Do DJs Actually Know Anything About Fashion?

We live in a world that is utterly fixated on trends, and with the passing of every minute, someone's Next Big Thing fades into obscurity. We watch flash-in-the-pan fads cycle in and out every where we look, from web digs like Doge, Nyan Cat, or Self-Aware Roomba, to retro style recuperations like ten-gallon hats and skinny ties, to news stories about crazy things kids do these days—Snapchat selfies, lethal games of Knockout, or wine enemas (please, never, ever, do that).

Dance music especially is susceptible to the fickle whims of the market, and every time we blink there's a new subgenre creeping up the Beatport charts. DJs, producers, radio hosts and artists are the trendcasters of our generation—walking, talking, crystal balls that will supposedly reveal to us our Next Big Genre.

If these people are trusted to spot the hottest new moves in music, does it then follow that we trust them in other stylistic arenas? Like, fashion for example?

Well, seeing that it's the final days of Fashion Week here in New York City I deemed it an appropriate time to shine a light on some DJs who have had their time under the fashion spotlight, or more appropriately, on the runway.

Ryan Hemsworth:

You might be surprised to see indie producer Ryan Hemsworth appearing on billboards and bus stops around the streets of major metropolitan cities (and in glossy magazine pages). But if you do a little digging, you'll see that the Converse CONS project Ryan is a part of couldn't be more fitting. This is a series of global projects and workshops that hope to inspire and teach students who find their creative outlets in music. Ryan sure does make wearing a plain grey hoodie look easy!

Dillon Francis:

Mr. Francis seems to be everywhere these days. From providing the audio for Super Bowl commercials, to having his infamous Instagram account with a slew of personas like DJ Hanzel (so hot right now, Hanzel), to finding himself in the pages of magazines like Rolling Stone where he has appeared as a model for Ray-Ban. In addition to his affinity for trap rhythms and raucous comedy, Dillon has often been known as quite the fashionisto, seen around town sporting a dapper pompadour and a sharp suit or two. We all know that nothing compliments swagger like a pair of Ray-Ban specs. My money's on DJ Snake or Carnage for the next trap fashionisto.

Avicii:

While certain DJs might seem like unlikely entries into fashion's inner circle, the flaxen-haired Swedish super star Avicii was just waiting for his inevitable time to shine under the lights. And if you know anything about Timmy you know that he almost only wears plaid flannel shirts. Enter Polo Ralph Lauren, an outlet universally known for… plaid and flannel. It didn't take long for these two mammoth brands to intersect and form the world's first Swedo-flannel superpower. Avicii flexed his fashion muscle in some videos and print advertisements for Denim & Supply, Ralph Lauren's fall campaign a couple years back. "Most days you can find me in jeans and a flannel shirt, so to me, Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren fits my lifestyle and aesthetic." Yawn. Can you please wake me up when we get there? No pun intended.

What's New York Fashion Week without DJs there to provide the soundtrack? Another memorable moment was when NYC house duo, The Martinez Brothers, provided the beats to a show put on by Givenchy. Nothing compliments a strange showing inside some sort of makeshift basketball court like some smooth deep house jammies.

David hopes that this article might allow him to be one of the first electronic music writer/hand model. But he isn't counting on it.  @DLGarber