Top singers tuned in to trendsetting fashions

Muara Bagdja, Contributor, Jakarta

Top singers, the likes of Krisdayanti, Titi DJ and dangdut diva Inul Daratista, know that to be true professionals they need to put their careers in professional hands.

That includes surrounding themselves with capable managers, make-up artists and fashion designers to share their expertise.

"As a singer I concentrate on my show, for example, my voice, my choreography and my rehearsals with the music group. As my dress provides vital support for my performance, I need professional help from a designer," said Titi DJ.

Ruth Sahanaya, who began her career in the 1980s and has gained success in the pop and Christian music segments, agrees with her and is a walking advertisement for local designers.

"When I appear on stage, I usually don attire designed by our own designers. My dress is custom-made. I tell you that the works of our Indonesian designers are excellent. You have greater self- confidence if you put on something that a designer has made," said Ruth, better known as Uthe.

Designers like Sebastian Gunawan (favored by Titi), Didi Budiardjo, Biyan, Ronald V Gaghana, Adjie Notonegoro, Denny Wirawan, Eddy Betty and newcomer Sally Koeswanto are some of the big names creating fashions for entertainers.

It's a two-way, mutually beneficial relationship: Designers welcome the professional attitude and fame of the singers in promoting their creations, while the latter get to wear the very best of local fashion.

"A singer must consult a designer to ensure that whatever she puts on will really match her. We designers can show them the right clothes to wear," said Adjie, now designing for singers Reza and Iis Dahlia as well as Inul, the hottest thing to hit the local music scene in years.

As high-paid professionals -- Inul reportedly gets at least Rp 45 million a performance, and Krisdayanti probably earns several million more -- the singers are required to please the public by looking their very best.

"Singers draw in an audience not only with their voice but also with their appearance," Uthe acknowledged.

With the tabloid and fashion press watching for every potential fashion faux pas, performers cannot wear the same outfit to several shows in a row.

The petite Uthe, who said she preferred the soft-pastel tones of Biyan, said she realized that she needed to try different things to ensure she is not stuck in one outdated image.

Several months ago, when the miniskirt made a comeback, she wore one. For a recent TV appearance, she wore a dress by Didi Budiardjo in lace and shantung, with a sabrina cut at the shoulders that spread broadly from the waist down.

"This time the style resembled that of Audrey Hepburn," Uthe said.

Some entertainers feel completely at ease in the creations of a preferred designer.

"Once you try Sebastian Gunawan's design, you will always want him to design your clothes," Titi said. "He gives you real comfort. The bustier part fits well so your breasts remain firmly in place."

And the singers and their designers know that the former's high-profile appearance can spark a fashion trend.

A saleswoman in a boutique at an East Jakarta mall recollected how two young women came in searching for a pair of knee-length pants matching those wore by Krisdayanti on her TV show the night before.

Titi DJ was known for wearing a beret, a style copied by many other trendy young women. Permed hair came in because of several singers adopting the style. Inul's pantsuits are also catching on; she has made it acceptable for short, stockier women to wear pants without fear of looking "hippy".

The entertainers allocate a budget for their wardrobe, working out the price with their designers.

Uthe said singers needed to be clever in mixing their attire for different events.

"We have to be smart in arranging the wearing of our dresses. If you put on a particular dress in Jakarta, then next time wear it somewhere else. If you would like to put on the same dress a second time, let some time go by before you wear it.

"Or, modify the dress here and there before putting it on a second time," she said.