Over the decades, music and fashion have become a major outlet for people to express themselves, a representation of their personality. What genre of music do you listen to the most? How do you feel about this shirt? What about this fashion trend? These are questions people ask to get to know each other. They let us learn something new about that person, and bring us closer to knowing who they are.
The Evolution of Music & Fashion
Fashion has always reflected the social position, values, and cultural evolution of its time. Fashion could be described by class and tradition. For example, for Ancient Egypt from the Predynastic Period to the Roman period, it was necessary to wear the most elaborate headdress or ornate jewelry. Its senior members wore flowing robes on occasions that were more ceremonial. Along with fashion, music in Ancient Egypt played a key role for the people of the time. For them, music was important for the creation and connection to their God, strengthening their faith. In the same way, luxurious clothes were the representation of one’s wealth and refinement during the Renaissance, and music in royal courts was part of aristocratic life. Even to times like now, we still wear fancy dresses to important occasions such as a wedding, and there are many occasions where we perform music to emphasize our connection with our faith.
However, it was during the 20th century that fashion and music came together on a much larger scale. Popular music genres such as jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, punk, and hip-hop present the same purposes, but also gain other purposes. Fashion and music continue to show signs of class, or strengthen one’s faith, but both have shifted more to becoming more personalized, and to most importantly, representing the person. The interaction between music and fashion not only shaped the popular clothes of the time but also mirrored the shifting attitudes toward freedom, rebellion, and self-expression within society.
The 1920s: The Jazz Age and the Rise of the Flapper
The Roaring Twenties were times of incredible social and cultural change. In the 20s, fashion turned out to be a huge representation of liberty and freedom. Women adopted an easy-going look as they gained the right to vote in 1920 through the 19th Amendment. Examples such as voguish accessories, bobbed hair, dropping waistlines, and knee-length dresses, all characterized the flapper style. This look spoke of liberation and freedom from strict societal norms faced in the time period. At the same time the rise of jazz music symbolized a leap toward improvisation and rebellion in its own right.
The Jazz Age had memorable artists such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Bessie Smith, whose songs helped create euphoria and the most notable social transformation of the decade. This cultural shift also spread through the fashion industry. For example, Coco Chanel had works that were sophisticated yet relaxed, cozy yet fashionable. Chanel’s little black dress became a classic, which signified the free and new woman. These new fashion statements showed the new roles that a woman had in society, less work in the home, and more outside in the workforce. The music and fashion of this period both show the ease and independence that came with a new, but constantly changing, society.
The 1950s: Rock ‘n’ Roll and the Birth of Rebel Style
Rock ‘n’ roll first arose in the 1940s and early 1950s. It mixed a blend of influences from R&B, country, gospel, and blues. The rock and roll term was made fashionable by DJ Alan Freed, who used the term to describe the upbeat rhythms of R&B songs that were gaining popularity during this era. Popular artists of the time such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Fats Domino helped define the genre with electrifying guitar riffs, strong backbeats, and energetic performances, drawing in a younger audience who wanted to hear new sounds.
As rock ‘n’ roll rose in popularity, it started to influence the fashion of the time as well. The big artists of this time usually had a rebellious look, defined by leather jackets, slicked-back hair, and denim jeans. This style started to be a symbol of independence, replacing the past styles which were more reserved in comparison. The fashion and sounds of rock ‘n’ roll were entangled, and chaotic; forming a new cultural identity for the youth.
Elvis Presley was one of the most memorable figures during this time. His influence and role in the music industry is what helped the new rock ‘n’ roll genre become the norm. Elvis’s style consisted of R&B and country elements, which stuck with his audience. Elvis’s overall stage presence and fashion style helped define the rock ‘n’ roll vibe, making him an icon of the era.
