Picking just the right tunes for the fashion show (or all the right duds)

When it comes to fashion shows, it ain’t gonna work without the clothes, hello! 

It’s important to ensure that the clothes your models will be donning will mesh well with your chosen playlist, and never clash, according to an article on the topic from a 2018 Yummy Sounds article. 

This is true whether you have a new line from a picky designer who wants everything as he or she has envisioned it to make an appearance at least once during the show, or you’ve been given carte blanche, it’s up to you to choose a set of appropriate tunes that will accent the clothes in perfection-like ways.

But the flip side is also true. If the headliner of the fashion show is really the musician, then it’s up to you to select the best outfits for his or her swanky brand of electronica, high-energy synth-pop, or just plain old basic top 40 hits. 

Here are a few tips that will help you find matches made in heaven between duds and songs, songs and duds, and send your fashion show into the stratosphere.

When You Have to Match the Music to the Clothes

Arguably the easier of the two tasks is selecting what sounds best represent the overall feel of the clothes worn by models in the fashion show. This is true for individual tracks that just seem to meld well with a certain outdoor, breezy look, or even just the right chorus with the right pair of shoes, the ones you happen to know as “music stylist” will be worn midway through the show on model six.  

But don’t let the fact that there’s more or less a template for music that gets played at fashion shows turn you lazy. 

No one wants to sit through yet another boring fashion show with lots of fabulous clothes that are ruined by a boring rehash of the latest ho-hum remixes of the most popular songs from movies and TV.

Don’t stray too far from the mainstream, and definitely keep the mood uptempo and probably within the techno realm, but try to do some digging and be creative with your song choices. 

Do you see on the racks of clothes planned for the models to wear an updated version of a poodle skirt, the same heavy poof encircling the model but slightly less poofy, combined with a classy top that blends 1950s nostalgia with highbrow clubwear and accessories and piercings?

If so, try to search whatever music library you’re given access to for an upbeat and jazzy song that is slightly reminiscent of a beatnik couple, then mixed up with faster beats by a popular artist who’s at least broken into the Billboard Hot 100 Tracks by the time the show goes on.

If all you’re seeing is stiletto heels paired with outlandish yet reserved dark blouses for a look that’s very “business chic,” go conservative, and play something safer by an established artist like Britney Spears, even if it’s slightly dated (and stay high tempo!). 

If you take the time to pair the look the model embodies with a song that sings her story, It will give the outfit and the model wearing it an extra kick and boost when they head down the catwalk, they will shine like crazy, and you’ll be a secret crowd-pleaser in no time for whatever show you are planning. 

If you’re not sure, check with the designer if you’re lucky enough to have access, or ask the model’s opinion. Don’t be afraid to experiment during rehearsals with different songs for different outfits, and take notes upon notes upon notes until you’ve come up with all the right tunes for the clothes.

Then, when you have the whole list of songs (make sure the versions are all right) burn it all on a CD or make sure the flash drive has all the MP3 files in the right order, wait for showtime, and hit play. The rest of the show will evolve exactly as though you planned it that way. 

When You Gotta Pick the Right Clothes for Pre-planned Songlists

If you have a music playlist given to you on a CD or flash drive 45 minutes before the lights start spinning and the models start walking, the name of the game is going to be a little different. 

It’s going to be all about finding the right outfits that will accentuate the music that will be heard and clothes that go with the predominant genre of the show’s playlist. 

In this case, what will be most important is that you first take the time to listen to every track planned for the show several times straight through beforehand. 

Get to know each song; how it makes you feel, what colors you see when you close your eyes, are they light or dark, are the lines chaotic or clean, and whether a song makes you think of days gone by, or if the mood of the track slings you far into the future. 

When you know all the tracks by heart, write them all down on paper. 

Then, going one by one, play the tracks and as you listen again, raid the clothing and prop closet, and make your selections for each piece of music like you’re choosing the perfect gown for the bride.

 It’s maybe easier when you’re faced with the job of having a tracklist and lots of clothes to pair them with because it’s easier to mix and match clothes than music unless you’re a tech geek! 

Just like before, get second opinions, even if it’s just from the setup boys or the camera crew. 

Take the task of selecting the right outfit to pair with just the right song very seriously, and when the lights go down, you’ll have a hit show on your hands for sure that will knock it out of the park.