music in fashion pop culture

The Influence
music in fashion pop culture
The Influence
Music and fashion. Like love and marriage, they are inseparable. And, like any creative industry, they find innovative
ways of surviving, and thriving, through collaboration,
and become ever-changing.Through the influence of music,
The most obvious manifestation of the collaborative spirit
of music and fashion can be found through runway shows
and through the media. Musical accompaniment to fashion
throughout time is nothing new. In most instances, the
perfect song has the power to convey the aesthetic of a
designer’s work in ways which presenting the collection on
its own cannot. No doubt countless examples can be drawn
to demonstrate the existence and importance of a connection between the two worlds. In difficult economic times,
the development of such a connection is vital. It allows the
creative industries to survive commercially, rather than
stagnate, and allows America to develop a culture within
its own development.
1950’s
1960’s
1970’s
1980’s
1990’s
2000’s
One fashion icon of mainstream music that influenced this classic look was Marilyn
Monroe. She wore her eye makeup very natural, light eye shadow and mascara, that was it.
It was hardly noticeable. The lips were ruby red. She was not only a fashion icon, she was a pop
culture phenomenon.
Musicians and other cultural icons have and will
always influence what we’re wearing, lets start
with the 1950s era of fashion. The white hair and
red lipstick era. For women, the dresses back then
were often designed as almost a maids dress. The
length of the dress would go down a little past the
knees and were sometimes button up. The pattern
was usually floral or something very similar. They
would compliment the elegance with a high heel
that carried a bow or buckle and usually were one
solid color. Women would often keep their hair
curled and was usually short or shoulder length.
Simplicity was valued during this time.
Audrey Hepburn
is often referred to by
the fashion media as the
most important ‘style
icon’ of the 20th century.
Jean Patchett might be the most prolific model of all time.
It is said that she has had more covers then any other model, and
I am not surprised.
1950’s
The most famous fashion photograph of all time, “Dovima with Elephants”, in Paris in 1955 shows
Dovima in haute couture with circus elephants surrounding her. Dovimaon the cover of Harpers Bazaar
magazine of Febuary 1952 is shown wearing a fabulously dotty bombshell dress. This expresses the
simplistic patterns and design that 1950’s expressed.
Dovima Avedon was an American model during
the 1950s. She was reputed to be the highest-paid model of her time. She was discovered
on a sidewalk in New York by an editor at Vouge.
She was an overnight success and soon was the
highest paid model in the business. The aristocratic-looking Dovima appeared on the covers of
all the fashion magazines and worked with every
major photographer of the day. You can see the
classic look and appeal that Marylin Monroe
coined and the influence it had on fashion culture
of this time. The epitome of fifties was haute
couture.
During the 1960s, the music scene was the voice and heavily influenced the iconic fashions that were created
during this decade. It was the first time in history that clothing was geared toward the youth market. Previously,
fashion houses designed for the mature and elite members of society; however, during the enormous social and
political revolution that transpired in the mid-Sixties, the power of the teenage and young adult market was
too great to ignore. It was a time of upheaval, rebellions and spiritual awakening in the United States as people
questioned politics, civil rights and gender equality. Because of the economic prosperity of the period, teens
enjoyed a disposable income that they could spend on themselves instead of contributing toward family survival.
With that money they dressed themselves in fashions marketed to their age group and listened to music that
appealed to them. Men wore trousers flower shirts, wide lapels, and other assorted grooviness to fit the era. The
hair was ratted and flipped and white tennis shoes were worn. Some rebellious women wore tight-fitting calf
length pants called petal pushers with blouses.
Some inspiring artists that helped bring fourth
this edgy fashion include The Beatles. The
rocking bangs, bell-bottoms, and bobcat vests.
Launching the hippie look with cool California
style, the raven-haired half of Sonny and
Cher. She rocked her hair, her long-fringed
suede vests and jackets, her boots, her patterned
bell-bottoms, and always wore stunning Bob
Mackie gowns.
1960’s
New ideas and thoughts changed fashion forever.
Here is a patchwork Rudi Gernreich bathing suit,
in 1963 showing iconic 1960’s patchwork. Personality genres were often seen as an expression
of youth revolt against adult consumerism and
conformity.
