Throughout the decades, fashion trends and styles have come and gone… and come back again. While the trend cycle is influenced by all kinds of events, people, and sentiments, the music world has also played a role in influencing fashion and the culture around it. Much of the trends during the peak of classic rock were impacted by the goings on in the world, from the shifting of societal norms and values to new perspectives on social and political issues; the style of musicians of the classic rock era reflected these changing times and brought it to centre stage through their outfits. Take the iconic looks from groups like The Beatles, who donned more conservative-style matching suits and mop tops as their career took off and then veered into colour and eccentric outfits as the psychedelic age and the rise of counterculture were ushered in.
To this day, the impact of rock n’ roll on fashion persists. People may not be wearing skin-tight leather pants or studded vests in public, but the tried and true combination of a jacket, a pair of boots, and sunglasses has remained evergreen since rock legends helped popularise the style decades ago.
The ever-changing fashion of rock
Whether it was glam, punk, metal, or grunge, the genres of rock brought forth a wide range of fashion subcultures and trends. Rockstars were the face of the social resistance, and they did so through fashion, rejecting the conservative styles and values in favour of individual expression and a reflection of the times. Glam rock legends like Alice Cooper Group often wore shiny clothes, sequins, and stretch lamé fabrics, often homemade or designed by Dennis Dunaway’s wife Cindy. Leather, spikes, and other biker accessories became popular in the 1980s thanks to bands like Judas Priest. Nirvana took the style to a more understated route as grunge emerged, sporting chunk boots, flannel, and simple t-shirts instead of the extravagant style. Though the styles and trends often shifted, jackets, boots, and sunglasses remained consistent elements in rock fashion and continue to represent it today.
The evergreen rock look
Though the styles and trends often shifted, jackets, boots, and sunglasses remained consistent elements in rock fashion and continue to represent it today. Think about the iconic style of the Ramones, who often donned matching leather jackets and simple band tees, their visual imagery lasting to the present day. These staples are still in rotation today because they’re timeless, stylish, and leave a lot of room for personal expression to come through.
For rockstars, a pair of shades had a practical purpose and an aesthetic one. They elevate style while protecting the eyes from bright stage lights or camera flashes. Even if you aren’t a rock icon, sunglasses still provide function and fashion. Evergreen styles like Wayfarer-style shades and small round frames were popular then and now and still give that rockstar-edge look. Leather jackets also became highly sought-after garments when musicians popularised them, going from biker attire to a quintessential rock staple. They’re still rock n’ roll but have also evolved into a high-fashion wardrobe element. Boots became a symbol of youthful rebellion and working-class roots, as musicians and fans often wore them as an anti-fashion statement. They still provide that edginess to a style, and are versatile pieces that can be worn with both a more simple look and a more hardcore, punk rock vibe.
Like rock music, fashion has often responded to the current cultures, norms, and events of the world. These rock n’ roll staples provide the right amount of versatility and personality that can be mixed and matched no matter the era or current trend cycle, a great testament to the timelessness of the genre as well.
