emphasise the breadth of his shoulders, nipping him in at the waist to create that highly sought after v-shaped chest.

The Grey Wool Long Military Trench (pictured above), was one of the initial pieces that caught my eye, as I've been wearing my elaborately embroidered John Rocha coat to death and I fear for its future and condition if I don't start rotating it with another winter option soon. Being slim, I love how a little military tailoring can bulk you out, padding out your shoulders ever so slightly to create a strong, clothes hanger style silhouette for the torso. I'd imagine its the male equivalent of the 80's power shoulder, though unlike its 80's equivalent, its origins probably owe more to Napoleon's military uniform than it does to Joan Collins and Dynasty. Alas, I bottled out of purchasing it. Being a devotee of black, I was concerned that a grey trench would look more like casual weekend wear than kick ass work attire.

The Black Shine Crop Padded Jacket (pictured above) was sadly another miss. Though my heart screamed "buy me, buy me", my head said "go anywhere near a bonfire and you'll be a walking human torch". Though I opted not to buy, the fusion of a padded tech fabric (black nylon) and sculptural tailoring is a real winner, to me it looks super high end. The second-skin shape is very Rik Owens, while the futuristic fabrication reminds me of the clothing collaboration between PUMA and Mihara Yasuhiro, or Markus Lupfer's designs for Armand Basi. The thing I love most about this piece is that on closer inspection, it's quite possible that Price has re-invented none other than the classic black leather biker jacket. Squint a little at the photo and you'll agree that the shape bares an uncanny resemblance to the iconic leather jacket Marlon Brando rocked in 'The Wild One". Perhaps he borrowed a little from Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld with the quilting? Anyone remember the cult reversible black quilted nylon Cocoon bag from the Lily Allen campaign?

The Black Wool Cowl Neck Peacoat (pictured above) was the final piece from the collection that I took a shine to. Shooting the jacket from the side was a clever touch as it showcases how an exceptional tailor can virtually re-shape a person's body. The seams places on the sides of the abdomen contour the stomach, creating a streamlined "washboard" effect. What man (or woman), wouldn't want a piece of clothing that was not only functional but also hinted at the possibility of gym abs underneath (even if in reality it's more a case of jelly belly than gym bunny).

Black Wool Military Peacoat - £120

Grey Long Wool Military Trench - £150

Black Shine Crop Padded Jacket - £100

Black Wool Cowl Neck Peacoat - £120

www.topman.com

www.antonyprice.com