Fashion collaborations are a lot like pizza toppings. Get the ingredients right, and you're on a one-bite wonder to tastebud nirvana, where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Get it wrong and it's a seafood-meets-pineapple mess.
The past decade was in part defined as the era of the fashion collaboration, from the good (Karl Lagerfeld/Alexander Wang/Kenzo x H&M; Christian Lacroix x Dries Van Noten) to the not so good (Jean Paul Gaultier for Target – I still have nightmares about that breton-striped cheeseboard. Ick).
Elton John approved the designs by Australian label Rèalisation Par.Credit:Rick Clifford
In recapping the 14 collaborations that mattered in the 2010s, Brooke Bobb wrote for Vogue that collaborations, sometimes through the partnering of high-end and utilitarian brands (Off_White's Virgil Abloh with Evian or IKEA, for example) often "blurred the classic definition of luxury".
"It’s easy for insiders to get cynical about collabs, to feel like they’re designed to trick us into thinking that a sneaker or a hoodie is more desirable by the mere fact that it has an 'X' on its label," Bobb wrote. "The partnerships that are meaningful are the ones that surprise us, the ones with purpose: They may shine a light on a young artist, repurpose used garments, or support humanitarian causes."
The collection features pieces named after Elton John songs, including the Levon dress.
One such "surprise" collaboration to launch this month is between cult Australian label Rèalisation Par (the brand responsible for the leopard print midi-skirt that led the '90s fashion revival in 2018) and music icon Elton John. Huh? Indeed, that was also my first reaction.
The brand's co-founders Teale Talbot and Alexandra Spencer said a conversation with a friend who works at Universal Music planted the seed for a collection to mark Sir Elton's farewell tour, which is still on its Australian leg for another few weeks.
Notwithstanding the fact the Rocket Man himself had previously only collaborated with luxury powerhouse Gucci, the Australian duo decided to give it a go.
"We thought it might be a long shot but we slipped him a note and the rest is history," Talbot says. "Alexandra and I are very big fans … I even named my dog Rocket after [the song Rocket Man]."
The collection comprises 14 pieces, each one inspired by a different Elton John song. There's the Sacrifice dress, the Tiny Dancer slip and, not surprisingly, the Rocket Man jumpsuit.
"We went quite abstract with our interpretation of Elton and his music rather than literally being inspired by his costumes," Talbot says. "We really wanted to blend Rèalisation's signature aesthetic and pay homage to Elton through prints, fabric and colours rather than silhouettes."
Although the singer and designers didn't have any direct contact during the process, Sir Elton personally approved the final designs and Talbot and Spencer, who are now based in Los Angeles, were granted access to his immense archive of accessories and props for the campaign shoot.
"His team were really great and let us try on all of his jackets and props," Talbot says. "We had a minder fly to LA with a bunch of Elton's shoes, hats, sunglasses and other accessories which where used and styled throughout the shoot."
As for other collaborations we have to look forward to in 2020, Rihanna and Adam Selman are teaming up, while Adidas is teaming up on separate projects with Beyonce's Ivy Park and Prada. And, of course, there's the next instalment of H&M's series, this time with Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz that's due to drop in March. And, in a nice Australian tie-in, the campaign features none other than Perth-born model Jessica Gomes.
Get the look
American Vintage at Order of Style, $300Credit:orderofstyle.com
Réalisation Par, $102 (approx)Credit:realisationpar.com
Current/Elliott at Order of Style, $378Credit:orderofstyle.com
Réalisation Par, $267 (approx)Credit:realisationpar.com
Sandro Paris, $390Credit:sandro-paris.com.au
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