The early-’70s music and fashion of California’s Laurel Canyon is embodied by spring’s haute hippie trend, as modeled here by Willow, 14, and Jaden, 16, a certain pair of Hollywood progeny whose parents you just may have heard of.
During the mid-’60s and early ’70s, California’s Laurel Canyon became both the geographical and metaphorical space where artists like Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, David Crosby and the Mamas & the Papas hung their hats, got stoned and made music together — all while cultivating a style that embodied their free-spirited approach to songwriting.
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From Joni Mitchell in Saint Laurent’s most recent ad campaign to the bohemian silhouettes that hit the runway this season — the Canyon’s re-awakening is undeniable. In this week’s issue of Billboard, creative wunderkinds (and Hollywood royalty) Willow, 14, and Jaden Smith, 16, bring their own twist to the haute hippie trend. After posing in an array of fringe-heavy, flowy ensembles the duo dished on their pen-less approach to songwriting, their relationship with parents Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, sacred geometry and how they make their “inner light grow and shine even more.” Oh, and it just so happens that they arrived to the set in — what else? — a vintage Volkswagon Camper. Check out an excerpt from our chat below.
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Billboard: How are music and fashion connected for you?
Jaden Smith: “Everything that I talk about in my music is pretty much trying to evolve consciousness in the world and help everything become better and brighter. I pretty much do the same thing with my fashion; just try to innovate and do things that people have never seen before and say things that people have never heard before. They definitely influence each other — If I speak about sacred geometry or geometry or math in my music then I’m going to put sacred geometry and math on my clothes.”
Burberry Prorsum light copper caban jacket, $1,595; burberry.com. Mr. Completely white clay denim, $280; mrcompletelystore.com. Giuseppe Zanotti Design blue calf tumbled leather sneaker, $795; giuseppezanottidesign.com. What Goes Around Comes Around vintage printed scarf, $58; 323-933-0250.
“If somebody is just wearing something for the blogs, that’s really sad because they’re not living for themselves, versus someone wearing a kimono who’s having an awesome time. I really look to see: Do you have fun with your life? Do you make the best out of it or do you live it for other people?”
Valentino shirt, $980; 212-355-5811. Mr. Completely bleach denim, $280; mrcompletelystore.com. Cannonball and Tilly Vintage felt hat, $185. What Goes Around Comes Around vintage beaded necklace (yellow), $78; 323-933-0250. Etro tan leather necklace with shark’s tooth, $289, and suede beaded pouch necklace, $149; etro.com.
How do you decide what to wear on a given day?
“The crazier that something looks, the more we’ll like it,” says Jaden. “I love Willow’s fashion [sense], she’s awesome. But she doesn’t really take notes from me because I wear the same thing every single day. I have an ‘Einstein uniform.’ He didn’t really like to change clothes because he had too much other stuff to worry about, and I’m the same. All black is pretty much my go-to look.”
On Willow: RED Valentino cut-out daisies embroidery silk organza dress, $1,195; redvalentino.com. Hilfiger Collection pant, $290; 212-223-1824. Clover Canyon floral void oxford, $396; clovercanyon.com.
On Jaden: Burberry Prorsum The Campaign Hat in aqua green, $375; burberry.com. AMI denim shirt, $255, and denim pants, $237; amrag.com. Minnetonka classic fringe boots, $45.95; minnetonkamoccasin.com. 3.1 Phillip Lim By Linda Farrow frosted hyacinth frames, $275; lindafarrow.com.
What’s your everyday makeup routine?
Willow Smith: “When I do my makeup, I usually go for the no makeup at all [look] except for a real pop of color. That’s what I’m into right now. I’ll wear no foundation and no mascara and just put on a neon pink lip and that’ll just be it. Or I’ll put on foundation and mascara and a little bit of lip balm and that’s it.”
Hilfiger Collection dress, $690; 212-223-1824. What Goes Around Comes Around vintage white T-shirt, $58; 323-933-0250.
Do you borrow clothes from your brother?
“I take [Jaden’s] clothes all the time! When my mom is giving away stuff, sometimes I go in [her closet] and I’m like, ‘Hey mom, will you ever wear this in your whole entire existence?’ and she’s like, ‘Nope! You can have it.’ That’s how I got the boots that I wore to the VMAs in 2013.”
Etro pink suede poncho with fringe, $4,976, and lavender suede fringe boots, $2,000; etro.com. Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren Ella high-rise short, $79.50; denimandsupply.com.
Willow and Jaden were styled by Billboard fashion editor Tasha Green and photographed by Olivia Malone.
A version of this story first appeared in the Mar. 14 issue of Billboard magazine.