People are drawn to music that speaks to them on a political, individual, or creative level. That being said, when lyrics speak to me, I want to live by them. According to my Spotify wrapped, my top genre was pop, my top decade was the 2000's, and my top artist/band was All Time Low. And I can tell you exactly why and how it fed into how I liked to dress. My favorite songs from All Time Low are decided primarily on lyrics, and Good Times, Runaway, and CinderBlock garden all talk about fun times while you are young. I like to have fun when I leave the house, I am highly nostalgic at all times, and I am very energetic, just like the music I listen to. It reflects in my style. I own a lot of pinks, but it is rarely ever worn without dark, alternative, or tomboyish elements in the overall outfit.
Fans like to mimic the style of their idols in music and pop culture. David Bowie influenced the subculture of glam rock through his avid use of glittery makeup and shiny outfits, which can be argued that these elements incorporated are inspired by sci-fi art and entertainment, creating glam rock. Today, Miley Cyrus embodies this spirit her new sound with The release of Midnight Sky and its music video, but with more glitter and lipstick. I like how her looks in the music video it is more fashion-forward with camp elements than it is costumey.
Personally, when I'm in one of my phases where to I listen to a lot of rap, particularly Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj, or Cardi B, I don't find myself heavily drawn to streetwear like how fans of DMC did back in the day. Caroline Friedi from Alt magazine references, "rappers dressed to represent who they were and the communities they came from (much like their music) [...] the trio immortalized Adidas tracksuits, Adidas Superstars, and gold chains."I put more effort into [attempting] to dress like an Instagram model. These women embody confidence in their music, and the beats behind the tracks are made for a bouncing club setting, which I see myself being the most fun and high energy as an extrovert. The most successful musicians today create a brand around their image, and when icons like Rihanna venture into the fashion industry, it makes it easier for fans of both her music and her style to mimic her and create a cult following that becomes its own aesthetic that you type into Pinterest for inspiration.
source: Unsplash, Brian Kyed
Fashion trends do not create themselves out of thin air, and the messages in music fall under the big three drivers: social, political, and economic factors. I feel that a simple but prime example is the everlasting debate on if grunge is a genre, not a fashion style. in its full practice over the years, it has become both. When it aligns with the zeitgeist of the season, it is even easier to immerse yourself into the subculture fully. There is something special about alternative music, it sounds the absolute best in the fall time. Coincidentally, from September through December, I find myself gravitating to darker colors but more specifically clothes with more edgy hardware and tattered and distressed details. You connect the music with the artists, the artist with the aesthetic, and the aesthetic with how you prefer to be seen.
Sources
https://californiarocker.com/2018/09/26/how-rock-n-roll-has-influenced-fashion-through-the-ages/
https://www.altmagazine.org/blog-post/the-influence-of-music-on-fashion-throughout-the-decades#:~:text=Using%20music%20and%20fashion%20as,that%20still%20live%20on%20today.
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