Source: Robin L Marshall / Getty
You can’t hit a boom or a kack without proper attire.
Laurieann Gibson is helping
Hulu find the next great costume designer on
Dress My Tour ; a reality competition show centered on star-making style.
The famed creative visionary, celebrated choreographer, and Emmy-nominated director is a judge on the show alongside supermodel Kate Upton and Emmy Award-winning costume designer Marina Tobina . Together, they help select the next big thing in performance costume design.
Designers are essential to the overall creative direction of a tour. “What you say and how you say it and what you say it in defines a 360-degree experience, “ Gibson explained to us about their critical role in musical storytelling.
Saying It With Signature
The first challenge features designers fighting to define themselves. As stadium tickets go unpurchased and celebrity skin care lines fizzle out, it’s more important than ever that the type of acts they’re trying to dress learn how to stand out.
“You can’t just pop up on a stage without the process and without the development of your sound or your messaging, “ said Gibson. “It’s not about being like someone else; it’s about understanding what’s unique about you, and that’s why we wanted to see that out the gate.”
She sees costume design as a chance to introduce the audience to the world of the performer .
“What does the world look like, “ she asked. “As a creative director? As a visionary? What does it look like?”
“What is my armor, “ she continued. “How do I move in it? What’s the functionality? What’s the sustainability? “
Cher worked with Bob Mackie to help define the 70s. Mugler created custom creations for Beyonce’s I Am Sasha Fierce Tour. These performers set a standard that Gibson would like to see return.
“Time for the entertainment value to be raised , “ she said. “It’s time for the razzle, dazzle to come back in. It’s time for the fans to get a real experience. You know? People are working hard paying ticket prices. They deserve to experience your music live. “
Smitten By Style
Source: Robin L Marshall / Getty
Gibson is uniquely qualified to judge others’ styles. Not only has she helped develop some of the world’s biggest acts , she’s the child of a fashion designer. Her mother couldn’t pursue fashion as a career, but it didn’t stop her from creating in their Toronto home. “ She would have fashion shows in the house, and there were three girls, and I was the baby, and I would model, “ she recalled.
Gibson and the judges critique the contestants for some of the things new acts are penalized for. A cracking voice on stage or a lack of stage presence can stick out like an unfinished hem or loose thread. “The work is intense, so you need development in order to sustain and not just get blown away by the time your record’s done , “ she said.
Seams and Nightmares
Stardom is being demystified with increased celebrity access, but this show reminds viewers how hard creatives work.
“That’s why I think Dress My Tour is coming at the perfect time to ignite a narrative of this is not good enough, “ she added. “You cannot hit the stage. You cannot take that on tour. It’s not a high school performance. It’s a high level of execution and an experience that people should remember for the rest of their lives. You know, the first time they saw Janet, Michael, Prince, the first time they saw Gaga, they’re still affected the first time they experienced the boom kack. “
Unlike Gibson’s living room runways, things are a bit dicier on Dress My Tour . There’s a high-stakes jackpot of $100,000, and in this economy, that can make or break a business.
The designers get messy during the series. There’s a cutthroat element to the game that pits them against each other. Still, they and the judges agree on a shared respect for the stitchers who help bring their visions to life.
Other shows might have hidden these artisans but Dress My Tour puts their labor on front street. Gibson has a special respect for their work as someone who helps bring others’ visions to life. “It’s respect for the garment that we will come out with; the garment has a life of its own. It’s part of the vision, “ she said. “To empower that conversation is necessary.”
Sharing (And Protecting) The Vision
Gibson might want acts and designers to bring the razzle-dazzle, but she isn’t interested in badgering them into it. “I’d rather be the solution, “ she said,
It doesn’t matter how polished your work is if you can’t stand by it. With social media giving everyone direct access to their critics, it can be hard to defend one’s vision. She sees it as crucial to develop an unshakable confidence.
“ When you are unafraid to wear what you are internally, or you love it, and there’s something you’re connecting with, you can’t let the fad tell you you’re not hot, “ she said.
“ In this business, and in any business, you can’t not develop a skin to keep the outside noise out when you are an innovator because in the Innovation process, your unique imprint is what gives that innovation wings to fly, “ said Gibson. “ So if you’re constantly being swayed by others’ opinions, then they’re actually distracting you. “
Dress My Tour begins streaming on Hulu on July 23.
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