Celebrating bohemian style with the latest issue of The Journal, Mr Porter looks to singer James Bay for modern inspiration. The British talent connects with photographer Mel Bles and Mr Porter deputy style director Olie Arnold for a new photo shoot featuring rock-friendly brands such as Saint Laurent. Discussing fashion and image, Bay shares, “Rock ‘n’ roll, pop music, there’s a theatre to it. There is always going to be that fashion element. Look at Bruce Springsteen: blue jeans, vest, bandanna–an iconic look. Michael Jackson: glove, hat. Iconic. Even Amy Winehouse. She went: ‘This is what Amy Winehouse is going to be’ when she did the lashes and the hair.”
Bay continues, “Those people are allowed to be outrageous, but you need to be able to step away from your musical creations sometimes. For a lot of people, that meant taking crazy drugs, though I don’t think that’s as much in fashion now. But the aesthetic aspect was always there, and always will be. So let it be. When stupid people harp on about it, it’s like, ‘Come on, guys, you’re better than that.’ You like music, you like a good song.” Read more at MrPorter.com.