The music from fashion runway shows you can stream online

Music is an integral part of fashion shows, and often sets the theme for a collection’s success on the runway. We track the playlists that have recently made their way to Apple Music

There's no fashion without music. AFP

Chanel

Chanel released its first-ever runway show playlists in a worldwide exclusive on Apple Music in February. The tracks are divided into five parts, and include sets of tunes curated by the brand's famed fans as well as a best-of soundtrack from runways past. The latter has been compiled by legendary sound designer Michel Gaubert, who has cherry-picked the background music for Christian Dior, Chloe, Fendi, Balenciaga and Oscar de la Renta. Featuring a medley of voices and singing styles, Gaubet's 32-song list takes in artists such as Khalil (Rest my Head Against a Wall of Water), Konx-Om-Pax (Cascada), Björk (Venus as a Boy) and runway favourite Elton John (a remastered version of Rocket Man). The compilation sets also include tunes curated by Pharrell Williams, Ibeyi, Sebastien Tellier, and Caroline de Maigret. Their choices range from artists such as Calvin Harris and Drake to Nina Simone and Stevie Wonder, a fitting tribute to the eclectic creativity Chanel is known for.

Paris Fashion Week

French DJ Michel Gaubert, who oversaw Chanel’s first online playlist, has also soundtracked shows for brands such as Christian Dior, Fendi, Balenciaga and Oscar de la Renta. To celebrate Paris Fashion Week in 2016, the 57-year-old released his own soundtrack to the event on Vogue’s Apple Music channel. As expected, the 30-minute playlist is at once surprising and supercool. It opens with Feel Like I Do, which has the British dance duo Disclosure teaming up with soul legend Al Green for a track that wouldn’t sound out of place at the beach parties of St Tropez. More evocative sounds are found in the sitar-and-tabla-laced Friends by Led Zeppelin and Mogwai’s pounding take on Max Richter’s Path 5.

Burberry

Curated by its departing president and chief creative officer Christopher Bailey, Burberry has released more than 200 songs, spread over a dozen playlists and consisting of tracks used in runway shows, and that are in line with the brand’s aesthetic. The result is an array of mostly British musical talent, ranging from legendary names such as The Beatles, Elton John and Pet Shop Boys, to a more current crop of heavy-hitters, namely Radiohead, Jake Bugg and George Ezra. Our favourite playlist of the lot is Burberry Weather – a moody selection of weather-themed songs by the likes of Kate Bush, Belle and Sebastian, and The Kinks.

Victoria’s Secret

You can hear all the tracks that were included in or inspired last November’s fashion show in Shanghai. With 82 songs and a duration of five and a half hours, the playlist is a wildly diverse selection of radio-friendly tunes spanning nearly four decades. Beginning from Lady Gaga’s lamenting Million Reasons and Bruno Mars’ Chunky, to the smoother sounds of Pat Benatar, Andrea Bocelli and Seal, there are a fair number of songs to please both teenagers and their parents alike. Ultimately, though, the pervading theme here is girl power, with big anthems supplied by Rihanna, Ariana Grande and Destiny’s Child.

Chloe

Before Clare Waight Keller shifted shop to Givenchy, the former creative director of Chloé released a playlist inspired by the French brand's aesthetic. The 30-song set, entitled On The Road, includes tracks heard during the maison's shows, as well as what Keller envisaged a "Chloé girl" would tune in to, whether she was on a runway or a road trip. Accordingly, the playlist captures many moods: from Zeppelin's evocative Stairway to Heaven and the rock-and-roll swagger of Bohemian Like You (The Dandy Warhols), to the fun synth-pop of Save a Prayer (Duran Duran) and Blue Monday (New Order).

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