Music's Influence on Fashion

By Harper Sabin

Edited by Taylor Morgan

Music and fashion have long intertwined in the web of culture, with their roots running deep in the purest forms of self-expression. From the scandalous nature of jazz music and feminine-empowered dress to the nineties grunge movement, venting anger through plaid and disheveled garments, the two have influenced each other through the strength of individuality. 

DONNY RICKYANTO / @donnyrickyanto on Pinterest

Musicians have served as strong cultural trendsetters, using personal taste to define their sound and style. Their lasting impression on people has influenced ongoing shifts in the unforgettable trends that define eras. Take the sixties hippies, for example; their enduring dissatisfaction with conservative societal norms led to a stride toward social change. Peace and love spread like wildfire throughout the U.S., and with it, the drug-induced, psychedelic sounds of acid rock and folk-soaked songs. Powerhouses like The Beatles gave way to slim suits and chelsea boots, while Jimi Hendrix gave us fringe and bell-bottoms. 

Nineties underground rave culture brought us a similar taste of neon color and joy-inducing clothing. Wide-leg pants allowed sweaty bodies to move without constraint, further pushing the dance agenda cultivated in dark warehouses. The techno beats that pulsed through every vein in the venue brought to life a revolution that was not just about the music, but rather a space where isolation did not exist. Music and fashion intertwined in this space to encourage people to express their individuality during the technological and cultural shifts of the time. 

The baggy clothing did not stop there, however, which brings us to the era of early 2000s hip-hop. Rappers of the time indulged in designer wear, becoming notorious faces of fashion powerhouses such as Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton. With southern hip-hop artists accounting for 50 to 60% of Billboard’s Top Singles hitting the charts in 2002, they paved the way for a new sound and style. Oversized tees, baggy jeans and ice head to toe defined the look. Exaggerated jewelry was worn to flex the success of these influential figures, and the cultural imprint still has teenagers throwing 2000s-themed parties in their honor. 

EMILY / @pazderskaem on Pinterest

It is important to note as well the artists who fully engulfed themselves in fashion culture. Jay-Z’s Rocawear, launched in 1999, was highly influential in the streetwear game, featuring denim pieces and varsity jackets. Kanye West, a diverse figure in the industry, brought us the explosive Yeezy collab with Adidas in 2015. Of course, we must also pay homage to A$AP Rocky, one of my favorite cultural influencers, with his own line, American Sabotage, breaking barriers in its debut at Paris Fashion Week in 2024. 

Needless to say, the fashion and music industries have a keen respect for each other, reflecting the revolution they seek to ignite. The striving for individuality coexists with unity, each fueling the cultural movements that every new defining era brings. So, as you continue on to set your own style or follow your favorite trends, reflect on which musical influences have shaped not only your playlist, but your identity.