1 day Ago By Mahoro Seward
Are arena tours the new fashion weeks? Well, with the parade of show-stealing looks he’s been sporting across the opening dates of the European leg of his Past Present Future tour, Usher has been making a compelling case that they may well be. Last night, at his third in a string of shows at London’s O2 Arena (which also featured a surprise appearance from Naomi Campbell), the R&B megastar took to the stage in a glittering ensemble designed by one of the city’s fashion greats – Burberry ’s chief creative officer, Daniel Lee . Sporting a dapper, black double-breasted tuxedo over a silver tank top – both painstakingly encrusted with crystals – the King of R&B belted out a string of equally sparkly hits to a transfixed audience, from “DJ Got Us Fallin” In Love” and “Burn” to “OMG” and “Yeah!” A seasoned regular on front rows across Europe’s fashion capitals, Usher seems to have taken this leg of his tour as an opportunity to stage a series of fashion shows of his own.
.. Well, not quite, but the Burberry look he sported last night (one of a total of seven looks he wore on stage) is but one of a panoply of custom outfits filling his wardrobe, including looks by the likes of Celine, Robert Wun, Willy Chavarria and David Koma.
“Usher loves wearing clothes,” says Daniel Lee, noting the particular inspiration he draws from the singer’s “fearless sense of style.” “He understands the value of clothes in telling a story and communicating his incredible charisma,” the designer continues, offering British Vogue an exclusive sneak peek at an outfit that does just that. Alongside the glittering evening ensemble that Usher wore last night, Lee has also designed a high-concept, disco ball-inspired look that we’d like to think was inspired by the legendary artist’s stream of clubland hits.
When will he be wearing it? You’ll have to keep your eyes glued to the tour to find out. What we can guarantee, though, is that when he does, it’ll make you wanna say oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh my gosh!.
