Hiding Away
Celebrity-level fame can do terrible things to people, and it is often the recognition element that sends the stars mad. Imagine never being able to walk down a street through fear of being mobbed or harassed for a selfie. It would be a total nightmare.
So, celebrities have come up with various ways to avoid this nightmarish scenario, and one simple yet effective solution is the art of disguise. Two famous artists immediately spring to mind: Sia & Daft Punk, both of whom have been hiding away for years.
Sia's refusal to show her face (even when performing) complements her quirky, eccentric style and is a firm part of her visual identity. She dresses up in outlandish, lavish costumes to take the focus off her face, and onto her haute couture. She then wears her hair firmly over her face to avoid any eye contact, just leaving her mouth visible so that she can either talk or perform. Often dressing very monochromatically, she loves black and white, and the weirder the style, the better.
Daft Punk have transcended humanity and have, in fact, become robots. When they first donned these robotic outfits, helemts included, it was the perfect style to match the electronic, new-age music that they were producing. Interestingly, they did it partly so that their fame and celebrity didn't distract listeners from the intricacies of their music, so the public almost believed these songs were coming from two anonymous people, and also because neither member gave two bananas about being famous. Ever since, they haven't looked back, and they continue to be an incognito duo. What's more, the mystery of their appearance matches the mystery of the band; a band who avoid social media, drop off the radar for a number of years and then suddenly tease fans at music festivals with snippets of new material, all totally out of the blue. It all adds up to the Daft Punk personality that everyone loves, and will continue to love for a long time.
So, two examples of great disguises, both pretty successful, and both of which are firmly rooted in the visual identity of the artists themselves. What would you wear?
So, celebrities have come up with various ways to avoid this nightmarish scenario, and one simple yet effective solution is the art of disguise. Two famous artists immediately spring to mind: Sia & Daft Punk, both of whom have been hiding away for years.
Sia's refusal to show her face (even when performing) complements her quirky, eccentric style and is a firm part of her visual identity. She dresses up in outlandish, lavish costumes to take the focus off her face, and onto her haute couture. She then wears her hair firmly over her face to avoid any eye contact, just leaving her mouth visible so that she can either talk or perform. Often dressing very monochromatically, she loves black and white, and the weirder the style, the better.
Daft Punk have transcended humanity and have, in fact, become robots. When they first donned these robotic outfits, helemts included, it was the perfect style to match the electronic, new-age music that they were producing. Interestingly, they did it partly so that their fame and celebrity didn't distract listeners from the intricacies of their music, so the public almost believed these songs were coming from two anonymous people, and also because neither member gave two bananas about being famous. Ever since, they haven't looked back, and they continue to be an incognito duo. What's more, the mystery of their appearance matches the mystery of the band; a band who avoid social media, drop off the radar for a number of years and then suddenly tease fans at music festivals with snippets of new material, all totally out of the blue. It all adds up to the Daft Punk personality that everyone loves, and will continue to love for a long time.
So, two examples of great disguises, both pretty successful, and both of which are firmly rooted in the visual identity of the artists themselves. What would you wear?
Comments
Post a Comment