A History of Hedi Slimane's Photography Collaborations with Musicians

The explosive combination of music and high fashion.

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Complex Original

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Tunisian-Italian, French-born fashion designer and photographer Hedi Slimane has had quite a storied career. Though in his early life he aspired to be a journalist, he found himself, at just 28 years old, as the ready-to-wear director of acme design house Yves Saint Laurent. His ascension continued from there when he was named creative director of Dior Homme in 2000. Ever inspired by music, he had 200 speakers installed in the ceiling of the atelier. His focus on music has become so broad and intertwined with his other concentrations, it's almost too difficult to keep track of every musician he's photographed, clothed, or commissioned. His declaration that "fashion = music + youth + sex" adds to the reasoning behind most of what he’s done as a designer. He’s been granted a seemingly unlimited access to whatever musician currently suits his fancy. With that in mind, we bring you A History of Hedi Slimane's Photography Collaborations with Musicians.

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Saint Laurent Menswear Runway Shows

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Jack White

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California Song

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13. California Song

Slimane relocated to California to concentrate on his photography in 2007 following a series of failed contract re-negotiations with Dior. It was there that he started photographing musicians and bands in the area, including Christopher Owens of Girls, Local Natives, Best Coast, and more. The result was an exhibition at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art. This included an original soundtrack by L.A. experimental punk duo No Age on a specifically-designed speaker system, billboards around the city of Slimane's photographs, and a book in 2011.

Hedi Slimane California Song from Commonwealth Projects on Vimeo.

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Pete Doherty

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Lady Gaga

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Razorlight

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10. Razorlight

Said to be Slimane's strongest moment of his tenure as Menswear Director at Dior, the August/Winter 2005 collection was a smattering of rock 'n' roll chic. For the runway show, Slimane commissioned indie rockers Razorlight to compose an exclusive track. The result was "In The Morning," a slushy, rambling ode to rock 'n' roll nights—a perfect companion and a high point for both the now-defunct band and the Dior-departed Slimane.

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Phoenix

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9. Phoenix

As part of his ongoing Rock Diary, Slimane documented French rockers Phoenix in the studio in 2011, on the run-up to their new album Bankrupt! He'd previously commissioned the group to do the soundtrack for his 2005 Winter runway show (below). As one of the best-dressed rock bands out there, we're almost positive Phoenix has worn a Slimane design or two.

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Beck

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8. Beck

Slimane and Beck have a partnership that goes back years now. In 2010, Beck recorded the sound of Slimane's two Triple Black Rolls Royce models as part of a photoshoot the Slimane did of the cars that he's so fond of. Beck also starred in the ads for Yves Saint Laurent's spring-summer 2013 line, with his billowing "Paper Tiger" as the soundtrack for the video version. Slimane has photographed Beck numerous times since then.

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Saint Laurent Paris

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Mick Jagger

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These New Puritans

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5. These New Puritans

For Slimane's 2007 Autumn/Winter collection titled "Navigate Runaway," the designer commissioned London-based art-rockers These New Puritans to create the soundtrack. The result was "Navigate, Navigate," a stunning and subtly-shifting track of rock clangor. 

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Franz Ferdinand

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Madonna

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Daft Punk

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David Bowie

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