Calling Beth Ditto a force to be reckoned with is a wild understatement. With the release of her debut solo album, Fake Sugar, scheduled for June 19, the singer is at the top of her game, and the fashion world is salivating. In fact, they’ve been on her trail for years, with designers like Marc Jacobs and Jean Paul Gaultier asking her to wear their clothes, walk in their shows, and star in their ads. Most recently, she gave the Resort 2018 season an invigorating jolt when she performed in an embellished green dress custom-designed by Alessandro Michele at Gucci. With an unabashed pride in her body type and sexual orientation, the singer has become the poster girl for stylish kooks everywhere. She’s more than a force; she’s a bona fide, no-bullshit muse.
In celebration of the next phase in her career, Ditto sang a tune from the new album for Vogue. As she strutted around New York, she donned custom clothes by up-and-coming labels like Area and Jarrod Glaze. Ditto always wants to feel like herself: She wants to be comfortable and do fashion the way she wants to, and her look is never, ever dictated by trends. Here, five designers who have worked on bespoke pieces for the musician share their thoughts and feelings about Ditto and her singular style—call it Arkansas meets the atelier.
Adam Selman:
“Beth is a blast! I’ve known her for years, and back in the day I tailored looks for her. She’s always done her own thing and stood in her own lane. She’s a lesbian who crochets and crafts, the friendliest person in the room, always making me laugh. Plus, she has the vocal cords of a goddess. We created two dresses and a pair of gloves for her. I brought a veil that Gigi Burris and I teamed up on from my latest collection and a pair of the Fugitive sunglasses from my latest collaboration with LeSpecs—I always say that a lady needs options. I only create custom fashion for women I have strong relationships with. I think she is fearless, and in today’s world, we need more people who aren’t afraid to be who they are and stand up for what they believe in. Beth embodies that!”
Pam Hogg:
“Beth is amazing, not only as a singer but also as a wonderful, warm-hearted, and genuine human being. The first time I made a garment for Beth, she stood naked in her Paris hotel room as I actually created it around her. It was made of black tulle, so it was totally see-through before the eventual stage of strategically placing huge shell-like buds onto the fabric. During this two-hour process, she was nonchalantly answering questions while being interviewed by a French journalist. It was pretty surreal, since we’d met the night before by accident—we were both at a mutual friend’s birthday party. Needless to say, we connected instantly, and when I returned at 10:00 a.m. the next day as scheduled, it was like we’d known each other all our lives. The garment was a version of a piece from my 2009 collection that I’d just shown the week before in London and is now in ‘The Vulgar’ exhibition in Vienna. Later on, I created another piece from that same show: a black, rubberlike, dull-shine cape dress.”
Jarrod Glaze:
“When I was first approached about this project with Vogue, I knew I had to create something totally unique and a little twisted. Beth is such a force of confidence and raw energy that I knew she could pull off any look that I created. I decided to make a custom leopard-print and appliquéd sequined minidress. The dress is slightly over the top, with sequins, leopard, a short hemline, one sleeve, and a matching glove. If anyone can pull all of that off, it’s a woman like Beth! She’s always been such a bold presence in the world of fashion and music. Designers are always drawn to anyone who is completely unafraid of being their authentic self. There are so many replications in the world, and sometimes we don’t realize it until an original comes along and slaps us in the face. It’s in these originals, like Beth, where designers find inspiration. Her music makes you feel alive, and I wanted to create a dress that gave her back that same feeling. I hope I did!”
Beckett Fogg and Piotrek Panszczyk, Area:
“For the Vogue video, we created a lamé dress and leggings in bright, illuminating colors that pick up on the light as it moves across the body. It was an honor to design a look inspired by such a powerful and beautiful woman. Beth’s vision was inspired by pride and encouraged us to create celebratory pieces that reflected her passion and all that she stands for. She represents something fresh and bold for women in fashion.”
Jean Paul Gaultier:
“I am in love with Beth’s talent—her voice is so special. I love her energy, her beauty, and her style. Beth lights up any room she’s in. I’ve worked with her many times, as she has walked in my show and sang during the finale. I made her wedding dress and collaborated on a T-shirt for her clothing line. It’s all been fun and stimulating. For the new record, Beth asked me for a bodysuit inspired by my haute couture Morphing collection. How could I say no? She embodies everything I love: beauty, uniqueness, passion.”
Beth Ditto Does Brighton Beach