The Lanvin Spring-Summer 2017 runway presentation marks Bouchra Jarrar’s first show and second collection for the French fashion house, as well as reminds us that her eponymous label has now had...
Wilbert talks to artist and designer Taz Arnold about how to dress when you're a Freaky Bitch
It's so lame when you go to a fashion site and they have features like "What to Wear to Work" or "How to Dress When You Meet Your BF/GF's Parents." Who even has jobs or long term relationships anymore? Don't let those losers dumb your life down into cookie cutter scenarios. You're much more of an individual. You have crazy unique experiences, like the time you went to a gay strip club with your first grade teacher and he bought you a lap dance or that other time you tongue-kissed your cousin in church just to find out if the intense level of sin would make you both disintegrate into dogma dust. And during both of those incredibly weird and strange happenings, didn't you wish you had worn a better outfit? Well, this column is here to solve your super obscure and strange fashion needs with the help of really famous or, at the very least, really cool people's advice.
For the inaugural "What to Wear When," I tapped Taz Arnold. Taz is a regular renaissance man, constantly creating in so many mediums it's kind of impossible to keep up. He's known by most as a member of Sa-Ra Creative Partners, the hip-hop group and production powerhouse that has crafted beats for legends like Jay-Z and Dr. Dre, and released their own stellar albums. He's also a street fashion maven, running his own label Tisa, which helped spawn the current snap-back craze and has turned out an incredible collaborative collection with luxury leather brand MCM. Right now he's focusing on growing his vintage Ralph Lauren-inspired El Americans fashion label—in the 90s Taz was a well known Ralph Lauren enthusiast and booster.
Taz just dropped his first solo LP, Rad America, which features the sexy single "Freaky Bitch." Excited about the prospect of being a freaky bitch myself, I wondered what does one wear when they get into freaky bitch mode? And so started my hypothetical discussion on what to wear when, with Taz Arnold.
Wilbert L. Cooper: So, there's a huge party being thrown by Twelv Magazine for Obama's second inauguration ceremony and I get invited. I'm bringing ethiopian model Liya Kebede as my date, and I want to look like your music sounds—completely "Freaky Bitch." What should I have on?
Taz Arnold: I would suggest a tuxedo, a really a fitted tuxedo. One that is on some James Bond or Peter Gabriel type shit—very sophisticated and chic.
How would you accessorize it?
Everything would have to be understated with gold accents. But maybe blow them away with some gold shoes.
OK, and what about my girl Liya Kebede? Given her profession, I imagine she's well versed in the ways of the "Freaky Bitch."
The lady might wear some lingerie and a garter belt with a longer trench coat on top and some heels. That's the kind of outfit that you can get crazy with really quick. It definitely promotes some freaky scenarios without being too risqué.
What kind of lingerie?
Anything that has some French lace. It could have a little black or red satin. No brand in particular, though. Whatever is her favorite. The more time she puts into it, the more freaky it will be—and the more effective. And she can still wear a very nice trench coat and very nice shoes to offset the sexy.
Was there ever a tuxedo that you wore that really made you feel like you were a freaky bitch?
I produced a song with my group Sa-Ra that has everybody on it; Kanye West, Bentley Farnsworth, Andre 3000. We are all in the video wearing these Hugo Boss tuxedos. I'm not too into Hugo, but there was something about these particular tuxedos that was special. It might have been the way we had them altered.
What'd you do to them?
We went to the tailor and had them fitted like we were in the 60s with the flooded pant legs that let people see our socks. I felt like I was David Ruffin from the Temptations. It was the first time I'd ever worn a tuxedo and it really helped change my perspective on formal dressing.
How so?
I could see how a well cultured man back in the day with his mind focused on being successful in business or trying to look sharp for the ladies would wear clothes like that regularly. It represents a certain classiness that people don't have as much today. It's great too because with the pants up about a half inch higher than they would regularly be, you get that sleek effect. None of that baggy stuff. People didn't wear that back in the 50s and 60s.
