Fashion

How Music Has Influenced Fashion Styles

How Music Has Influenced Fashion Styles

Music and fashion have a long and intertwined history. From the iconic styles of the Mod movement to the glamour of the punk scene, music has always been a major influence on fashion trends. In this article, we'll explore how music has influenced fashion styles throughout the decades and how this connection continues to shape the way we dress today.

Most musicians dress based on their chosen genre of music. We can easily distinguish them through their own styles. Each style separates them from other musicians, and most people who are music lovers are greatly influenced by their favorite hit makers.. In every era, there’s always a popular group which will influence a certain crowd’s style and music preference. Some becomes really popular that can even influence a greater audience. Nowadays people wear street-wise clothes and they often prefer alternative clothing or a simplified subculture fashion. Some are plain janes while others can be overdressed.

When music meets the latest trend, designers and some fashion conscious can be really tricky and creative when it comes to launching a whole collection that serves as a tribute, or you can easily see young people strutting their stuff on the street sharing a common taste in clothing. Here are the popular genres of music wherein their styles have been incorporated into a fashion craze by the modern youth. I would also like to share with you the specific music and subcultures that has greatly influenced my music taste and style.

Glam Rock

Also known as Glitter Rock is a style of rock and roll music that came to be in the post-hippie era in the early 1970's and it was mostly practiced in England. Good example of Glam Rock is the band KISS.
I really love shirts with their colorful faces on.

Glam Rock has also been fused with such genres as Glam Metal and Glam Punk. (source:urbandictionary) Musically, it is very diverse, varying between the simple rock and roll revivalism of figures like Alvin Stardust to the complex art rock of Roxy Music, and can be seen as much as a fashion as a musical sub-genre. Visually it was a mesh of various styles, ranging from 1930s Hollywood glamour, through 1950s pin-up sex appeal,  pre-war Cabaret theatrics, Victorian literary and symbolist styles, science fiction, to ancient and occult mysticism and mythology; manifesting itself in outrageous clothes, makeup, hairstyles, and platform-soled boots.

Since Glam is most noted for its sexual and gender ambiguity and representations of androgyny, most Glam Rock bands wear skimpy and leggings, some prefer leopard prints, vests, shawls as accents, and more.

Popular bands like Motley Crue, Poison, Aerosmith and Steel Panther can be classified as Glam Rock.



In 2011, Glam rock fashion rocked the runways.
Dark skinny underpants, Kiss shirts and some glittery or jeggings were also seen being rocked by fashion models. Some were incorporated by a futuristic modern touch.

Scene which is a combination of indie, rave, emo & japanese glam rock style that has become popular in myspace is also associated with Glam Rock.

Famous scene queens Audrey Kitching & Zui Suicide

 

Glam Punk
The glam punk fashion style helps incorporate gorgeously cut outfits with punk styles and interesting fabrics, the best examples being motorcycle jackets,  shiny blouses, leather or faux-leather vests, boyish pants, ripped T-shirts, leather shorts and studded or spiked details.

 


credits to: becomegorgeous.com

Usually women with a powerful personality and a unique fashion style turn towards this which is not only comfortable but stylish as well.

Sometimes sexiness is not all about wearing feminine, revealing clothes and vaporous or luxurious fabrics, sexiness can also be underlined through individuality as well; individuality and uniqueness are a magnet when it comes to capturing attention and being unique or different can be a great thing when it comes to fashion and style.

The latest Glam Punk style still includes spikes, studs, and leather stuffs with a modern futuristic twist. those who can’t turn their heads into mohawk style opt for faux mohawk.

Glam Punk artists were David Bowie, Iggy and Gun’s and Roses

Goth
"Goth in its simplest form, is a subculture. A group of people who feel comfortable within each others company. There is no specific thing that defines what you need to do or be to fit into the goth scene”

 
The implied black clothing, black lipstick, unibrows and multiple piercings are the trademark of goth fashion. However it’s not always like that. Some people who does not understand its true meaning often misunderstood them as satanic or demonic.

People in the goth scene all have different musical tastes, follow different religions, have different occupations, hobbies, and fashion sense." - goth.net
So it is not always about sad, eerie songs that most people stereotype. They are individually different from each other.

