When the Music's Over...

 I have been on this great kick lately of seeing every good show that I can.  Within the last few weeks, I was able to see John Mayer, Jay-Z,  Jet, and Crash Kings.  Tonight I am going to see The XX at Spanish Moon, and I'm looking VERY forward to Julian Casablancas at The Republic in New Orleans on April 29!!

All of this concert hopping and music listening has gotten me thinking about Music's effect on fashion.  It has been interesting and at times hilarious to see the different groups of fans at these different shows I've been to.  The difference between a Jay-Z fan, a John Mayer groupie, and a Jet rocker is....well you can imagine.  I started thinking...how much of their wardrobe is determined entirely by the music they listen to. Well, whether they know it or not, for the mast majority, the music they listen to has a big effect on what they put on in the morning.

Music and Fashion have been inextricably linked for a long time, especially since the 80's.  Consciously or subconsciously, music started effecting the development and structure of society and the way they dress with the launch of MTV in 1981 and musicians of the time starring in commercials and film.

Who doesn't remember the sideways hats, rolled up jeans and sneakers the beastie boys wore along with their crazy matching suits they performed in.  The hip hop scene brought us the brightly colored brand-name labels, track suits, and bomber jackets.  Blondie came in with her bleach blonde hair and bad girl persona and became one of the major faces of the 80's.  She started doing fashion spreads shortly after her first big hit.  Oh and then there is Madonna...need I say more?

Let's talk about the 60's....an entire cultural war broke out between the mods and the rockers in the UK...how I wish I could have been there! The mods preferred high fashion, expensive pieces and the rockers rocked cool t shirts, jeans, and leather. Musicians got involved by releasing records which made clear which side they were on.  The Who even had the Mods Vs. Rockers as their backdrop for rock opera Quadrophenia.  The Beatles then brought us mop tops and collarless suits.  The Beatles wig was one of the hottest new items for toy manufacturers to have in their shops.

Musicians were also some of the first to adopt hippie styles. Janis Joplin, Jimmi Hendrix, and Jim Morrison were a few of the many artists who had a huge influence on fads at the time.  Janis Joplin may have been thought of as a dirty hippie, but people definitely followed in her barefoot steps.  Jimmi Hendrix had some righteous vests and jackets that anyone would die for today. When I think of Jim Morrison, my favorite artist of that era...when not shirtless, which is what most would prefer, he would be wearing a tunic with tassels or a collared button up under a wide lapel jacket and skinny velvet or leather pants with aviator sunglasses within reach.  Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong decade :(.

As rock genres became more and more distinct and segmented, the band's attire became almost as important as their music.  Fans identify with a band and their music and their wardrobe is a huge way in which they can express that fact.

Thank goodness the 90's grunge stage is over!  Thanks for the plaid shirt, but you wore it alll wrong!

Today, among many many others, we have Lady Gaga...btw did you know that Gaga was named #1 fashion buzz word of 2009 by the Global Language Monitor?!  A fashion term has never, until now, been somebody's name!  Case in point...sooo if you are getting burnt out on your normal inspiration of vogue, celebs, or your local boutiques, look to your album artwork and music icons to awaken your wardrobe!  The trick is to make it yours.