Streetwear and Hiphop: A Look at the VS Launch
Words by Isobel Preece, Writer.
Last Wednesday night, VS Creatives invited us to The Vic to celebrate their REVIVAL launch party with them. The audience was greeted by a dimly lit interior, a runway outlined with neon red LED strips, and a DJ playing hip-hop music until the night began. The show began with a high energy performance with the dancers lined up on the runway, prior to the models trailing onto the runway one by one. Of the multiple statement looks that walked down the catwalk, the show stopper for the audience has to be Sam’s matching floral gilet and trousers.
What’s to come for VS22 is revealed by the three models I had time to speak to below:
How did you get involved in VS and why?
T: I’d heard about the fashion shows in St Andrews and looking into them VS definitely had what I was looking for, just a place to be able to express ourselves in an all-inclusive environment-so when I auditioned for VS I was very excited to be accepted and it’s been great ever since!
E: I got involved because of Sagar, he’s one of the founders alongside Dominic. If you haven’t met Sagar I’d describe him as very charismatic and chill, and I was like ‘these are the people I want to surround myself with’ so that’s why I joined VS.
R: I knew Sagar quite personally and I knew the organisation he created would follow all his values and it would just be a good time. I absolutely love streetwear- it’s what my style is, so I really resonate with that.
What does VS represent and what’s the theme of the show this year?
T: VS represents an all-inclusive place for everyone to express themselves in any way they want to. The theme is always streetwear, and this year Yasmin’s vision is very much her own vision. We actually haven’t heard much about the show-it’s as much of a surprise for us as the audience!
E: VS is a commentary of St Andrews’ streetwear community, we’re really trying to curate this narrative. The theme for this year I would say is expressionism.
R: It’s hip-hop and streetwear combined with the values of sustainability and inclusivity, at its core it’s just a celebration of this style.
What are you most looking forward to in the main show in Feb? What should the audience expect?
T: The main show is very exciting, there’s going to be tables, a sit down dinner and we’ve decided this year not to have any VIP levels-we’ve decided to make everyone a VIP.
E: The diversity of the outfits we’ll have, and the chemistry between the team-I love the team it’s a great group of people. I’m looking forward to the energy in the audience as well, it was so electrifying to be in the room yesterday.
R: I’m just looking forward to doing the show with all my fellow models and the team-a celebrating afterwards with all these people. It’s going to be very fast paced.
Can you describe the look you wore last night?
T: I wore an oversized blue statement varsity jacket, a blue mini skirt and knee high heeled snake skinned boots-I loved my outfit.
E: My look was a lover boy and cowboy outfit, I wore jeans and this very rustic midwestern jacket with threads coming out of the sides.
R: I wore cream, white and black Bershka high top shoes, as well as cargo shorts. And a beige jacket that had ‘GUESS’ printed on the back.
What was your favourite look and why?
T: Sam Robison was wearing very cool floral trousers and a matching gilet.
E: My favourite outfit would definitely be Sam Robinson’s, he had this two piece flower vest and pants combo going. It was very sexy.
R: It has to be Sam’s because he made the look for himself, as he was able to use his own clothes. The best part about it was that we were encouraged to use our own clothes, because the launch’s purpose was to present the models. So it allowed us to show our individuality, as well as wear streetwear items that looked VS.
Favourite current trend VS should jump on in the next show?
E: The oversized sweaters. The other day Kyle Kuzma, one of the basketball players, was wearing a very long flannel pink sweater. It’s streetwear meets a bit of high fashion-it would be cool if we could get that type of representation in the show.
R: One big thing is trying to pull a style with something that’s out of place in terms of colour, but also works. It’s like what you’re wearing, its’ all black and doesn’t all match, but this [scarf] is a very nice addition and brings colour as a finish to it. I really like that aspect of dressing up. You can both be in style and also wear an extra thing that looks out of place because the colour scheme doesn’t match. But it puts a bit of yourself in it, and gives you a small part of the outfit with more creativity to work with.
T: Shows, like Alexander Wang’s, that allows models to express themselves the way they want to without being forced into one model stereotype.
How does VS differ from the other fashion shows in St Andrews?
T: Definitely diversity, in the majority of other fashion shows models pretty much fit one stereotype and VS is very different about that and I love that about it.
E: It’s a lot more diverse in the terms of all the clothing. The range of fashion we do is a lot more realistic-the clothes we put on are the clothes you see other people wearing.
R: VS’s goal is to make it a VIP experience for everyone. It’s a single price ticket, so that it’s the same experience for all.
How would you describe last night’s launch in three words?
T: Hyped, energy, and statement.
E: Electric, gratifying and illustrious.
R: Immaculate, hype, and fuego.
What’s your dream runway?
T: Alexander Wang, it’s very different and doesn’t fit most other styles you see.
E: Dior, from what I heard they have a really cool community there and they have a very unique aesthetic to them. I’m gonna do it, it’s a matter of when not if at this point.
R: Fenty, because one of their shows involved hip-hop dancers.
Like streetwear, VS is expressive and bold and their launch party reflected as such. Through this launch VS has had a promising start and I can’t wait to see what their highly anticipated 2nd annual show has in store in February.