A Twelv party is where I want to look like a freaky bitch. How about you? What's your ideal place to really express yourself through your clothes?
Paris. It's kind of corny because a lot of rappers are talking about Paris right now, but its true. I really love that city, it's so romantic.
Any event in particular?
Paris during Fashion Week, where everyone is just enjoying each other's fashion and style.
Yeah, people still talk about the leopard print pants you wore to Fashion Week years ago when you were hanging with Kanye. They even spoofed that outfit in South Park! You definitely had your freak bitch swag on there. Moving on to scents, what kind of fragrances might you use to complete the whole package?
I really like Bond Street Cologne. But when I want to step it up, I like to use some oils from India or maybe Malaysia. Oils like that can run you up to $400 for one bottle. But it's worth it, because the right scent can send a girl who's not really thinking about you way into her favor.
Really? Any experiences with that?
Definitely. I was hanging out with a chick, she lived in Clinton Heights. I was just stopping by to see her house. We were both attracted to each other, but it wasn't a pending situation of us having sex.
And you had on the oils?
Yeah, and every time I would sit next to her she would move away. I thought I had done something wrong. She wouldn't even let me get close enough to her to talk. And I didn't want to be yelling in her apartment. I asked what was up and she was like, "Uhhh, you smell really good." So, I kind of cornered her and was like, "I think you're moving around too much."
And the rest is history… Thanks for the tips Taz! Those oils are on my shopping list. I'm trying to get my freaky bitch on ASAP.
Listen to Taz's new album Rad American below:
http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2012/03/08/tia-taz-arnold-rad-america-mixtape/
Wilbert L. Cooper is an assistant editor at VICE Magazine. He loves his job and Morris Day and the Time. Follow him on Twitter: @WilbertLCooper
edited by Jessica Appelstein
related posts
SAINT LAURENTS PFW S/S2017 READY-TO-WEAR
The Spring-Summer 2017 Saint Laurent collection was certainly a finger-tapping moment of anticipation for the French luxury house, as well as for the devoted Saint Laurent following that has been...
CHROME HEARTS FOR THE WEEKEND'S ‘STARBOY’ COVER
After the release of THE WEEKND’s Beauty Behind the Madness, fans are impatiently awaiting his next big move.
DSQUARED2 FASHION STORY "DSQUARED2"
FASHION STORY “DSQUARED2" is now available!
Check inside for the Full Page Editorial.
Marc Jacobs NYFW S/S2017 ready-to-wear
At Marc Jacobs, the hemlines keep rising and so do the platforms.
YIGAL AZROUËL NYFW S/S2017 READY-TO-WEAR
Layers. Embroideries. Details.
TWELV MAGAZINE NYFW PARTY @M1-5LOUNGE
Find and enjoy more photos on TWELV Facebook
HELMUT LANG FASHION STORY "MY SIDE OF THE STREET"
FASHION STORY “MY SIDE OF THE STREET” is now available!
Check inside for the Full Page Editorial.
Erin Fetherston NYFW S/S2017 READY-TO-WEAR
The Spring-Summer 2017 collection was a markedly important season for Erin Fetherston, serving not only as her 10th Anniversary New York Fashion Week, but also as her first...
KENZO WORLD THE NEW FRAGRANCE VIDEO by Spike Jonze
Formed by Creative Directors Carol Lim and Humberto Leon, KENZO Parfums unveils Kenzo World – the first feminine fragrance that “alludes to the force of the third eye and to spiritual protection...
CHRISTIAN SIRIANO NYFW S/S2017 Ready-to-Wear
An appraisal of the designs from Christian Siriano’s spring 2017 show would deem his work otherworldly.
Louis Vuitton Unveils New Fragrance Collection "Les Parfums"
The roles we assume each day, whether it’s being a powerful attorney, a fashion editor, or homemaker are all accompanied by their own specifics.
