Someone here wrote an article and asked for advice. I copied and pasted it into 'Word' and while I was editing the article, kittyradio shut down and I can't find the original post.
You might recognize this if you recall that you called your piece 'rubbish'. It was not rubbish. If you respect your work, others will respect it.
Here's the edited version:
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. It's an integral part of musical subcultures. In an attempt to separate themselves from each other, fans constantly push the boundaries of fashion. Some looks never catch on, 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 served as stylist to the Sex Pistols. The Pistols bought clothing for their first gig from Westwood's 'Let It Rock' shop in London. She co-owned the shop with Malcolm McLaren, who later went on to manage the band. Westwood pioneered the Sex Pistols' trademark style, which incorporated tartan, safety pins and chains. It captured the spirit of their attitude; ramshackle, subversive, shocking and dangerous. The style soon became hugely popular. Westwood and The Sex Pistols had combined music and fashion to the point that was inconceivable to imagine the band without the designer and vice versa.
The marriage of music and fashion can also be construed as less than positive. It could even be said that fashion can be exploitative of artists. Kurt Cobain emerged from rainy Seattle in a flannel shirt that he probably bought from Walmart, a ratty pair of Converse All-Stars and a cardigan. 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 to rebel against what they felt were the superficial, corporate values of most Americans. Suddenly ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ sold millions and Marc Jacobs sold 'the scruffy look' to celebrities for hundreds of dollars. Grunge was embraced for its ‘anti-fashion’ aesthetics and values but ended up becoming the biggest fashion phenomena 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 also champions the young Leeds based band, The Paddingtons. The band's look is very eclectic and has many different roots, such as 1970s punk, and surprisingly 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, music insiders and fashion moguls.
In 2004, Slimane published a book called 'Stage' which showcases his photography of musical artists. It featured Slimane's close friend and arguably his biggest recent influence, Pete Doherty of The Libertines, amongst others. Instead of hijacking this unique style, he celebrates it and the bands involved. The world of fashion has 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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