Rousteing told French Vogue that the idea to collaborate came about when he was sketching while listening to the new album on repeat after its July 2022 release, and was inspired by the lyrics and music. He contacted Beyonce and her stylist, Marni Senofonte, and said he would like to create a couture collection together as co-designers. He had many sketches inspired by the album but managed to whittle it down to just one per song, two of which Beyonce already wore to the Grammys and BRIT awards before the collaboration was officially released. The looks incorporate historic elements of Balmain and celebrate Beyoncé’s heritage, bringing to life the powerful emotions encapsulated in her music.

Rousteing and Beyoncé have worked together many times over the years, from perfecting outfits for her 2018 Coachella headline to opening his 10-year anniversary show for Balmain in 2021.

She says he is a “dream collaborator and a constantly innovating and evolving creative”, with whom she knew she “would want to work on a collection from their very first meeting”.

Renaissance is Beyoncé’s 7th studio album, created during the COVID-19 pandemic with the intention of inspiring happiness and an escape from isolation to listeners, and to celebrate the liberation of marginalised people through dance. It won a Grammy for best dance and electronic album and was nominated for album of the year.

Now, let’s look at some of the 16 outfits it inspired:

Cozy; comfortable in my skin (cozy, cozy)

^{Image Credit: Balmain}

A ‘feu d’artifice’ firework-inspired dress made of black velvet and pink feathers with a matching black velvet turban. The look represents self-love and visualises being surrounded by explosions of fireworks.

Break My Soul; I’m buildin’ my own foundation, yeah

^{Image Credit: “Church Girl” from Renaissance Couture – BeyoncéxBalmain. Photography by Louie Banks, courtesy of Balmain}

Draping shiny black velvet to create a hooded dress, cinched with a black chrome electroplated bustier. Designed to project power and confidence onto the wearer, creating the illusion of a naked torso by 3D printing the bustier.

Thique; Baby, that’s that thique

^{Image Credit: Balmain}

Hammered brass bustier adorned in crystal pendants over a black velvet bodysuit, with matching crystal earrings and velvet turban. Inspired by Parisian chandeliers and traditional ballroom design.

Church Girl; nobody can judge me but me, I was born free

^{Image Credit: Balmain}

Black velvet cape with red interior, metallic belt, and silver chrome bustier. The hat is inspired by records. The outfit represents success, self-confidence, and not apologising for enjoying yourself.

Pure/Honey; It should cost a billion to look this good

^{Image Credit: Balmain}

Mixing sequins, metals, and feathers with harlequin, zebra, and psychedelic patterns to create this bodysuit. As seen on Beyoncé at the BRITs, it aims to pay homage to and channel the energy and joy of the ballroom community.

Virgo’s Groove; I want it right here, right now

^{Image Credit: Balmain}

Pink velvet gown and ‘second skin’ with metallic décolleté by sculptor Elie Hirsch and a reinterpreted vintage Balmain hat. Beyonce and Olivier are both virgos, and the look represents disco, funk, and intensity.

Energy (01); Oh, la, la, la
That’s the way them boys sound when I walk through the block-block-block

^{Image Credit: Balmain}

Black-dyed pheasant feathers grab your attention, embroidered onto a macramé gown. Crafted from black silk, velvet, rayon, and patent-leather threads, this was one of the most complicated designs in the collection, designed with the intention of creating something sensual and alluring that commanded power.

Energy (02); You know that I’m gon’ be extra when that camera go pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop

^{Image Credit: Balmain}

Gown, hat, and earrings created with a pattern inspired by traditional African hair-braiding. Taking over a month to complete its creation; the gown began as a series of sketches of African motifs before transforming into this powerful silhouette.

America Has a Problem; Boy, you can’t get no higher than this No, ‘cause love don’t get no higher than this no, no

^{Image Credit: Balmain}

Jumpsuit with draped red velvet and gold chrome bustier. It reflects the song’s confidence and attracts attention through its similarity to the red carpet.

Summer Renaissance; It’s so good, it’s so good, it’s so good, it’s so good, it’s so good

^{Image Credit: Balmain}

Wig, cape, and dress embroidered with fringes, crystals, and rhinestones.The final track on the album inspires outright extravagance and maximalism. Beginning her world tour in May 2023, we can only hope to see more of these looks on Queen B, perhaps she will wear one to the upcoming Met Gala…

_{Words by Lucy Walshe}

^{Header Image by Mia Washbrook}

The post Balmain And Beyoncé Produce First Wearable Album appeared first on Voir Fashion.

_{Image by Shygirl}

A dark, sleazy, brooding, yet magical aura permeates the music video shot in Tokyo directed by Samuel Ibrams, who often works with Shygirl creating the artwork for her last album Nymph. Dimly lit retro hotel rooms, glittery multicoloured LED lights, late-night karaoke sessions, adorable fawns, and nocturnal Tokyo alleyways are all caught on the smudgy shaky camera. At times the nauseating shots of unknown places from inside the body mixed with blinding white lights and dizzyingly fast cuts disorientate the viewer – thankfully we have the beautiful Shygirl and Björk’s vocals to guide us through this unsettling maze. The almost vampiric sensual Shygirl is totally captivating whether she’s staring into the camera emerging from a motel bathtub or receiving desperate kisses from lovers with a smirk on her face. Actor George Smale and model Nina Utashiro von Hahn get cosy with Shygirl playing her lucky prey in the video. 

