For many years, music has set the standards for what’s hot in fashion. If we think back to our childhood, we all remember who our favorite singers and bands were. Plus, we also remember what they wore in their music videos, from J-Lo’s pink sweatshirt to every outfit the Spice Girls wore. And, if you haven’t had the chance to replicate their style with your wardrobe back then, there’s a good chance you’ve dreamed of being able to.
However, this is not the only cultural link between music and fashion. If you want to learn more about the cultural connections between music and fashion, keep reading below:
Fashion stereotypes
Evidence has shown that there are stylistic links between certain types of music and the expected clothing of musicians and their fans. An example of this is heavy metal fans. These hardy fans are paired with leather, denim, and oversized black boots. Punk fans, on the other hand, are attached to graphic tees and ripped clothes.
Another great example of a fashion stereotype is pop fans from the early 2000s. If we look at these fans, we will notice them wearing a completely different set of clothes than the ones we mentioned above. In fact, you’ll probably see them wearing Y2K gear, such as a Y2K dress. Y2K clothes and Y2K clothing are the perfect throwback to the early 2000s as they incorporate all the fashion trends of the time, including feathers, shiny plastic accessories and fuzzy textures.
Branding for Musicians
Fashion has been a defining feature of music culture for a long time. In fact, almost all musicians use fashion to make them stand out from other similar artists. They create a unique style before using it as a marketing technique for their music. An example of this is Avril Lavigne with her ‘skate girl’ look.
In addition, in recent years, many musicians have launched their own fashion lines or partnered with fashion brands. Some musicians are even paid to wear certain products or brands in their music videos. This strengthens the connection between fashion trends and music.
Culture of Concerts
If you attend a music concert, you may notice that almost all the people attending the concert are wearing something similar. But why is this? Research suggests that many music fans wear clothing that shows their support for the musician or band they are listening to. In addition, most fans like to feel part of the crowd, so they want to wear similar items to other members of the fan base.
Examples of subcultures over the years
There are many examples of the connection between music and fashion. In fact, research suggests that this connection was evident as early as the 1920s. At that time, American jazz music was heavily featured in clubs and pulpits. Jazz musicians of this era created the style of flappers. This style is associated with loose clothing and short dresses. It was introduced as a way to rebel against the restrictive trends of Victorian fashion that came before it.
Another example of a subculture worth mentioning is the ‘Mod’ or modernist subculture. This subculture first started in London in the 1950s. However, research has shown that it continues to influence the fashion world today. Mods were known for growing their hair long, wearing tight suits, and were associated with modern soul and jazz music. While this style fell out of fashion for a short period, it was revived in the 90s by British pop groups such as Oasis and Blur.
In the 1960s, we saw another subculture known as the ‘hippie’ movement. This subculture promoted a boho lifestyle and rejection of mainstream ideals. Hippies would often choose to avoid mainstream clothing stores altogether and instead make their own clothes from junk or buy second-hand items. The result of this was a more relaxed, flowing style. Popular clothing during this period was long skirts, bell bottom jeans and blouses. While this style may not be as popular today as it was in the 1960s, we can still see some aspects of the hippie style. However, these items tend to be a little less rebellious and more mainstream than they used to be.
These are just a few examples of the connection between fashion and music, but there are many more worth mentioning, including glam rockers, punks, skinheads, goths, emos and bikers. Today, almost everyone is aware of the connections between fashion and music. However, many people do not realize that they have been connected for hundreds of years. While this may be true, this is not surprising to hear, given that they are both powerful tools of self-expression and creativity in our society and culture. Fashion shapes music and vice versa.