People who were in opposition to the Vietnam War were called
hippies. They used flowers as a symbol for life, love and peace
and they created a hippie culture. Their culture reflected the
way they dressed. They dressed in flowery clothes and wore
flowers in their hair and around their necks. Both men and
women grew long hair, and women should just wear little or
no make-up. The clothes symbolized the freedom the hippies
represented and the colors were very natural, which was
symbolic for nature. The style also included bell-bottom jeans,
tie-dye and batik fabrics and paisley prints.
Tumultuous years of growth for the nation resulted in the ‘70s, a decade of freedom
of expression and exploration. Popular music greatly affected the fashion of this time.
The 70‘s became a huge fashion flourish and saw popular music being dominated by
folk-based music, followed by the rise of heavy metal. Along with the musical aestheticism, the diversity also included many sub genres of country rock, blues rock and the
arising of hip hop music. Drawing on diverse influences from both white and black
music, created music fusions and fashion diversity that thrived and cultured Americans
and the music industry.
This era includes undeniably one of the modern world’s most
recognizable and influential style icons, David Bowie. He was
known as a musical chameleon, adapting himself according to
fashion and trends. He would choose specific designers for his new
snazzy suits such as Thom Browne, which designs reflected his
iconic image. Bowie demonstrated remarkable skill for perceiving
musical trends at his peak in the ‘70s and his fashion style followed
close behind. He represented a sophisticated version of soul that he
dubbed. From eye patches to body-tailored suits, his various looks
were all part of his wider view of art culture he carried through his
presence. The most enduring look and the one he returns to time
and time again was the mustard suit. He wore suits with shortened
sleeves and trouser legs which revealed Bowies sock-less ankles
planed firmly in brown wingtips.
classic black wingtip oxford shoes
1970’s
It’s impossible to talk about 70’s fashion without bringing up the eccentrically
dressed bohemian goddess. Stevie Nicks set a glimpse of women’s fashion
through her hippie high priestess trend of her archaic nature. Designs such as the
wrap dress, maxi dress and pant suit, were made popular by designers alike who
have become icons in the fashion industry leaving a major imprint on the fashion
history. With her shaggy blond hair, croaky voice, draped jackets and slouchy boots,
she was the quintessential 1970s style icon that influenced fashion that so many
women were inspired.
Opposition to the Vietnam War, famous artist Jimi Hendrix was known for his music
and his ethnic hippie style and slogan used in the 1970s as a symbol of the non-violent
ideology. He helped popularize the use of the wah-wah pedal in mainstream rock and
pioneered experimentation with stereophonic phasing effects in his rock music
recordings. Hendrix was the heart of Woodstock and he remains almost inarguably the
best electric guitarist of all time, but without an image, you don’t exist. The kindling
for designers that helped spawn his image was Vivienne Westwood and Paul
Smith. He was usually seen wearing a gauzy button-down shirt that usually resembled
the kind that looked like it has taken a good Woodstock-style beating. Flipping up the
collar, keeping at least a couple of buttons undone and adding a vintage necklace or 10
would give it the Hendrix the 70’s look to remember.
1970’s Long Gold Metal Sea
Shell Bohemian Necklace
Metal studded belts became
popular later on in the 70s.
In Fashion, high waisted pants, skin tight pants and blouses were very popular.
Very loose and often had floral or metallic patterns. The shoes were high to say the
least. The hair was long, and full of volume. The style of that in the ‘70’s, was that
you didn’t have to work too hard for visual presence. That is what made the ‘70’s
memorable. The colors were usually bright and held its eclectic spirit. The fashion
reflected the changes taking place across the country.
The followers of folk and psychedelic rock bands dressed in bell-bottomed jeans
and casual shirts with bold patterns such as paisley or floral landscapes. Roy
Halston Frowick, also known as Halston was an iconic clothing designer of
the 1970s. His long dresses or copies of his style were popular fashion wear in mid1970s discotheques.
1976 by Roy Halston
Frowick casual wear line
Later in the ‘70s, the evolving punk music scene inspired its fans to dress in torn clothing, black leather and
rebellious and anti-establishment styles. Vivienne Westwood was a fashion designer whom played
a big role in fashion during the 1970s and beyond was deeply inspired by the shock-value of punk. It was
her ability to synthesis clothing and music that shaped the 70s punk scene which later spawned. Fashion was
continuously changing through the changing of genres of music within music. Disco ladies wore glittery mini
dresses and the guys wore tight polyester trousers. High waisted pants that were skin tight at the thighs, and
loose at the knee down. The makeup was wild. Most of the girls had makeup going all the way up to their
eyebrows, in the craziest colors imaginable. Colors went from blue, to pink, to green to orange. The mascara
was colored also, in red and blue. The lips were bare or just a simple gloss. As musicians evolved, for their
progressive rock music, fashion evolved, to the rocker decade of the 80’s.