In her verses, Björk shares her advice with Shygirl telling her, “I wish her love to you would suffice / But those bitches are not meant to satisfy” and warns her about lovers trying to steal her energy and the spotlight singing, “You’re glowing so hard / They all want to share the flight”.

Björk illuminated the meaning of her added verses in a press release writing, “Shy told me in her lyric she is talking about both different amorous interests and fame and how suddenly everyone wants something from you and you should be thrilled but you´re not and i decided to take an angle as an older ‘amour’ and give advice… because in ‘Woe’ she is asking a question and i decided to reply to it from the SUFI angle which is: enjoy the wanting and the longing and NOT getting what you want but enjoy wanting it… how the whirling dervishes reach up when they turn, it is meant to represent that longing and being content with that… also on a more everyday personal level it is about sometimes when you are not satisfied in a relationship, you should not expect your partner to heal that or fix that… rather look at him or her as a partner in crime or a fellow-not-getter… another human with that insatiable longing.”

Though Björk has reworked the song as a response to ‘Woe’ there are still glimmers of Shygirl’s original delicate vocals at the start of the track and weaved in between Björk’s new verse as well as residual touches of Sega Bodega’s production. Shygirl also demonically croons a new hair-raising bridge whilst alien-like noises crackle softly in the background.

“enjoy the wanting and the longing and NOT getting what you want but enjoy wanting it…” (Bjork)

The 90s Icelandic alt pop icon Björk released her tenth studio album Fossora last year. Taking listeners on a journey down a winding fungal-filled forest path, the album combined Björk’s distinct vocals and poetry with thumping electronica and sinister chamber music to create a very dark kind of fairytale. Björk in a rare collaborative move worked with Shygirl and her producer Sega Bodega to create a remix of the second single from the album ‘Ovule’ leading to this second collaboration between the two ground-breaking artists.

‘Woe (I See It From Your Side)’ is the third track to be released from Shygirl’s upcoming deluxe album Nymph_o which will be released on the 14^th April. Last month Shygirl gave us the dream collab by teaming up with R&B singer Tinashe for a dreamy new version of ‘Heaven’. Shygirl gave us a top tier dance track in December when she dropped the first track from the deluxe album ‘Poison (Club Shy remix)’. Prepare for more mystical reimagines of tracks from Shygirl’s album from last year Nymph from artists such as Arca, Eartheater, and Erica de Casier as well as some brand-new tracks.

^{Image by Kathleen Reilly}

Shygirl is currently on the second leg of her Nymph tour performing across the US and Canada until mid-April. She will also be performing at Wide Awake festival in London in May.

See below for the complete Nymph_o tracklist:

1. Angel – Shygirl x Fatima Al Qadiri

2. Heaven Feat. Tinashe

3. Crush Feat. Erika de Casier

4. Woe (I See It From Your Side) (Bjork Remix)

5. Shlut Feat. Sevdaliz

6. Nike Feat. Deto Black

7. Playboy / Positions

8. Poison (Club Shy mix)

9. Firefly (Kingdom Edit)

10. Wildfire (Eartheater Remix)

11. Unconditional – Shygirl x Arca

_{Words by Molly Sutherland}

^{Header Image by Shygirl}

The post Deers, Vampires, And Tokyo: Björk revamps Shygirl’s ‘Woe’ appeared first on Voir Fashion.

The year is ending but the fashion releases seem to continue, just as we thought there couldn’t be any more surprises the highly anticipated collaboration between Gucci and The North Face has finally arrived.

We’ve known about collaboration being in the works since September when the Italian fashion house announced it via a series of intriguing Instagram teasers, however, it is safe to say that no one really knew what to expect out of this contrasting yet exclusive partnership. But as we will agree by just taking a look at the recently released images it is everything we could’ve ever wanted.

The luxurious essence of Gucci, its unique patterns and stylistic elements combined with North Face’s practical and popular designs resulted in a dream combo perfect for this season. The collection includes everything from ready-to-wear clothing such as coats, dresses and jumpsuits as well as items for any adventurer like tents and sleeping bags.

The most fascinating aspect about this collaboration is the extravagant balance reached through a common appreciation for adventure: “The collaboration between Gucci and The North Face celebrates the spirit of discovery by combining the commitment of both brands to promote adventure, real and metaphorical. United by the conviction that travel is often also a self-discovery, the two companies have made use of common stories and values.”

Through 70s inspired designs, the reinvention of the iconic Gucci monogram and the adaptation of North Face’s garments they represent the daring aspect of fashion and encourage hybrids rather than exclusivity, who says you can’t be fashionable when camping or hiking?

But that’s not it, besides providing us with everything necessary to celebrate innovation fashion based on the spirit of exploration the two renowned brands will also be introducing us to an immersive experience through the incorporation of Pokémon Go. The North Face X Gucci collection will be hosting a digital space and have the additional possibility to wear items virtually at the Gucci PokéStops. It may sound unusual but that’s exactly why we love it, nothing attracts us more than a unique shopping experience. What’s better than a combination of one of the most played augmented reality mobile games and the latest collection that comes just in time to help us expand our love for exploring and spending more time in nature.

Words by Chiara Ferrari

The post A Look into The North Face x Gucci Collaboration appeared first on Voir Fashion.