William Baker (fashion designer)
Encyclopedia
William Baker is a fashion designer, stylist
and author
and theatre director, best known for his work with musician Kylie Minogue
.
Baker attended the Manchester Grammar School
, where he was taught by the current head of Religious Studies Dennis Brown, and was the inspiration for Manchester
indie band The Man From Delmonte
's song "Pink". Baker was studying Theology
at King's College London
and working as a sales assistant for Vivienne Westwood
in London
when he met the singer Kylie Minogue and her photographer Katerina Jebb
.
William Baker is the one responsible for those famous Gold hotpants and the notorious white catsuit from the video for 'Can't Get You Out of My Head'.
He worked with the designer Alan Macdonald
on Minogue's 2001 Fever tour, and in 2003 launched the Love Kylie lingerie
range with Minogue. Baker also co-authored the book La La La with her as well as worked as producer and director on Minogue's 2007 documentary White Diamond
. His most recent collaboration with Minogue has been as creative director on Minogue's KylieX2008
tour.
dubbed Rent Remixed which received lukewarm reviews. When asked beforehand how he was going to handle the change in direction he claimed he said; "I'm approaching it in the same way I would approach a Kylie show or tour,".
He has also worked with the musical acts Garbage
, Tricky
, Björk
, Tori Amos
, Reef
and Jamiroquai
on album and single covers, and music video
s.
He collaborated with Jay Kay of Jamiroquai on the costume and set design for both the A Funk Odyssey
album cover and tour.
Baker recently has been working as stylist
for Britney Spears
on her 2009 The Circus Starring Britney Spears tour.
He has also been credited as director of British pop singer Leona Lewis
' critically acclaimed debut tour The Labyrinth
, which was filmed in the London O2 Arena for a DVD/CD release.
Wardrobe stylist
A wardrobe stylist is the job title of someone who selects the clothing for published editorial features, print or television advertising campaigns, music videos, concert performances, and any public appearances made by celebrities, models or other public figures...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and theatre director, best known for his work with musician Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
.
Baker attended the Manchester Grammar School
Manchester Grammar School
The Manchester Grammar School is the largest independent day school for boys in the UK . It is based in Manchester, England...
, where he was taught by the current head of Religious Studies Dennis Brown, and was the inspiration for Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
indie band The Man From Delmonte
Man From Delmonte
Man from Delmonte was an independent band from Manchester, England, formed in the mid-1980s.-History:Band members included Mike West , Sheila Seal , Martin Vincent , and Howard Goody ....
's song "Pink". Baker was studying Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
and working as a sales assistant for Vivienne Westwood
Vivienne Westwood
Dame Vivienne Westwood, DBE, RDI is a British fashion designer and businesswoman, largely responsible for bringing modern punk and new wave fashions into the mainstream.-Early life:...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
when he met the singer Kylie Minogue and her photographer Katerina Jebb
Katerina Jebb
Katerina Jebb is a British-born artist and photographer based in Paris. In 1984, she moved to California to study photography. In 1989, she moved to Paris where she continues to work and live.-Images and techniques:...
.
Work with Minogue
Baker met Kylie when she came into the shop he was working in, Vivienne Westwood's flagship boutique on Conduit Street. He was said to have bombarded her with ideas and soon after meeting Minogue he became her stylist and creative director.William Baker is the one responsible for those famous Gold hotpants and the notorious white catsuit from the video for 'Can't Get You Out of My Head'.
He worked with the designer Alan Macdonald
Alan MacDonald
Alan MacDonald is a children's writer living in Nottingham, England.- Writing :He has worked in a team of writers on TV shows such as Tweenies, Horrid Henry, Fimbles and Oggy and the Cockroaches...
on Minogue's 2001 Fever tour, and in 2003 launched the Love Kylie lingerie
Lingerie
Lingerie are fashionable and possibly alluring undergarments.Lingerie usually incorporates one or more flexible, stretchy materials like Lycra, nylon , polyester, satin, lace, silk and sheer fabric which are not typically used in more functional, basic cotton undergarments.The term in the French...
range with Minogue. Baker also co-authored the book La La La with her as well as worked as producer and director on Minogue's 2007 documentary White Diamond
White Diamond
White Diamond: A Personal Portrait of Kylie Minogue is a 2007 documentary film directed and produced by William Baker and chronicling the life of Australian singer Kylie Minogue during her Showgirl: The Homecoming Tour...
. His most recent collaboration with Minogue has been as creative director on Minogue's KylieX2008
KylieX2008
KylieX2008 was the tenth concert tour by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue, in support of her tenth studio album, X . Originally announced as just a European tour, rumors of Minogue taking the tour to Australia, Asia, and America had surfaced in the international media...
tour.
Other work
In 2007 he made his debut as a theatre director with a West End revival of RentRent (musical)
Rent is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème...
dubbed Rent Remixed which received lukewarm reviews. When asked beforehand how he was going to handle the change in direction he claimed he said; "I'm approaching it in the same way I would approach a Kylie show or tour,".
He has also worked with the musical acts Garbage
Garbage (band)
Garbage are an alternative rock band formed in Madison, Wisconsin in 1994. The group consists of Scottish singer Shirley Manson and American musicians Duke Erikson , Steve Marker and Butch Vig . All four members are involved in songwriting and production...
, Tricky
Tricky
Tricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
, Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
, Tori Amos
Tori Amos
Tori Amos is an American pianist, singer-songwriter and composer. She was at the forefront of a number of female singer-songwriters in the early 1990s and was noteworthy early in her career as one of the few alternative rock performers to use a piano as her primary instrument...
, Reef
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
and Jamiroquai
Jamiroquai
Jamiroquai is a British jazz funk and acid jazz band formed in 1992. Jamiroquai were initially the most prominent component in the early-1990s London-based acid jazz movement, alongside groups such as Incognito, the James Taylor Quartet, and the Brand New Heavies. Other Acid Jazz artists such as...
on album and single covers, and music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s.
He collaborated with Jay Kay of Jamiroquai on the costume and set design for both the A Funk Odyssey
A Funk Odyssey
A Funk Odyssey is the fifth studio album by British acid jazz band Jamiroquai, released on 3 September 2001 in the United Kingdom, and 11 September 2001 in the United States.-Background:...
album cover and tour.
Baker recently has been working as stylist
Wardrobe stylist
A wardrobe stylist is the job title of someone who selects the clothing for published editorial features, print or television advertising campaigns, music videos, concert performances, and any public appearances made by celebrities, models or other public figures...
for Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
on her 2009 The Circus Starring Britney Spears tour.
He has also been credited as director of British pop singer Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis
Leona Louise Lewis is a British singer and songwriter. Lewis first came to prominence in 2006 when she won the third series of the British television series The X Factor....
' critically acclaimed debut tour The Labyrinth
The Labyrinth (tour)
The Labyrinth is the name of the debut concert tour by British pop singer Leona Lewis. Beginning on 28 May 2010, it showcased songs from her debut album, Spirit and her second album, Echo. Dates in the United Kingdom and Ireland were completed with Australian singer Gabriella Cilmi serving as the...
, which was filmed in the London O2 Arena for a DVD/CD release.