PanamaTimes

Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Law Roach Used Fashion History to Bring Halsey’s Visual Album to Life

Law Roach Used Fashion History to Bring Halsey’s Visual Album to Life

To create the epic wardrobe for If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, Roach looked to Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano, and more.

For musicians, visual albums represent one of the ultimate forms of expression. Artists have reached career highs by releasing films that connect their songs to a deeper message. This month Halsey debuted their take on the concept with, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, a double whammy that combines introspective songs produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross with full-on fantasy directed by Colin Tilley.

Released in IMAX, the hour long movie is a dramatic tale of courtly betrayals where Halsey’s thoughts on loneliness, romance, and motherhood come to life. If that wasn’t sensational enough, it’s also filled to the brim with high fashion selected by Hollywood image architect Law Roach, who served as costume designer. Roach, who was introduced to Halsey by her hairstylist, Martin-Christopher Harper, came to the project shortly after his first conversation with the star. “We just talked about fashion and the possibility of working together, then they offered me this incredible job,” shared Roach on the phone from Los Angeles. “At first, there were only supposed to be six looks, but it became so much bigger.”

The film’s protagonist, developed, written, and portrayed by Halsey, is a commoner-turned-queen whose abusive royal husband has died under suspicious circumstances. “This is a woman who feels powerful, but she’s also in a desperate [situation],” says Roach. “I wanted to build out her life through clothes that could reflect that.” The character’s duality is evident in the pieces that made the final cut. In mourning, the queen goes gothic in a sculpted black Stephane Rolland haute couture gown with shoulders details a Tudor monarch would approve of. Defiant moments call for the armored look of Joyce Spakman’s custom “warrior corsets,” which are decked out in gold, jeweled tassels, and miniature Renaissance portraits.



Though the story features the hallmarks of period drama-gossipy courtiers, villainous bureaucrats, and plenty of intrigues-Roach wasn’t limited to replicating the look of a specific historical era. “The exciting thing was we didn’t adhere to one reference point; we were able to bounce all over history,” he says. “There were pieces that felt very 1800s, others that were more baroque, some that seem like they’re from the 1600s. We had the freedom to create. Halsey gave me so much trust, and it was empowering.”

Working without a preview of the final songs and on a tight schedule, Roach and his team tirelessly created a wardrobe that matched the mood Halsey was trying to evoke. Many period projects rely heavily on costumes rented from archival houses. Instead, Roach focused on designers like Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano, whose work contains nods to classical reference points. “The fun part was finding modern clothes that were made to look vintage. We didn’t want to go to a costume house or rental place,” says Roach. “That would have made things easier, but it was more interesting to seek out these pieces, and when we couldn’t find the originals, we worked with designers to create new versions.

That vibrant green Vivienne Westwood dress Halsey wears during a playful scene with her ladies in waiting came straight from the brand’s spring/summer 1996 catwalk, where it was first worn by Linda Evangelista. The coordinating hot pink number used for a dream sequence was a custom creation whipped up by the Westwood team. Eagle-eyed fashion lovers will spy treasures like a black velvet gown from Christian Lacroix’s fall/winter 1998 runway and the spiky couture jewelry Shaun Leane created for Alexander McQueen’s landmark shows in the early aughts. Roach adds to the surreal vibe that Halsey and director Tiley sought by combining the designs to make editorial-worthy outfits. “As a stylist, opportunities to tell a story with this magnitude of clothing and all these archival pieces are rare,” he says. “It’s incredible just to touch and play with them because they’re a part of history.”

With the final project now available for the world to see, Roach is ready for what comes next. “This is my second film of the year, so I’m on a roll,” he says, nodding to the sleek evening wear he outfitted Zendaya in for Malcolm and Marie. “This experience was a dream, but we’re only getting started.”



Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda SS 2014



Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture SS 2015



Joyce Spakman custom headdress



Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda Spring/Summer 2020



Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood FW 2018



Custom Robe LaRoxx



Stephane Rolland Haute Couture SS 2021



Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood Bridal SS 2019



Vivienne Westwood Custom Wedding Dress Circa 2001



Vivienne Westwood SS 1996



Dolce & Gabbana FW 2006



Christian Lacroix FW 1998

Newsletter

Related Articles

PanamaTimes
0:00
0:00
Close
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
Global Law Enforcement Dismantles Lockbit Ransomware Operation
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
The President of Argentina Javier Mile does not fly private, he flies commercial, with the citizens he represents. And they LOVE him for it.
Bitcoin Reaches $50,000 for First Time in Over Two Years
Belo Horizonte: Brazil's Rising Carnival Hotspot for 2024
In El Salvador, the 'Trump of Latin America' stuns the world with a speech slamming woke policing after winning a landslide election
Tucker’s interview with Putin is over 50M views on X within the first 5 hours.
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
President Nayib Bukele has proudly announced El Salvador's remarkable achievement of becoming the safest nation in the Western Hemisphere.
Former Chilean President Sebastian Piñera Dies in Helicopter Crash
This farmer seems to understand science a bit more than the event organizer, Klaus Schwab.
Facebook turns 20: From Mark Zuckerberg's dormitory to a $1trn company
The Coolest Dictator in the World" on the Path to Victory in El Salvador
Macron, France and fake news
Indian-Origin Man 'King' Arrested For Smuggling $16 Million Drugs Into US
Can someone teach Americans that not every person with slanted eyes is Chinese?
Europe's Farmers Feeding the People, Protesting Against Politicians Who Do Nothing for Their Country and Serve Only Themselves at Taxpayers' Expense
Paris Restaurant That Inspired 'Ratatouille' Loses $1.6 Million Worth Of Wine
Brazilian Police Investigate Bolsonaro's Son for Alleged Illegal Spying
Police in Brazil Raid Residence of Bolsonaro Associate Over Allegations of Illegal Spying
Border Dispute Escalates as Texas Governor Vows Increased Razor Wire
OpenAI Enhances ChatGPT-4 Model, Potentially Addressing AI "Laziness" Issue
The NSA finally acknowledges spying on Americans by acquiring sensitive data
Report Reveals Toxic Telegram Group Generating X-Rated AI-Generated Fake Images of Taylor Swift
US Border Patrol States 'No Plans' to Remove Razor Wire Installed in Texas
Bitcoin Experiences Approximately 20% Decline in Value
Klaus Schwab recently appointed himself as the Earth's "trustee of the future."
DeSantis Drops Out, Endorses Trump.
Nikki Haley said former President Trump is "just not at the same level" of mental fitness as he was while president in 2016.
Residents of a southern Mexican town set the government palace on fire in response to the police killing of a young man
Samsung Launches AI-Driven Galaxy S24, Ushering in New Smartphone Era
Judge Questions SEC's Regulatory Overreach in Coinbase Lawsuit
The Ecuador prosecutor who was investigating the television studio attack, has been assassinated.
Is artificial intelligence the solution to cyber security threats?
Vivek Ramaswamy suspends his US election campaign and endorses Trump.
Viral Satire: A Staged Satirical Clip Mistaken as Real Footage from the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos
The AI Revolution in the Workforce: CEOs at Davos Predict Major Job Cuts in 2024
Ecuador Reports 178 Hostages in Prison Gang Standoff
The Startling Cuban Espionage Case That Has Rattled the US Government
Two Armed Men in Ecuador, Dressed as Batman and The Joker Storm the Streets.
Armed Gang Raids Ecuadorian TV Station Following State of Emergency Declaration
Anti-Democratic Canada: Journalist Arrested for Questioning Canadian Finance Minister on Support of Terrorist Group
Ecuador's 'Most-Wanted' Criminal Vanishes from Prison
Mexican Cartel Supplied Wi-Fi to Locals Under Threat of Fatal Consequences for Non-Compliance
Border Surge Leads to Over 11,000 Migrants Waiting in Northern Mexico
Outsider Candidates Triumph in Latin American Elections
As Argentina Goes to the Polls, Will the Proposal to Replace the Peso with the Dollar Secure Votes?
Fatal Shark Attack Claims Life of Boston Woman Paddleboarding Near Bahamas Resort, According to Police
×