Bands like The Sex Pistols, the
punk music industry brought in the
fashionable the doc martin boot
and leather vests with studs on
everything.
This radical shoe design first appeared in the Let It
Rock clothing shop. Because the 70’s were a fashion
boom of America, the freedom to be yourself and
step away from the “norm” was trending.
1980’s
The 1980’s were best known for being the rock decade. It was also the decade
that hip hop had emerged. Political hip-hop came to represent the empowerment of the disenfranchised. Through characteristics of diversity, inequality, innovation and influence--expression of emotion was key. It was a decade of broad
shoulders, framing power ties and suspenders, bold colors and graphic patterns
that conveyed a new national confidence. Everything was loud, from your hair to
your makeup, down to the clothes you wore on your back. Everything was wild
with colors ranging from pink to blue.
A band known as Pink Floyd contributed their
philosophical lyrics to this era. With their sonic
experimentation, innovative musical styles and
flashy fashion styles in live performances. They
established themselves as a commercially successful band with a unique sound and style. Elaborate
live shows earned recognition for their psychedelic
rock music and all in all, there styled outfits were
just another brick in the pink wall.
When Cyndi Lauper hit the scene, girls followed her fashion lead.
Cyndi’s style was not for the faint hearted, she had an irreverent fashion
sense that didn’t follow any rules. She dressed in outfits that incorporated
as many colors of the rainbow as possible. Along with her outspoken music, Cyndi’s clothing choices were about being vivid, heavily-accessorized
and intense that lived amoung the fashion style of the 80’s.
Despite achieving only limited commercial success, The Ramones
were a major influence on the punk rock movement in the United States.
A signature jacket of The Ramones was a Black Sheep Nappa leather
with chrome fitting. The important features are an asymmetric double
breasted front with angled YKK zip up to press stud wide lapels. This was
very trending and would carry on into eras of fashion to come.
There were many other ecentric artists that inspired the fashion world. Salt-N-Peppa burst upon
the scene as the first all-female rap crew of importance, the group broke down a number of doors for
women in hip-hop. Their songs were primarily party and love anthems, driven by big beats and interlaced with vaguely pro-feminist lyrics that seemed more powerful when delivered by the charismatic
and sexy trio. They paved the way for future girl groups to create and embrace their individual style.
While their styles were quite different, they all became trend-setters in their own right. They showed
very bold striking colors, hats jackets and chains that was iconic for hip hop music at that time and
would take a fashion genre of its own. Both genres of music, rock and hip hop, although different,
carried a similar approach to bold fashion and carried out a striking sense of individuality.
So many ideas would come and transform this fashion era. It was a time of daring
expression and risk in both fashion and in music. Madonna became a fashion icon
for many young women around the world who copied her “street urchin” look with
short skirts worn over leggings, brassieres worn as outer clothing, untidy hair, crucifix
jewelery, and fishnet gloves. She attained immense popularity by pushing the boundaries of lyrical content in mainstream popular music and in fashion imagery.
Following along side the pop era of Madonna was the
era of hip hop. Hip-hop first began to pick up among
the mainstream audiences in the late 1970s and
early 1980s, with artists such as Grand Master
Flash and the Furious Five and Afrika
Bambaataa. Experiencing major success at the
time, artists tended to dress in very flashy attire.
Wearing tight leather, chest-bearing shirts and gloves
as part of the surrounding rock and disco elements;
their unique style was expressed in their music and
began to pick up in the surrounding urban culture.
Although Jackson wasn’t the only one making bold
fashion statements. Run–D.M.C. was one of the most
well-known hip hop acts in the 1980’s. Along with LL Cool
J, The Beastie Boys, and Public Enemy, they were known as
one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop.
Accompanying the unique style that was developing was the vibrant Michael
Jackson and his image. Growing apart from the Jackson five and becoming a solo
artist, his music was just as much a work of art as the man himself. Through his music,
dance, and fashion, he created a mystique that engaged the senses and intoxicated the
soul. He had many iconic looks including the famous jerry curl and the “Thriller look”
which was inspired by Jackson’s famous music video called Thriller. His music reflected
his unique life and the public would attempt to replicate his look. This included black
leather pants and jackets, one glove, sunglasses, and a jheri curl.
1990’s
The early 90’s was the beginning of self-branding. It was the bridge to the
21st century which represented the rejection of fashion. This originally started
taking place in the 80’s and continued into the early 90s. It was the start of
self branding which created the indifferent, anti-conformist approach to fashion and was popular throughout to 90s. It led to the popularization of the casual chic look, including T-shirts, jeans, hoodies, and trainers, the generation’s
distaste for all things conventional. The Fresh Prince, Will Smith, helped
to commercialize baseball caps, neon sweatshirts and pants, and geometric
prints. A casual style of the 90s representing a non-conformist approach to
this era of fashion.
Bands such as Kris Cross and MC Hammer took
the clothing risk style to a whole different level. Spilling
over from the late 80s into the early 90s, Hammer Pants,
popularized by MC Hammer, was the nickname given to
these parachute pants. Break dancers who thought of
themselves as being too cool to take themselves serious
would wear these. Just as the people who wore things
backwards did, made famous from the band Kris Kross.
The trend was short lived and onward we went to more
hip-hop fashion as this era was where hip-hop boomed.
Artists presented a diverse array of styles whose
references ranged from punk rock to white tennis shoes.
A hallmark pop group of fashion was a band called the
Spice Girls. Their wardrobe were platform sneakers
that leveled out at up to six inches and in a more modest
look an inch to inch and a half more. Buffalo is a brand
of clothing and accessories, perhaps best known for its
footwear notoriety increased significantly with the popularity of its 20-centimeter platform shoes made famous by
the British band through the mid-1990s.
Hip hop fashion of this era proved its versatility. Snoop Dogg wore baggy, oversized
pants and jean jackets. Under the guidance of
Dr. Dre, Snoop evolved to become one of the
chart topping artists. The rappers 1993 album
Doggystyle caused a fashion stir in street
wear. He would wear sweatpants and akward
tees and showed the hip hop culture to be less
bling and more casual.
It was not the only music culture which represented identity of self and letting go of everything else. Icon artist Kurt Cobain was an American musician and artist, best known as
the lead singer, guitarist and primary songwriter of the grunge band known as Nirvana.
He was a music legend, but it would be remiss to not acknowledge his influence on ‘90s
fashion. One could argue that an entire style movement, grunge, started with Cobains ability to throw together seemingly haphazard elements that perfectly reflected the generation’s
distaste for all things conventional. We bet thrift stores never knew what hit them when
hordes of teens descended upon them looking for worn-in plaid shirts and wool cardigans
better suited for octogenarians.
Iconic rappers that would come in and make a bold statement in verses or in fashion. Artist/
Rapper Eminem would create a shift when he gets on the scene in hip hop attire rocking
bleach blonde hair. He brought styles of a classic American look with more of a Hip-Hop style.
Eminem is one of the rare rappers to show up on stage with great simplicity in his clothing. No
big chains, no big diamond rings. Nothing external to seduce his public, but himself. Eminem
is certainly the first in the rap game to expose himself the way he does. His songs tell his story.
and has been particularly influential in rap music, he has started a revolution, because he
has changed some rules in the rap game and his hair screamed individuality that every man
wanted to own.
The sultry image of pop superstar, Britney Spears actually began her youthful career as an
actress She started in the Mickey Mouse Club when she was 11 years old. Not long after, Spears
began gaining fame as a singing pop artist. The music and fashion industry would recognized her
while wearing the attire in the video “Baby One More Time”. It stirred up lots of controversy and
was knowns as one of the most controversial—solo acts in pop music. She brought in the fashion at
a young age, rocking the pretty in pink look and button down blazers.
Along with Eminems emergence in the mid 90’s, a fresh face known as Britney would bring
out her sexy spunky attire She also famed the white shoe Superga. They are an Italian
styled fashion shoe seen in the mid 90’s similar to Ked’s shoes which later emerged. It was
an era of time where the baggy clothes got tighter, and the shirts got lower. Artists represented a youthful spunk that many young teens would follow. An early era where barely
any makeup and represented a fresh sexy look when she first emerged.
