MUSIC ARTISTS TAKE THE RUNWAY

Rihanna, Kanye, Beyonce, Pharrell, Jay-Z+

image above: rihanna savage fenty; cover story image: justin timberlake wearing william rast

BY: Andy Shoulders

Celebrities coming out with their own clothing line is hardly a new concept.  However, there have been so many doing this in recent years that sometimes it feels like a quick cash grab, rather than a bona fide foray into the fashion world.  The ones that get it right, though, have built fashion empires with true staying power.  Let’s take a look at a few recording artists that threw their hats into the fashion ring, and whose fashion “records” speak for themselves.

PHARELL 

 Is there anything Pharrell Williams can’t do?  In addition to being one of the most sought-after music producers on the planet, Williams has also made quite the name for himself in the fashion world.  In 2005, he partnered with Japanese fashion icon Nico to create streetwear brands Billionaire Boys Club (which recently entered into a partnership with our next celeb entry) and Ice Cream footwear.  Obviously, Pharrell didn’t stop there.  He partnered with fashion giant Louis Vuitton in 2008 to create a limited series of eyewear and jewelry, and in 2013 he developed a line of sunglasses for Moncler known as “Moncler Lunettes.”  Perhaps his most well-known fashion collab came in 2014, when he partnered with sports giant Adidas, eventually debuting his “Human Race” collection in 2016.

Pharrell Williams in Billionaire Boys Club
Pharrell Williams in Billionaire Boys Club

BEYONCÉ

Just like her husband, megastar Beyoncé also tried her hand in the fashion world, and we love to see it.  She first appeared on the fashion creator radar in 2005, when she and her mother Tina Knowles debuted the House of Deréon.  Fast forward to 2016, when Beyoncé unveiled Ivy Park in partnership with British fashion giant Topshop.  The sportswear line pushes the boundaries of what athletic wear can do (and look like), and inspires women to find beauty in more than just physical appearance.

Beyonce in Ivy Park
Beyonce in Ivy Park

GWEN STEFANI

Founded in 2003, Gwen Stefani’s fashion label L.A.M.B. (which stands for Love. Angel. Music. Baby.) made its runway debut in 2004 with heavy Japanese influences, as Stefani has always been obsessed with the Harajuku style.  Interestingly enough, Stefani comes from a family of seamstresses, which inspired her to create L.A.M.B. and proved that she wasn’t just another celebrity putting out a fashion line.  

Gwen Stefani LAMB
Gwen Stefani LAMB

JAY-Z

In 1999, hip-hop fashion was changed forever when rapper Jay-Z (along with Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder Damon Dash) founded Rocawear.  The label soon became more than just a hip-hip fashion brand; it became a whole lifestyle.  The brand has always been able to maintain its aspirational qualities and trendspotting abilities because the people involved in creating the looks actually live the lifestyle themselves.  With annual sales regularly around $700 million, it doesn’t look like the Rocawear brand, or lifestyle for that matter, are going anywhere soon.

Jay-Z in Roca Wear
Jay-Z in Roca Wear

VICTORIA BECKHAM

Victoria Beckham has always known a thing or two about fashion.  From the moment she stepped into the spotlight with the Spice Girls, we knew Posh Spice was the one with the eye for luxury.  She debuted her fashion line, aptly named Victoria Beckham, in 2008 with backing from her megastar hubby, David.  It launched to great fanfare, both critically and commercially, and even hard-to-impress Anna Wintour championed her in the pages of Vogue.  Recently, though, cries of unaffordability have somewhat hurt the brand financially, but something tells us that slashing process simply isn’t in the Posh playbook.

Victoria Beckham in Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham in Victoria Beckham

KANYE WEST

Very early on in his career, Kanye West made his interest in fashion known.  He released his first line, Pastelle Clothing, in 2006, but it was ultimately cancelled in 2009.  That same year, West collaborated with Nike to release the Air Yeezy’s.  His second earnest foray into creating a fashion line came in 2011, when he unveiled DW Kanye West at Paris Fashion Week.  Unfortunately for West, the show was met with horrible reviews and nearly ended his future in design.  West surprisingly took the criticism in stride, and the following year debuted his sophomore effort to both critical and commercial fanfare.  In 2013, West partnered with Adidas to create the Yeezy Boosts as well as the Yeezy Season clothing lines, both of which regularly sell out in minutes.  He is still going strong in 2021, and his Yeezy shoe line has cemented itself as one of the most influential sneaker brands in the world.

Kanye West
Kanye West

RIHANNA

Rihanna has proven herself to be quite the fashion maven.  Her Savage X Fenty lingerie line has been a massive success with its championing of body positivity and inclusivity.  Her biggest success in the fashion world, however, came when luxury fashion group LVMH announced their partnership with the singer in 2019, making Rihanna the first woman and first person of color to have her own fashion house under the group.  Unfortunately, rampant criticism regarding Fenty Maison’s high prices (among other things) caused LVMH to “pause” its partnership with Rihanna this past February.  Despite the setback, we can expect continued success from Savage X Fenty, as well as makeup brand Fenty Beauty.

Rihanna in Savage Fenty
Rihanna in Savage Fenty

DIDDY

Sean “Diddy” Combs took the fashion world by storm when he launched his fashion line Sean John back in the spring of 1998.  Success came quickly, with the label gaining popularity in Hollywood almost as soon as it debuted.  Every year from 2000 to 2005, Sean John was nominated for its excellence in design, and in 2004, Diddy was awarded the CFDA Men’s Designer of the Year award.  Sales now exceed around $525 million annually, and the label has now morphed into a full lifestyle brand with tailored suiting, eyewear, footwear, and fragrances.

Diddy Sean John
Diddy Sean John

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

When Justin Timberlake founded his clothing line William Rast with best friend Trace Ayala in 2006 (a combination of Timberlake’s grandfather’s first name and Ayala’s grandfather’s last name), people were understandably suspicious at first.  Many thought it would be just another flash in the pan for the ex-boybander, but the label, mostly known for its premium denim, quickly gained traction.  William Rast jeans appeared in nearly every episode of the CW show Priveleged, and they partnered with Target for a limited collaboration in 2011.  The label now includes footwear and eyewear.

Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake