By: Helen Kennedy
Music and fashion have always come hand in hand. When the Beatles were first styled by Fiona Adams, they appealed to the masses and their many looks set off trends that are still being reinvented today- take the iconic Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club military jacket designed by costume duo Bermans & Nathans for example. Female musicians are usually at the forefront of this styling trend; Diana Ross and the Supreme’s sparkled in matching dresses and Lady Gaga now wears haute couture pieces on tour by the likes of Alexander Mc Queen. Florence Welch is another star whose individual style has been splattered across every fashion publication over the past few months.
However it is the men who seem to be reverting back to the Beatles heyday. A new trend emerging from recording studios today is that bands are opting to employ stylists to help perfect their look. Whatever happened to the do it yourself mantra of Morrissey that had fans on bicycles following him around Manchester in his trademark nerd glasses and Smith’s tees? No longer do the same dirt encrusted jeans and creased t-shirts of bands’ first album suffice, unless of course they have been manipulated that way on purpose.
When they first started out, Kings of Leon wore clothes tailored by Mother Followill which made it
very difficult for people to emulate their style. After the release of their third album, the long knotted hair and bushy beards were exchanged for a more well-kempt look (except for the drummer Nathan who has held onto his long greasy mane). At red carpeted events they are styled in tailored designer gear and decked out in Burberry and All Saints whilst performing. They have also collaborated with French designers Surface to Air to create a limited edition clothing line which will be sold exclusively at Paris Texas, Copenhagen. I wonder if poor Molly dwelling in her Chamber would approve?
Tom Meighan of Kasabian recently shed his luscious locks as soon as their most recent album, West Ryder Lunatic Asylum, became a hit. Even Pete Doherty cleaned up his dishevelled look for a fashion spread in Elle magazine’s October issue, where he smartened up in a custom-made wool suit by Edward Sexton with Burberry accessories (pictured). What is the need for already established musicians to change their look in favour of more styled appearances?
Downloading and streaming are massive problems in the music industry and CD figures show a huge decrease in recent years. Bands have stepped up their game and feel the need to appeal to a wider audience by looking the part. It’s not all about selling records though as Alex Turner excellently demonstrates. It is a natural trend that as your music matures, your look does too. Having a fashionista girlfriend might make it slightly easier to master this transition, but it’s no doubt that he looks dapper in celebrity tailor Spencer Hart’s designs, who also provides ‘cocktail suits’ for David Bowie.
This exchange of fashion tips between the two genders in the music business has been bubbling for 
a while now. But it has suddenly exploded with the introduction of preened bands such as The Script, and of course the transformation of more experienced bands mentioned above. This trend will certainly affect how the bands of tomorrow will dress, and may even influence lyrics as bands are singing about themselves, and to quote KOL “sex”, being on fire.
