Coat Check is a column combining our love of fashion and music, exploring how both are used as a form of self-expression. Fran Barclay speaks to a band or performer in Aotearoa about their on-stage wardrobe and the making of their trademark look.
When folk singer-songwriter Just Janie met country “maverick” Matthew Campbell, they knew they had a lot in common – not least their love of dressing up on stage.
Matthew, who performs as Midwest cowboy Sig Wilder, is known for rummaging in other people’s wardrobes, while Janie has stalked almost every vintage store in the South Island. They perform as a duo, but both have individual shows scheduled on December 15 (Sig Wilder at St Peter's Hall in Paekakariki, and Just Janie at Space Academy in Christchurch) - the more bolo ties in the audience, the better, they say.
What was the last thing you put in a coat check?
Janie: I don't think I've actually ever done a coat check, but this does bring to mind my most recent purchase, which was a 90s brown leather jacket.
Matthew: The last coat check I can remember was at the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco. Quite boringly, I just checked my coat.
You met over a shared love of music and poetry. Do you have much in common when it comes to how you dress?
Janie: We both take a lot of pride in our stage outfits and the image we're curating. I love that we both care. Caring is cool. Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.
Matthew: A lot of my clothing has been ‘borrowed’ from Janie, so that gives us something in common…
Janie: And I didn’t get my cords back! But they looked better on your legs.
How important is clothing to your musical identities?
Janie: I've always seen the stage as a place to experiment. And I think with the way music is moving with social media and the internet, you're not just promoting your music anymore, you're promoting your whole brand. Over the years, I've slowly curated an image, but it did take time.
Matthew: The clothing is a very important part of Sig Wilder. It's that extra layer that helps me embody the music and what I’m trying to say.
Who do you look to for fashion inspiration?
Janie: I definitely take a lot of inspiration from Joni Mitchell and Stevie Nicks. I'm like a starling: when I see anything vintage, I just want to take it back to my nest.
Matthew: There's an artist called Sierra Ferrell: her voice and her music are incredible, but whoever does her styling is out of this world. Also, I have to give a shout out to one of my bandmates, Mads Taylor. Whatever you're wearing, I want it.
There’s a lot of pressure to look the part as a performer. Have you ever had a major fashion faux-pas?
Matthew: For the longest time, I thought V-necks were fashion. For way too long. Yeah, that's me.
Janie: There is a photo of me and my brother at the first wedding we ever sang at, and it was back when sock buns were trendy. They're literally a sock that you put in your hair and you make a bun over it. Very 2014, and it's terrible.
Where are some of your favourite places to shop in Aotearoa?
Matthew: I absolutely love a peruse through Hunters and Collectors. And anytime I'm in the States, I try to hit as many Goodwill stores as possible – then that's my wardrobe for the next year or two.
Janie: Nifty, booteek and Monotone are three great Christchurch shops to mention. My incredibly talented friend Clara Bosshard has just started her own fashion label in Wellington. Olivia Ferguson from Equilibrium is another designer I love. And my Australian producer, Abby Smith, runs a vintage shop online called A Puppy and Her vintage.
What’s one item of clothing you always take on tour?
Matthew: My Crocs. Maximum comfort and great for flying. Even though Janie says they are ick.
Janie: I would take my jumpsuit by Felix Conscious Designs. I found it in a shop in Clyde, and it’s made with recycled quilting fabric. It's very seventies and I wear it everywhere.
Where do you think the crowd will be best dressed on your tour?
Janie: Any show my mum comes to (my mum is an icon and she's very well-dressed.) But honestly, we've seen incredible outfits wherever we go. Somebody actually hand-knitted a dress and wore it to our Space Academy show in Christchurch.
Matthew: I’ve got to give some home love and say it’s the crowd in Wellington. At one of my shows in Vogelmorn Bowling Club, I met three people wearing bolo ties.
Do you have any fashion advice for your listeners?
Janie: I think clothing should be viewed as an art form. You get to wear the art and express yourself every day, and I think that's beautiful. Experiment. Be yourself. Have fun!
Matthew: Just be wild. Brown with black is fine. Crocs with socks? It's fine. Or to quote Vivienne Westwood, “buy less, choose well.”