The 1980s: Punk Fashion and DIY Rebellion
During the 1980s, a new trend called punk fashion started to rise because of the political and economical instability at the time. Rock bands such as the Ramones, The Clash, and The Sex Pistols all had the Punk Rock expression that gave off a strong, loud attitude. This style left behind many of the characteristics of the 1970s, and made fashion statements that used temporary items that aren’t typically found in fashion. Punk fashion had these elements: ripped jeans, leather jackets, band T-shirts, and accessories like safety pins, which goes back to temporary items mentioned before. This gave punk fashion a creative aspect that past fashion trends lacked in, a true style of self-expression.
One of the biggest fashion designers at the time whose influence prevails even today was Vivienne Westwood. She had a great impact on punk fashion, most memorably with her store SEX. Her looks incorporated anarchist artwork, safety pins, and ripped clothes which all symbolized rebellion. Her collaboration with the rock band, Sex Pistols, helped intertwine Punk fashion with music.
Glam rock and new wave also began becoming popular in the 1980s. Madonna and David Bowie were among the artists who pushed the boundaries of fashion. Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust character, a rock star that dressed in a dazzling, androgynous style, served as a crucial reference. Madonna, the embodiment of the Material Girl, embraced female strength in lace, pearls, and power suit silhouettes, reinforcing the link between fashion and music as ways of expression.
The 1990s: Grunge and the Anti-Fashion Movement
In the 1990s, the excessive glamour of the late 80s was left behind, and there was an emergence of the grunge style, a response of rebellion. Grunge fashion embraced an anti-fashion style with pieces like torn jeans, huge flannel shirts, band tees, and boots. The bands during this era such as Nirvana and Soundgarden, rejected the need for displaying wealth with expensive fashion pieces, and instead aimed for a more simple and genuine style.
The lead singer of the band Nirvana, Kurt Cobain, quickly rose to be the symbol of grunge fashion. His style consisted of hand-me downs that never correlated, old sweaters, and messy hairstyles. All these elements of his style show the rejection of the well-kept look of the past. Cobain’s simple yet messy style represents the authenticity of a person rather than their outer appearance. This movement made the statement that imperfections shouldn’t be hidden, which changed what fashion can represent for people.
Hip-Hop Fashion
Also during the 1990s, hip-hop fashion rose and revealed the art of streetwear to the world. Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., and Snoop Dogg all became major figures of this style, wearing baggy clothing, baseball caps, and branded sneakers. Tupac, specifically, usually wore bandanas, oversized jackets, and chains. He formed a unique style that helped him embrace the activism that made him strong. Eventually, streetwear went beyond the streets, with major brands incorporating the style into their clothing and catwalks across the globe.
As for the signature branded sneakers, Nike and Adidas became the main brand to buy from, although many hip-hop artists collaborated with other fashion designers to create special clothing collections. Brands like FUBU and Tommy Hilfiger, became linked with hip-hop culture, which allowed the audience and artists to create a bond through their music and fashion.
By the late 1990s, high fashion and streetwear had solidly combined to provide an alternative to the decade’s extravagance. Additionally, hip-hop’s focus on easy, customized clothing continues to influence design today, from music culture to the very core of international fashion trends.
As we see throughout history, the fashion standards and music that was popular constantly changed, and each one served as a stepping stone for the next generation to get closer to the idea of “breaking free” from societal norms and becoming more personalized, which today helps people use music and fashion to show the world who they are and create connections with others.
Portrayal of Personal Identity
We often judge what type of person someone is based on stereotypes surrounding the type of music they like. For example, people who listen to R&B are usually seen as calmer people, while those who listen to rap are usually thought to be aggressive. Of course, these stereotypes are not to be applied to every person who listens to R&B and every person who listens to rap.
What about their fashion sense? What do we typically assume from a person’s sense of style? When we see how someone dresses, we usually think about where they grew up, how they grew up, and what style they believe fits their character the best. New York City is diverse in the sense that you will see people with completely different styles all around the city. For example, when you see someone in the city wearing a suit, with fancy shoes or wearing a nice button up, most assume they are from Manhattan. However, when you see someone wearing streetwear clothing, sagging pants, oversized tees, most assume they came from The Bronx or Brooklyn. Like music stereotypes, these should not be generalized to people who live in these places, but we grow up to do just that.