Glam Goth
The glam goth style is a sub to the goth style. Like the goths they still are, glam goths prefer black over color, but can allow a little white or even some red or velvet in their wardrobe. Easily seen as just vain goths, that's also mostly what they are; they look more after the style of their hair,

 

Might wear more spikes, more thoughtfully torn clothes etc. Male and female glam goths look a lot alike, but the female might cross towards the Gothic Lolita look, where as the male easily cross over to the black version of stereotype feminine clothing. – urbandictionary.com

A glam goth is a person who combines current goth styles with high street fashion. They switch baggy bondage trousers for high waisted leather shorts, and rupped tops for black sequined tops. They may still wear goth boots, or simply high heels. Their dominant color is still black, but they add a little sparkle to it.

The famous Burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese may come under glam goth. Ohh, and not to mention they dated, got married, and sadly, they had a divorce.


Rockabilly/Pin Up
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s. The term "rockabilly" is a portmanteau of "rock" (from "rock 'n' roll") and "hillbilly", the latter a reference to the country music (often called "hillbilly music" in the 1940s and 1950s) that contributed strongly to the style's development. Other important influences on rockabilly include western swing, boogie woogie, and rhythm and blues.

 While there are notable exceptions, its origins lie primarily in the Southern United States. The influence and popularity of the style waned in the 1960s, but during the late 1970s and early 1980s, rockabilly enjoyed a major revival of popularity that has endured to the present, often within a rockabilly subculture. - wikipedia

 

 

Women's tops consist of polka dots and cherry prints, just like what you usually see from a Lucky Strike Cigar ad. Red flowers, red lips, red nails and red peep toes are a must.

 

 

Rockabilly is almost similar to Pin-up/ Burlesque and is always associated with retro. Don't forget the leopard prints!!

The Glamorous Icon and Patron Saint of Pin Up/Rockabilly who started it and has become the epitome of beauty, sexiness and elegance:

Marilyn Monroe
   

 

Psychobilly

Psychobilly is a fusion genre of rock music that mixes elements of punk rock, rockabilly,  and other genres. It is one of several subgenres of rockabilly which also include thrashabilly, punkabilly, surfabilly and gothabilly. Psychobilly is often characterized by lyrical references to science fiction, horror and exploitation films, violence, lurid sexuality, and other topics generally considered taboo, though often presented in a comedic or tongue-in-cheek fashion. It is often played with an upright double bass instead of the electric bass more common in modern rock music.

Psychobilly gained underground popularity in Europe beginning in the early 1980s, but remained largely unknown in the United States until the late 1990s. Since then the advent of several notable psychobilly bands has led to its mainstream popularity and attracted international attention to the genre.In the mid- to late 1970s, as punk rock became popular, several rockabilly and garage rock bands appeared who would influence the development of psychobilly.

The term "psychobilly" was first used in the lyrics to the country song "One Piece at a Time"


Psychobilly’s signatured style means tattoo, red lippies, piercings, bandanas, and heavy eyeliners. More of like a fusion of punk and rockabilly. If you put Glam Rock, Glam Punk, Glam Goth altogether, they look similar to each other. So is Rockabilly, Pin Up, Burlesque and Psychobilly. Black is the dominant color, which I love.

 

Music that has influenced fashion has greatly helped the culture, and subculture. Some might may not understand each other’s preferences, but remember that the new trend celebrates diversity. A decade ago, style and fashion DOES matter. People will criticize you, people will make fun of you. Now, look at Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj and other artists having bizarre and eccentric fashion taste.They don't care about the world, and that is the best attitude of all.

I should quote the late Alexander Mcqueen:
"It's a new era in fashion - there are no rules.
It's all about the individual and personal style,
wearing high end, low end, classic labels,
and up-and-coming designers altogether."

Did you ever had that feeling when you felt you’re strange, you don’t follow norms, you don’t catch up with the latest trend yet you have your own style that you feel comfortable with? Share your stories with us!

Image Credits go to the respective copyright owners.. 

CM

About the Author

Cherish Marasigan

I enjoy anything dark, gothic, vampy and vintage. I love pin~ups, chola, rockabilly, psychobilly, horrorbilly, skulls, leathers, studs, leopard prints, piercings, tattoos, red roses, red lipsticks, sugar skulls, anything korean or japanese, tim burton's movies, anything glittery & sparkly. I dig smokey eyes and heavy eyeliners and plain black shirts. I wanna be a pin up girl or a drag queen for a day.