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MTV was born 20 years
ago this month with the now legendary airing of "Video Killed the
Radio Star." In the last two decades, the Buggles' tune has certainly
proved prophetic. But what that British band, and even MTV execs,
couldn't predict was that video would at the same time breathe life
into the world of fashion.
MTV redefined the concept of style trends, bringing an immediacy
to fashion that even the most dedicated fashionistas had never before
experienced. Just consider the frequent metamorphoses of Madonna.
Only in the MTV age can a copycat population so quickly jump from
virginal lace to black corsets to rhinestone-studded cowboy hats.
Would the nation have donned a single white glove and a red leather
jacket if we hadn't seen Michael Jackson's "Thriller" on screen?
Probably not. Would the flannels and long underwear of anti-fashion
grunge group Nirvana have permeated suburban malls? Certainly not.
More recently, Gwen Stefani's bindi and Britney Spears' schoolgirl
ensemble spread like wildfire after their videos hit the airwaves.
MTV, perhaps unwittingly, made its first foray into fashion with
the debut Video Music Awards ceremony in 1984. Sporting a lacy wedding
dress, Madonna writhed on stage and into our fashion consciousness
forever. The Video Music Awards have been a showcase for fashion,
usually of the outrageous variety, ever since.
The network's first official nod to the world of fashion came when
the "Addicted to Style" segment premièred during "MTV News" in 1986.
Three years later, "House of Style," hosted by supermodel Cindy
Crawford, was an instant hit. The series on fashion went behind
the scenes at runway shows and interviewed models. Suddenly, designers
like Todd Oldham, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Dolce & Gabbana were household
names. Catwalkers Shalom Harlow and Amber Valetta took over the
program in 1996; Daisy Fuentes ousted them the next year; and last
year Molly Sims took the reigns as the "Style" hostess with the
most-ess.
It follows that MTV's next step would be to stage its own fashion
show, mixed with a heavy dose of rock 'n' roll of course. The network
filmed its first "Fashionably Loud" show during New York's autumn
1995 fashion week. The program has hit cities around the globe in
the six years since.
Now, in the latest development in the marriage of music and fashion,
MTV video stars have started launching their own clothing lines.
Jennifer Lopez has created a J.Lo collection, Puff Daddy's Sean
John line brought in $100 million last year and rapper Sisqo has
just announced his upcoming "Dragon Collection." Busta Rhymes, Russell
Simmons, Jay-Z, and Chris Kirkpatrick have also lent their names
to clothing lines. Ghetto fabulous Lil' Kim is also said to be nearing
completion of her debut swimwear line. No prizes for guessing how
racy these pieces will be...
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