Flash & Dash
Houston designer creates costumes for Justin Timberlake's big number at the VMAs
Backstage at Sunday night's Video Music Awards in Brooklyn, it was all work — along with a little play — for Cesar Galindo. Two weeks ago, the Houston native was called in to create the costumes for Justin Timberlake's show-stopping performance, a medley of the singer's solo hits.
Galindo created red sequined bodysuits for the dancers who surrounded Timberlake during the big production number. "We were getting them all dressed in the same room with Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke," Galindo tells CultureMap. "It was crazy."
"We were getting them all dressed in the same room with Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke," Galindo tells CultureMap. "It was crazy."
Galindo has become the go-to source for stars seeking glitter for big production numbers. In 2001, he worked with Britney Spears at the VMAs, in the memorable number in which she performed "I'm a Slave for You," with a snake. His assistant at the time, Joseph Turla, is a prominent stylist who teams with stylist Michael Nash on many of Timberlake's videos and called him in to create the costumes for the number.
Galindo modeled the glittery bodysuits, in both long and short styles, after a sparkly red catsuit he had created for Joan Jett. (He has also designed collections for Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. line.) For Timberlake's performance, he styled the female dancers with scarves and the male dancers with gold chains. The dancers also wore broad-shouldered black jackets.
Galindo was clearly elated about the VMA experience Monday morning, but he didn't have much time to celebrate. With a little more than a week until Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week gets underway in New York, he was headed to the office to work on his Czar by Cesar Galindo spring 2014 collection, which he will debut on Sept. 9.