EYEGASM WORTHY GLASSES TO ACCESSORIZE YOUR B*TCH FACE
UNIQUE SILHOUETTE SUNGLASSES
Lodovico Zordanazzo STORY
Lodovico Zordanazzo is an Italian man with a London soul. Italy is where he was born but London is where he gave birth to his own namesake line of footwear.
TIFFANY & CO. F/W2016 CAMPAIGN WITH Lupita Nyong'o and Elle Fanning
Tiffany & Co. unveiled its new fall 2016 campaign a few days ago, and for the first time in the brand history it features famous faces : Oscar®-winning actress...
GUCCI F/W2016 CAMPAIGN
Bubbles popping. Bells ringing. Buses honking. Alessandro Michele has done it again with Gucci’s autumn/winter 2016 campaign.
DJ BEC ADAMS FASHION STORY "NO LAPTOP NO PROBLEM"
DJ BEC ADAMS FASHION STORY "NO LAPTOP NO PROBLEM" is now available!
Check inside for the Full Page Editorial.
GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI F/W2016 CAMPAIGN
What do indie bands, crystal sandals, and Grace Hartzel have in common? Well, they are all featured in Giuseppe Zanotti’s latest dazzling ad campaign.
CHANEL F/W2016 eyewear X Willow Smith
After being crowned a Chanel ambassador and electrifying the steps of the Met Gala in a car coat and clamdiggers this year, the ever creative and always fierce, Willow Smith,...
Balmain F/W2016 Campaign: WOLVES by Kanye West
“From the moment I heard that song, I knew we had to use it for this campaign,” Olivier Rousteing proclaims.
Citizens of Humanity Fall Collection
Skinny, slouchy, or flared, a nice pair of denim jeans is a must in any fashionista’s wardrobe.
CHANEL F/W2016 HAUTE COUTURE COLLECTION
You can always count on Karl Lagerfeld to create some major intrigue! Just when you think you've seen it all, he shows it's only half time and that he remains a force to be reckoned with.
TWELV MAGAZINE PARTY "GEISHA ON FIRE @ M1-5 lounge"
Find and enjoy more photos on TWELV Facebook
VIKTOR & ROLF F/W2016 HAUTE COUTURE COLLECTION
Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren took a trip to the past to create an extraordinary new collection – all from previous collections.
TWELV MAGAZINE "TANABATA PARTY @LADUREE GARDEN & AFTER PARTY @HAPPY ENDING NYC"
Find and enjoy more photos on TWELV Facebook
JIL SANDER NAVY FASHION STORY "SWEET INTUITION"
FASHION STORY "SWEET INTUITION" is now available!
Check inside for the Full Page Editorial.
Louis Vuitton S/S2017 Mens Collection
Warm weather induces refined style, and Louis Vuitton returns with a line that’s not only refined, but avant-garde in its approach to incorporate a distinctive vision...
LINDER FASHION STORY "OUTSIDERS"
FASHION STORY “OUTSIDERS” is now available!
Check inside for the Full Page Editorial.
GUCCI "DIY" BAG
Gucci Introduces its New DIY (Do it Yourself) Handbag
RAINBOW FASHION WEEK JUNE17-24 2016
Rainbow Fashion Week (RFW) is taking over New York City for the third consecutive year, just in time for the pre-Pride events with “Eight Days of Queer Fashion Shows,” ...
Pat Cleveland "Walking with the Muses" BOOK Event By MAO PR
Pat Cleveland celebrated the launch of her new book "Walking With the Muses" last week at the Jane hotel.
CHANEL CRUISE COLLECTION 2017
Chanel flew in 700 people for its 2017 cruise collection in Havana on the island of Cuba.
TWELV MAGAZINE PARTY"ALL ABOUT IKEMEN LOVERS @TIKI TABU/SIXTY LES"
Find and enjoy more photos on TWELV Facebook
GUCCI CRUISE COLLECTION 2017
Not every brand is able to host a fashion show at Westminster Abbey, one of the most sacred churches in Britain.