While this doesn't read like one of our regular blogs, we recently got a chance to speak to Jeffrey Bryant, Duran Duran's amazing "wardrobe guy" who travels with the band on tour. Below is his take on the band's new stage clothes for the "All You Need is Now" tour!
IT STARTED WITH A "JARCKET"!
DURING THE US SPRING TOUR, NICK CONSTANTLY WORE A BLACK DINNER JACKET WITH A BLACK GLITTER COLLAR BY ANTONY PRICE FOR TOPMAN. THEN SIMON GOT ONE WITH A SILVER RIPPLE EFFECT COLLAR. NICK THEN ASKED ANTONY TO MAKE SOME SPECIAL ITEMS FOR THE TOUR.
FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF THE TOUR I WAS CONSTANTLY ON THE PHONE BACK TO THE UK,CONVEYING REQUESTS FROM THE BAND. MY PHONE BILL WAS REALLY HIGH....
ON RETURNING, I THEN SPENT TWO WEEKS SEARCHING ALL THE FABRIC STORES LOOKING FOR CLOTH FOR OTHER STAGE CLOTHES.SIMON HIMSELF FOUND THE RED AND BLACK LAME THAT HIS "OPENING" JACKET IS MADE OUT OF. IT REFLECTS LIGHT BEAUTIFULLY, AND CHANGES SHADE DEPENDING ON THE LIGHTING, BUT IT'S VERY ROUGH AND SCRATCHY TO TOUCH. THE JACKET TOOK TWO AND A HALF WEEKS TO MAKE AND WORK OUT THE PATTERN.
SIMON ALSO WORE A SNAKESKIN SHIRT THAT I MADE. IT'S POLYESTER, BUT SOME JOURNALIST IN LAS VEGAS SAID IT WAS LEATHER (IT ISN'T). IT'S REALLY COMFORTABLE TO WEAR ON STAGE, THAT'S WHY HE WEARS IT EVERY SHOW.
I AM DOING TWO OTHERS WITH FABRIC WE BOUGHT WHILE IN NYC.
ROGER HAD TROUSERS MADE WITH A RED STRIPE DOWN THE SIDE AND A MATCHING WAISTCOAT. HOWEVER, THE DESIGN WAS A BIT TOO MUCH, SO WE ARE HAVING IT TONED DOWN. THE WAISTCOAT CAME IN TWO LAYERS AND I UNPICKED THE PIECES, WHICH TOOK TWO DAYS BECAUSE THE STITCHES WERE SO SMALL AND FINE.
NICK HAD A BLACK LAME SUIT,WITH THE POCKETS LINED IN RED SATIN.HE ALSO HAS A PLAIN BLACK VERSION THAT HE HAS YET TO WEAR - WE MAY SEE IT ON THE UK TOUR!
JT HAD A JACKET MADE OF LEATHER, BUT ACTUALLY HAS A SNAKESKIN PATTERN PRINTED ON IT. HE ALSO HAS A BLACK LEATHER PAIR OF MOTOR BIKE PANTS ON THE WAY. FOR THE UK TOUR WE HAVE MORE PIECES BEING MADE.
TO RECAP FOR THE READERS:
THE ANTONY PRICE CLOTHES ARE SIMON'S RED & BLACK JACKET, JOHN'S SHINY BLACK LEATHER JACKET, NICK'S SHINY BLACK LAME SUIT AND ROGER'S PANTS WITH SIDE STRIPES.
ANTONY PRICE AT SIXTY FIVE YEARS OLD STILL MANAGES TO PRODUCE STARTLINGLY ORIGINAL DESIGNS.THE IDEAS HE CAME UP WITH WERE UNLIKE ANY THING I HAVE SEEN ON RECENT CATWALKS,TOTAL FASHION GENIUS. THREE LITTLE WORDS: FAB-OOO-LUS.
FOR THE UK AND EUROPEAN DATES THERE WILL BE MORE BECAUSE MY RECENT PHONE BILL WAS HUUUUUGGGEEE !!!!!!!
(photos below of Simon's Jacket, Snakeskin shirt and band photo featuring Roger's pants)
