John Legend: ‘I'm at all times aware about how I look’

Regardless of the event, John Legend at all times manages to look each easy and expertly put collectively. On the crimson carpet, he is aware of exactly what works for him and he's turn into one thing of a poster little one for wonderful formalwear, whether or not he's carrying daring Gucci tailoring, eye-catching fits from Paul Smith or playful kilt-tuxedo hybrids from Alexander McQueen.

Elsewhere, the EGOT's downtime suits are equally spectacular. He's repeatedly seen on the streets of New York Metropolis draped in wonderful outerwear from Dunhill, Dries Van Noten and Balmain, whereas for transatlantic journey he can oft be noticed rocking velour 3.1 Phillip Lim tracksuits.

Hardly shocking, then, {that a} host of massive style manufacturers are clamouring to decorate the star. What's extra, earlier this 12 months the “All Of Me” singer landed his first designing position, which has seen him work with US model Sperry on a variety of limited-edition boat sneakers, loafers and sneakers.

We hopped on a name with Legend from his studio-cum-office in West Hollywood to debate his favorite previous outfits, why he prefers to not costume like his contemporaries and which of his music movies stand out most to him. 

I'm at all times aware about how I look. I care as a lot about how I look on stage as how I look after I exit to the grocery retailer.

I like basic shapes and nice tailoring. I like so as to add a private contact to every part I put on, although. So whereas I’ve an actual respect for the classics, I attempt to put a little bit twist on them. An instance of that’s the Alexander McQueen go well with I wore to the Grammys final 12 months, which had entrance pleats. It had basic components, similar to the highest half of the jacket, however had this extraordinarily advanced silhouette.

Alexander McQueen actually does stuff that works for me. It's playful, however conventional. Not simply the Grammys go well with, however there have additionally been different situations. I wore a floral go well with for Jimmy Kimmel Dwell! final summer time – that was wonderful. It simply works for me. It nails that center floor of being on the market, however remaining stripped again. 

I look again at sure pairs of denims or sneakers and simply go, “What was I considering?” Quite a lot of my early profession is peppered with style errors – loads of my press seems from again in, like, 2005 particularly. However it felt proper on the time. And that's the factor about style. You're in that second and also you're embracing that second. And you might be who you might be in that second. And you might look again ten years later and be like, “What was I considering?”, however on the time it made sense to who you have been.

Because the starting of my profession I've seen style in music change. What males are carrying has modified for the higher. It's extra gender-fluid. It's extra vibrant. It's much more spectacular. Through the early a part of my profession folks have been taking fewer dangers. I really feel like now individuals are embracing being a little bit extra dangerous with what they put on, which is a lot extra attention-grabbing. Issues have been getting boring.

I attempt to keep away from utilizing present artists as style inspiration. I really feel prefer it's higher to return and take a look at the artists that I grew up or different references from the previous. I don't wish to do the identical factor as anybody else within the sport proper now – I'll depart that to them.

Harry Kinds, Kanye West and Pharrell have all acquired their very own factor happening. You’ll be able to actually see and respect their model as their very own. I like what every of them is doing. Would I copy? No.

I've labored with my stylist, Dave Thomas, since 2008. We coordinate on every part collectively. We even labored collectively on the current Sperry collaboration, simply in order that my voice got here by way of and it got here from a real place. He is aware of my model and what I like extraordinarily nicely.

Quite a lot of thought goes into my tour outfits. Dave Thomas and I meet with the inventive group, who’re often designing all the opposite stage points. We wish to be sure that every part flows and appears good collectively. We would like style to be part of the story that we're telling the viewers, so issues have to be the best color to suit the temper.

I beloved carrying Paul Smith on my Christmas tour a couple of years again. I like Paul and we've labored collectively rather a lot through the years – he's at all times so accommodating. I wore an aqua go well with and in addition wore a scarlet one. We have been going with a type of mid-century look and, as I used to be singing conventional Christmas songs, it labored. I used to be channelling Nat King Cole, however with a little bit extra pop.

Rising up there have been two model narratives influencing my model. On the one hand you had the city streetwear motion happening and on the opposite you had the preppy factor, which was dominated by manufacturers similar to Tommy Hilfiger after I was in highschool.

I desire my understated music movies. My favorite music movies I've executed have at all times been those the place I'm not too dressed up. I like my outfit to look part of the story, however not turn into the one story. Typically it is sensible that the style is extra of a lead character within the story, however loads of the time my music movies have been ones the place the narrative is on romance, love and human connection, so that you don't need that to be overshadowed by what I'm carrying.

Outkast's “Hey Ya!” was such a breath of recent air. The music video was so totally different to something we'd ever been given. It was so recent: what the blokes wore was not like something we'd actually seen earlier than in music or past. It was model new and it was just like the trade hit the refresh button after seeing that. Folks began to essentially make an effort. It was a cultural shift.

John Legend's Sperry collaboration is out now. sperrytopsider.co.uk

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