Is Tropical – Tips On Pop Rock Style
Ph Mario Parruccini
It were the colorful masks, now there is a magic ring. IS TROPICAL, amazing pop rock electronic kitsunè music band, is surprising their fans with fashion accessories. In December 2013, with photographer Mario Parruccini, I met Simon Milner and Gary Barber, two members of the trio-band, in Rome before their, one of many, Italian DJ Sets. The missing one, Dominic Apa, didn’t come to the Eternal city this time but Italians are expecting them in full force already in February 2014 (announced tour).
Men In Black
IS TROPICAL style has changed a lot during the last 4 years of their career. Band, formed in 2009 in East London, started to shocked with their look wearing mysterious colorful masks. To me they said, a little bit disappointing and bored of the subject, they didn’t mean to attract the public with their faces but with their voices and talent but in the end all the world has been talking for a long time just about the masks. True. The trio now look more mature and their look is calm and classic; maybe the one shocking thing that regards them at the moment are new sexy videos in tilted “The Greeks” (more then 3 millions plays on you-tube) and “Dancing Anymore” teamed up with Princess Julia – Dj, nightclub legend, gay and fashion icon that introduced a new flamboyant, glamorous and individual style that created many bands and fashion designers and finally took over from Punk.
Their color for now is Black and the main designer with whom they collaborate is Phonz Says Black, a brand based in Milan that evolved from blazers to a real rock look with some experiments like cuts and combination of materials. “We used to use a lot of colours, like a lot of colours – explained Simon – and when we looked back after years we asked ourselves ‘fuck, why did i do that?’. Italians wear lots of black, it’s classic. Black is always in fashion”. The curiosity about them is…guys like pants with the pockets (it hasn’t been always like that in the past, they suffered for fashion some years ago) and despite the fact that Kitsunè Maison known as music and fashion label is identified mostly with them, they feel as “kind of black ship in the family, it’s not really our style”, but they appreciate their smart jackets and very classic style.
Their traumas with hairdressers
During the meeting my “tropical men in black” was very witty, gentle and very professional. After question about they look, “tropical fashion” and “nasty” hair (they told me some very funny anecdotes about their traumas with hairdressers from childhood cutting too short and fiancees that became an “Edward scissorhands” by accident) in the end my attention failed on the ring. Simon couldn’t wait for that question. The ring was made by Londoner Dominic Jones, five time New Gen Award that with his debut jewellery collection “Tooth and nail” (2009) won the acclaim of Anna Wintour and propelled his designs to being the fashion insiders cult choice of accessory. Just to make things clear, Jones trained as a jeweler at London’s Sir John Cass School of Art and Design, got in 2011 the Elle Style Award and presently work for the stars like Beyonce, Rihanna or Florence Welch spreading his art also in Italy (10 Corso Como). Tropical conclusion: No hairdresser but what a class in choosing designers and music contributors!
No doubt, that music and fashion go hand in hand
There is no doubt, that music and fashion go hand in hand, what Simon and Gary definitely confirmed: “Music suits collections”. If you’re hungry of other IS TROPICAL’s fashion surprises, check out the latest James Long men collection AW14 on you-tube. You can be pleasantly surprised. The trippy love song “Galactic Lover” composed by Is Tropical’s Simon Milner and feat. Lea Lea was the lucky soundtrack that accompanied the show in London. Of course, it’s not the first collaboration of this kind. Is Tropical recently has been playing music alive during the Milan Fashion Week shows. Dear men, my advice for this season- with a wink or not – don’t forget to be fashionable (black with the pockets) and tropical (hot and not necessarily with hairdresser).
