Drew TewksburyAmerican Apparel is the company that everyone loves to hate. Yeah, yeah, they're always under scrutiny for something or other and lately, they've been struggling to survive due to mismanagement and over-expansion. But L.A. needs jobs, and American Apparel employs a lot of people in the city's mostly evaporated garment industry. So maybe enlisting musicians as models and creative directors will bring attention back to the declining brand? With the recent announcement of Will.i.Am's new gig as “director of creative innovation” at Intel and Lady Gaga's collaboration with Polaroid, we were thinking of musicians who could help keep American Apparel alive. Here are 10 musicians that could moonlight as American Apparel Creative Directors (or models):
10. Alaina Moore – Tennis
Tennis' Alaina Moore epitomizes the recent trend of American Apparel's turn towards prepster aesthetic. Her yacht rock aesthetic may have been gleaned from her eight months sailing the world with her husband and bandmate Patrick Riley. Ahoy!
9. Zola Jesus
Zola Jesus is shaping up to be the goth Lady Gaga, with her amalgamation of Siouxie Sioux angst with subtle pop sensibilities. Her style follows suit, and as American Apparel's creative director, perhaps she could help them grab a bit of that Hot Topic market. Mope mope mope.
8. Santi White
Although she's been off the radar as of late, we still love Santi White. She's crackles with creative energy and a DIY fashion flair that could help keep American Apparel afloat. Not to mention her seeming insatiable appetite for neon sunglasses, which would at least help boost sales.
7. Earl Sweatshirt – Odd Future
They're not even old enough to drink, but Odd Future's tidal wave of hype has gotten critics drunk from the possibilities of this absurd and awesome hip hop outfit. If one member of these crazy yougin'z should be the face of the brand, we think it should be Earl Sweatshirt. And he could even change his name to reflect current trends like Earl “Unisex Flex Fleece Zip Hoody” Sweatshirt.
6. Patrick Wolf
The U.K. based baroque electro popster Patrick Wolf has a style all his own, and as an American Apparel spokesperson or model, he could keep the brand as cutting edge as his ever changing look. Now that Wolf is engaged to his boyfriend perhaps he can settle down as a married man and enjoy the simple things in life, like salvaging a tanking company.
5. Rye Rye
M.I.A. pretty much started the whole neon legging, Nylon-Magazine-exploded-on-me look, but her protege Rye Rye could take up her cause now that the formerly edgy popstar has virtually retired to Beverly Hills.
4. Robyn
American Apparel's could use some more Robyn in their operation. With Robyn at the helm as creative director could push the brand back to the razors edge. She's somehow simultaneously earned both pop and indie cred, creating a crossover that didn't sacrifice her art while making a couple of bucks. If anyone could streamline American Apparel, it would have to be a Swede.
3. Piper Kaplan – Puro Instinct
Puro Instinct's breezy, wafting pop sounds summery all year round, and vocalist Piper Kaplan is at the forefront of it all. The former pizza shack employee has that girl-next-door (that you see through binoculars from your bedroom window) look that American Apparel emblazons on billboards everywhere.
2. Tearist – Yasmine Kittles
IN LUST from Eric Wareheim on Vimeo.
If leotard consumption was a crime, Yasmine Kittles would be locked up for sure. The Tearist front lady and WCS-fave is seldom seen without some sort of legging/unitard/leotard/Reatard (doesn't exist, but we love u Jay!) combination. If you have any doubts of her American Apparelness, I present to you Exhibit A: Eric Wareheim's video for Tearist's “In Lust.”
1. MNDR – Amanda Warner
Finding MNDR's Amanda Warner in a Brooklyn crowd would be harder than a one-eyed pirate finding Waldo while on a quaalude bender. She's so American Apparel-y that it hurts. Hopefully she can hook up with company to provide her with an neverending supply of oversized spectacles.
Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.