| (rubbish) article i wrote.
hi!
i posted this in fashion and beauty so they could check facts but i thought i'd post it here too as i've noticed quite a few good writers kicking about. could you suggest any changes i could make and what you think of it please?
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Are you feeling fashionable?
Fashion and music have always gone hand in hand: from flapper dresses and jazz to Mohawks and punk. Many music fans are also dedicated followers of fashion, and often it seems, the contents of your CD collection can be guessed purely on the fit of your jeans and your choice of knit-wear.
Fashion has long been a way for fans of different music to set themselves apart from each other. In other words, it is an integral part of musical subcultures. In their attempts to make themselves as different as possible, the boundaries of fashion have been constantly pushed back. Some of these looks never catch on into high fashion but echoes of most can be found on the catwalk, as much a product of their time as the music.
Some designers’ names are synonymous with a particular style and genre of music. When people talk about Punk fashion, the first name that springs to mind is Vivienne Westwood. After all, she did style The Sex Pistols. They bought clothing for their first gig from the shop in London (Let it Rock) which was owned by her and Malcolm McLaren who later went on to manage the band. Westwood pioneered their trademark style, which incorporated tartan, safety pins and chains. It seemed to capture the spirit of their attitude towards music. Ramshackle, subversive, shocking and dangerous, it soon became hugely popular. Westwood and The Sex Pistols had combined music and fashion to the point where it would be inconceivable to imagine the band without the designer and vice versa.
This marriage of music and fashion can also be less than positive, it could even be said that fashion can be exploitative. Kurt Cobain emerged from rainy Seattle in a flannel shirt that he probably bought in Walmart, a ratty pair of Converse Allstars and a cardigan. Teenage fans of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Mudhoney and other Grunge bands set themselves apart from other music fans by wearing these simple clothes, which they bought for a few dollars from charity shops, as a rebellion against what they felt were the superficial, corporate values of the U.S.A. Suddenly ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ sells millions of copies and Marc Jacobs is selling the scruffy look to celebrities for hundreds of dollars. Grunge had been embraced for its ‘anti-fashion’ aesthetics and values but ended up becoming the biggest fashion phenomenon of the 90s.
Today, London is the focal point for one of the world’s largest fashion houses, Christian Dior and one of the greatest minds in fashion, Hedi Slimane. His recent collections for Dior Homme were influenced heavily by London’s thriving indie scene. Slimane fell in love with the scruffy ‘urchin’ look sported by such bands as The Libertines and The Others. He has also been championing the young Leeds based band, The Paddingtons. Their look is very eclectic and has many different roots, such as the 1970s punk style and even takes something from the dress of 19th century chimney sweepers! Hedi Slimane was so taken with these bands that they were invited to play at his 50th birthday party in Paris which was attended by models and music and fashion moguls. In 2004 he published a book which showcased his music photography called ‘Stage.’ It featured his close friend and arguably his biggest recent influence, Pete Doherty of The Libertines among many others. Instead of hijacking this unique style, he has celebrated it and both the bands involved and the world of fashion have benefited from this collaboration.
Music and fashion will always go together. However, their relationship with each other will change for better or for worse depending on the attitudes and motivations of both the musicians and designers. At best, they can compliment and support each other, at worst they can be parasitic and exploitative. Whatever happens, people will never cease to be inspired and excited by the results of these two cultural forces coming together.
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thank you for reading this. i'd appreciate any feedback.
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