Regina Spektor - Classic take on Pop meets a Stylish take on the Classics

Written by Sonia Almanza de Gambaro on Tuesday, 19 May 2009 21:24

The opening strains of melody pouring out of an enormous grand piano arrests the attention of the chatting audience, just in time for the first model’s presence to slay their senses. Donning a granite boiled cashmere jacket with a cross fox collar, belted in dark brown alligator over an amethyst jacquard skirt and paired with suede boots, she walks to the warm Björk esqe vocals of Regina Spektor; the tone is set for yet another amazing collection from Oscar de la Renta. Pairing music with fashion is akin to pairing wine with food. A wine’s properties should accentuate the flavors of an entrée in a subtle manner yet stand on its own tastefully. In the case of music for fashion, a song should dramatize the look of a collection and evoke the emotions which the designer seeks to stimulate, yet stand on its own artistically. This is evident in de la Renta’s choice to have Spektor play live for his fall 2008 Prêt-à-Porter show. The classically trained Spektor adeptly blends her unique and, at times, peculiar melodies over spirited piano playing that ranges from bright and vivacious to dark and melodramatic. Her sound is at the same time classic and unique. Perhaps I prematurely compared her vocal styling to Björk in an attempt to classify her; she could be compared even to Tori Amos for her honesty but truly Miss Spektor is her own artist, she has her own sound. In a way she possesses a freedom in her writing and courageous vocal melodies that is reminiscent on an early Joni Mitchell. It is this quality that makes me like her very much. At the Oscar de la Renta show, the models practically pranced along the catwalk to Spektor’s ecstatic ballad Us, although the clothes were dark in color, the energy of the song was bright (Imagine skipping through falling autumn leaves with a lover - looking impossibly chic in de la Renta of course). Through the rest of the show these magical pairings continued to delight the audience. As the music changed from the deep tones and dynamic crescendos of Après moi to the staccato harmonies of the melancholy Fidelity; the clothes transitioned from straight-legged slacks and ruffled blouses to even more gorgeous dresses and coats. Just as the imaginative Oscar de la Renta is famous for giving fashion classics his own idiosyncratic slant; Regina Spektor gives an exhilarating twist to an otherwise classic sound.
-Sonia Almanza de Gambaro

http://www.reginaspektor.com/

Regina Specktor