However, the type of music someone listens to or the way they dress goes beyond simple stereotypes. They offer great insight into someone’s life.. There are people who will read and analyze the lyrics of a song and others who listen to the melody alone, and little things about how a person enjoys music can tell us the type of person they are. A person’s style doesn’t have to just show where and how they grew up, but how they want to be seen by the world surrounding them.
Although these generalizations from music and fashion help us have a better understanding of someone, the reality is much more complex. To highlight this, I spoke to a few people who have a deeper understanding and more personal connection to music and fashion.
E.I.O, Inside the Studio
E.I.O, a producer from Staten Island, New York, usually spends his free time in his studio, creating beats and writing song lyrics. He is a producer who exemplifies fashion & rhythm. E.I.O wants his music to be a reflection of himself and his own experiences, but he also aims for his music to resonate with a bigger, broader audience.
When asked what his inspiration is when it comes to creating music, E.I.O explains that he wants his music to be up to interpretation, without a fixed narrative. An example he uses is a heartbreak song, where listeners can connect to the song by the emotions expressed in the song, but can relate with their own unique heartbreak story or any other story. “When I was little, I liked Gorillaz,” he says, “Their music obviously would have their own meanings and stories, but I would make up my own stories that match the songs emotions.” Ever since he was young, E.I.O never liked the idea of a song having one set meaning. He believes that if every song was meant to be understood through its specific story, it would be more difficult for people to relate and connect to music.
“Overall, I don’t want my music to be restricting, I want to express how I feel and my emotions but at the same time give space for listeners to relate with their own stories.” When it comes to choosing an instrument that best represents his character, E.I.O says the keyboard. “I like having control and a wide range of options to create music — not being limited to just one thing. I want to have control over everything I can.” As for his fashion sense, E.I.O leans toward streetwear, explaining, “It works for any occasion — it’s not too much, not too little. It’s very limitless.”
From his musical inspirations and goals to the fashion style he aligns with most, it’s clear that E.I.O values freedom and versatility. He doesn’t want to be restricted — whether in his music or fashion — he wants to have endless options and the ability to express himself without limits.
Van Eskaneb, A Lyricist Journey
Van Eskaneb is a rap artist based in Staten Island, New York. A founding member of the upcoming Hip-Hop collective, Nu Union (NU), Van is an exceptional artist with a remarkable flow despite his young age. With a strong commitment to music, he puts all of his creativity and effort into creating witty rhymes.
Eskaneb’s new song Porcelain, also available on SoundCloud and BandLab, is a piece that truly showcases his talent as an artist, highlighting his lyrical prowess mixed with his creativity. “Porcelain was an assessment on my skills in lyricism and wordplay,” he says. The process of making this song took some time, playing with different beats like “Golden” by Ian James, but settling on the beat used in “All Caps” produced by Madlib, which in his opinion, is the best producer ever since Dilla, a famous rapper and producer during the mid-1990s. During the time that it took to make this song, his skills as an artist continued to develop since his first single, Deep Roott. “Porcelain was to showcase how much better I’ve gotten, but like inspirations behind my flow, wordplay, and lyricism? That goes out to MF DOOM, Capital STEEZ, Earl Sweatshirt, etc.”
As an artist, Van’s skills continue to grow, especially when it comes to the production world. “Since I started learning how to produce, I’ve wanted to get an MPC. Whether old or new, I wanted one.” Van adds that he knows he could be getting a bit ahead of himself to want an MPC, a tool that allows producers to record sounds, edit them, and more, especially since he cannot produce as of now, which he is grateful for his partners E.I.O. & D-Tez Macho for producing the beats for his upcoming tracks. To him, however, the MPC is fundamental to the birth and rise of Hip-Hop and Rap. “Whenever I see one, I see the glory and history behind it,” and his goal is to restore this glory once seen a while ago.
