Models x Music: Iconic Moments Where Fashion and Music Collide

Dance crazes are nothing new - from the twist and shout, to the electric slide to the migraine skank, every generation seems destined to become enthralled by a new dance trend. With the rise of social media platforms like Vine and Tik Tok the amount of these has quadrupled, many coming and going but there are some that stand the test of time - enter the Macarena.

As we all know the nostalgia bug has bitten absolutely everyone and Vogue is no different; for their Spring 2022 collections video, the unofficial fashion bible chose to recreate the iconic Macarena video. The video, directed by Bardia Zeinali, substituted Los del Rio for Bad Bunny and the fabulous original video girls for our modern day models. It’s a great fit - many 2022 collections reinvented classic fashions, so utilising and recreating a hit video from the time works as a creative way of highlighting this.

Styled by Jorden Bickham, models including Imaan Hammam, Paloma Elsesser and Iris Law wore 90s/Y2k inspired looks created from SS22 collections as they danced and lipsynced to the song. Blumarine‘s Y2K inspired collection was a key feature as model Oyinda rocked their denim print one shoulder dress and butterfly belt buckle, as were Versace’s metallic mini skirt and shiny crop top combo featured on Imaan.

A fun fashion x music mashup which expertly reinterprets a classic, the video got us thinking about other iconic model x music video mashups. In honour of Vogue’s Macarena video then, here are 4 iconic music videos where fashion, modelling and music collide.

The Big Five in George Michael's 'Freedom! '90'

It would be hard to find any model x music video collaboration as iconic as this. At first glance it may seem that it was iconic because it featured The Big Five, but a little fashion history will show how key it was in the creation of the moniker outside of the fashion world in the first place.

If you don’t already know The Big Five consists of these 5 woman, credited with starting the era of the Supermodel: Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Tatjana Patitz. As history tells it George Michael, tired of appearing in his videos, enlisted the 5 after seeing Peter Lindbergh’s famous shot of them for the cover of Vogue's January 1990 issue. After a bit of haggling, the five agreed, appearing in the video lip syncing the songs lyrics, all shot through a beautiful soft haze by none other than David Fincher. The moment exposed the supermodels to the world - though already known in fashion, this enabled them to reach new levels of global fame and recognition. Cementing this was Versace’s Fall 1991 show which ended with the girls walking hand in hand down the runway lip-syncing the lyrics as the song played which itself became another iconic fashion history moment.

The Freedom! 90’ music video ranks at the top, being a mainstay in both fashion and pop cultural history.

Chanel Iman, Jourdan Dunn and Joan Smalls in Beyonce's 'Yonce'

The world stopped when Beyonce dropped her self titled visual album in 2013 unannounced. Amongst these visuals was Yonce, an unabashed ode to the top black models of the time.

As the song is basically Beyonce bigging herself and her sexiness up it was only right she featured the trio who at the time were all Victoria Secret models. Their sultriness oozed through the music video as they strutted, licked, danced and posed for the camera alone and with Queen B herself. It was a certified cultural Moment for music and for black models - you'd be hard pressed to look anywhere without seeing screenshots of the video when it dropped and rightfully so.

Iman in Michael Jackson's 'Remember The Time'

When you think of music videos, you think of Michael Jackson. A pioneer in the art, his high quality theatrical music videos set a precedent in pop culture that had everyone else scrambling to keep up. Remember The Time serves as one of the most iconic in his videography - the nine minute short film (directed by revered African American filmmaker John Singleton) shows MJ alongside a star studded (fully black) cast in an ancient Egyptian palace as he attempts to seduce the Pharaoh’s wife. The premise itself, featuring an all black cast in an ancient Egyptian setting , was a first and works to elevate this videos notability alongside the lively dance number.

Throughout his videography one thing has been consistent - a beautiful girl who serves as the object of his affections to dance after. In this case, it was Iman, fittingly tasked with playing the wife. Her regal aura, on point acting and sultry make her appearance once of the most memorable to date.

Naomi Campbell, Jessica White, Omahyra Mota, Jade Cole and more in Jay Z ft Pharrell's 'Change Clothes'

Out of all the videos on our list, this is the most model-esque. As the song is basically an ode to fashion and dressing well, it’s no wonder that the music video features Jay Z and Pharrell at a fashion show, parading down the red carpet, sitting backstage and in the front row. Of course, no music video about a fashion show could be complete without models right? Even better when real models are enlisted and that’s just what the duo did.

Naomi makes her second appearance on the list with this one, taking center stage throughout the music video like the legend she is. Other famous model faces such a Jessica White, and Omahyra Mota also shine amongst the star studded cast as we watch them strutting down the runway wearing impeccable early 2000s fits styled by June Ambrose. A cute ode to one of the fashion worlds most integral parts, this video and the models show the glitz and glamour of the runway show.