Rock ‘n’ Rag Rebels : MTV’s Invitation of ‘Black Tie Creative’ Prompts Some Defiant Style Statements
John Tyler, a New York City banker, took the invitation--black tie creative--to the limit.
So, from his $100 seat at the MTV Music Video Awards show last week he boogied up and down the aisles--not far from Billy Idol, M. C. Hammer, Sinead O’Connor and Janet Jackson--in true rock ‘n roll avant-garb.
“I feel rebellious,” said the 36-year-old, explaining his get-up that included a green and pink cotton madras button-down shirt, white bow tie, neon-green nylon shorts and sneakers with no socks. He topped off his rock ‘n’ roll black-tie look with a tuxedo jacket his girlfriend, L. C., packed for him, and a cummerbund the concierge at the Hilton borrowed for Tyler to wear.
“I thought the ensemble needed the cummerbund. I mean this is a party,” he said.
Though Tyler stood out, he wasn’t the only one making a defiant style statement.
There were herds of black T-shirts and vests over black T’s; jeans ripped at the knees; jean jackets ripped at the sleeves and decorated with skull pins and chains; oversize knee-length coats a la Janet Jackson; cowboy boots and patent-leather shoes were outdistanced by high tops.
Famous fashion rebels included host Arsenio Hall, who sported a post-modern floor-length aqua trench coat and matching vest, and Billy Idol in a ruffled white shirt and leather pants (later, the shirt was replaced with a leather vest over Idol’s flabless bare chest).
Almost-famous Latino rapper Gerardo Mejia, professionally known as “Gerardo,” attracted double-takes from single women for his “raggin’ ” outfit, which included his long brown hair wrapped in a multicolored scarf, pirate style, and a jean jacket he purchased from Leathers & Treasures on Melrose Avenue that was covered with sofa and drapery fabric swatches.
The jacket, worn unbuttoned to reveal his hairless chest, was adorned with tassels. Tight jeans, ripped and frayed at the knees, of course, and black cowboy boots completed the Wild West Dude look.