When asked who his top three artists are as of now, Van Eskaneb had some truly memorable names in mind. Capital STEEZ being his top artist, Eskaneb said that his wordplay and rhyme patterns fascinated him. “But what made him so different wasn’t just his mouth, it was his heart and mind.” Eskaneb claims. “His best friend and fellow rapper, Joey Bada$$ said that he always left people with something to think or talk about. That’s the type of artist I want to become.” However, Capital STEEZs’ talent as an artist or caring heart is not the only thing that stuck with Eskaneb. He expresses how important STEEZs’ story is to him as both an artist and as a black boy just growing up. “He’s one of my greatest inspirations. Long Live Steelo, 47 Shift.”
Eskaneb knows exactly what his type of fashion is. “Definitely 2010 Skate Culture. Flat Brim Snapbacks, Graphic Tees, Baggy Jeans, Vans, and Converses. What isn’t there to love?” Eskaneb feels this style shows teenagehood in its purest form – it feels like freedom. There is no adulthood stress or seriousness living life as a teenager. His fashion style correlates with the Hip-Hop culture he resonates with. However, the individual pieces itself, he says, can really show the theater side of his character.
From speaking to Van Eskaneb, his connection with music is deeply rooted in his personal growth, legacy, and creativeness. His goal as an artist is to be authentic, as one of his inspirations, to be someone that leaves a mark on the world. His fashion reflects other aspects of his life, he doesn’t restrict himself to just be seen as a rapper, but an actor as well, performing on both stage and screen. His passion for the Hip-Hop music genre and his respect for big artists of the past pushes him to evolve in many ways and become a better artist every day.
O’sean Charles, The Fashionista Mind
Whether it’s to spend the night with friends or a walk around the block in Brooklyn, New York, O’sean Charles will always dress to impress. With time and lots of thought into his process, his outfits never miss.
When it comes to the one article of clothing that best defines him, it has to be his Yuremane Peace Corps tee. The Yuremane Peace Corps t-shirt has a deep meaning, resembling peace and unity. “I believe in treating everyone with kindness and how you’d want to be treated,” O’sean said, adding that the meaning the shirt holds serves as a reminder of the values he holds close. It’s not just about for the look, but the expression of his beliefs and what he stands for.
O’sean describes his personal style as expensive, a little different, and comfortable. He claims that most of the pieces of clothing he owns are on the pricier end, but in his own way make him feel like his true authentic self. “I used the word ‘different’ because I’ve never actually seen someone in real life with my type of style.” He goes on to say his outfits are created with the goal to be as comfortable and fitting to his character as possible.
When it comes to his favorite fashion trend, O’sean has a basic but essential trend in mind. “I love when it gets cold and everyone starts to layer their knits and sweaters in a different way, or even layer a scarf and wrap it in ways that I’ve never seen before.” For him, staying cozy and warm isn’t the only aspect he likes, but the unique combination of styles and creations that can be made from layering.
Although the aesthetic of the outfit matters, you can see his creative thought process behind his outfits. For O’sean, uniqueness is number one on his priority list, his expensive style and different pairings of various pieces in his wardrobe all tell us about his persona, being different from the normal.
So, What Does This Mean?
From interviewing E.I.O, Van Eskaneb, and O’sean, I’ve gotten to understand each one of their personalities more than I did before. I got to see beyond just the type of person they seem to be, but who they aspire to be, and how fashion and music helps them express this and how it helps them connect to their values. Understanding someone goes beyond simply labeling them as a “calm” person, or assuming what type of environment they grew up in.
A deeper analysis on the type of music one creates or listens to and their fashion choices reveals so much about their personality, their values and preferences, and how they want the world to view them. These are specific details that are unique to each and every individual, something that cannot be confined to general statements. Music and fashion has and is still constantly evolving, but its purpose remains the same: To express one’s self in ways simple words cannot.
Fashion and music continue to show signs of class, or strengthen one’s faith, but both have shifted more to becoming more personalized, and to most importantly, representing the person.