Boy band fashion was not exactly known for being subtle in years of the later 90’s. When the
band N’Sync would emerge, they would take the trending combination of previous years and
put a spin on it. Just as Eminem represented the “white boy” hair, Justin Timberlake from N’Sync
rocked blonde cornrows when first emerging. Just before Justin was entering the “be yourself”
era, singer Gwen Stephani would show her Marylin Monroe influential style. She would
take the classic look of Marylin Monroe and add some studded belts and jewelry. It was an era
that was a bridge combining fashion and style of previous year, into the new millennium.
2000’s
The 21st century brought great change, with the excitment of new and old
fashion combined. Everything from previous eras were worn the loose,
baggy silhouette of the early ‘90s leading to a slimmer suit profile.
Everything from ties to braclets to what artist like Avril Lavigne wore.
She went to a pop punk style which consisted of baggy pants, wrist bands,
ties and spikey hair. When Lavigne first gained publicity, she was known for
her tomboyish style, particular her necktie-and-tank-top combinations. She
preferred baggy clothes, skater shoes or Converses,wristbands, and sometimes shoelaces wrapped around her fingers. In response to her fashion and
musical influences, the media would call her the pop punk princess.
Ties mixed with casual attire trended into present fashion.
The style of individuality mixed with punk rebellion would be accentuated in
a style known as grunge. Bands like My Chemical Romance would
express pain and darkness and dark emotion would show in the way they
wore dark colors. Witnessing the planes crash into the World Trade Center
influenced Way, a member of the band ’s life to the extent that he decided
to start a band. They made conventional geometric and stylish. This band
expressed a dark era pairing eyeliner with any tight rocker style tee shirts
and converse.
The fashion was starting to emerge into a more personal expression of
passion. Either it was extreme casual or emotionally pained, it was an
individual statement with no fashion rules to abide, only personal emotion.
As unique as the styles were of the past, a sense of personal class and combination brought out an era which risks that taken in previous years were
represented in a cleaner calmer state and style.
Artists like Usher would bring in the pin striped fashion of the 80’s, and
pair it to the casual “T”of the 90’s together, and add class. From Nikes
and Timberlands to high fashion labels like Balenciaga and Prada, Usher’s
wardrobe has been through a fanatically twisted roller-coaster ride over the
years. The singer came onto the scene in the ‘90s rocking baggy jeans and
suits that made us question his celebrity status, but then as the years past,
this R&B star developed his own signature look, rendering him a modern
day fashion icon.
The trend setters of male fashion in the millenium music industry would miss a
beat if they didn’t add artist Will.I.Am. He is an American recording artist,
songwriter, entrepreneur, voice actor, DJ, record producer, and philanthropist,
best known as one of the founding members of the band, The Black Eyed Peas.
When it comes to commercial power and fashion eccentricism, he was known
as one of the most revolutionary fashionistas out there. His sharp-dressed
image dazzles us on and off stage. He is known for his flamboyant fashion and
futuristic stage costumes, a performer of style and dictates trends. He is the trend
setter of male fashion in the music industry.
The studded hat was also something you would see this and other
mainstream artists wear.
Artists continued to emerge replicating previous fashion icons styles. Billboard
cover boy Justin Bieber has taken a strong stance in both the music and
fashion worlds over his short-yet-extremely successful career. From being
discovered in 2008 he was a soon to be fashionista. He propelled to stardom with
super human discipline and style. Keeping his high tops highs and long shaggy
hair, the Biebs shows a bit more sparkle in a red T and grey blazer then previous
artists would project. Although he created an extremely dapper look seen in
artists like Micheal Jackson and Elvis Presley, He also brings a little style from
hip hop artists like RunDMC into the melting pot of Bieber fashion.
Being in the spotlight challenges most celebrities to wear clothes that reflect
their personality and show off their individuality. Even if they are in their street
clothes, they are always praised and greatly appreciated for what could become
the next trend. There are a thousand styles worn by celebrities that have greatly
influenced the world of fashion. Styles and music have a great influence on
individuals who value fashion as much as they value their emotional connection.
Some people have the urge to buy the most trendy clothes that were once worn
by their favorite musician whom they connect. Perhaps, it is the feeling of being
stylish and becoming a trend-setter that inspires us to follow celebrities’ fashion.
1950’s - 2000’s
The Influence
music in fashion pop culture
the new millennium, forward.