By Claire Lovinski
From the 70s punk scene to 90s grunge, it is no secret that different music genres can have an impact on fashion and personal style. Music and fashion are entities that are influential on each other and reflective of their time period. Over the past two and a half decades we have seen music genres like hip-hop, pop and R&B drive fashion trends. These trends define eras and outline how we express ourselves through music and clothing. Let's take a deep dive into the relationship between the most popular music genres and the fashion trends of the 21st century so far.
2000 to 2002: Hip-hop, pop, and rap – The rise of street style
In the early 2000s, the music and the fashion industries had something in common: they were both bold. Pop icons like Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé and Mariah Carey were leading fashion icons, while hip-hop stars like Jay-Z, Missy Elliott and Mary J. Blige were combining streetwear with luxury.
Mariah Carey popularized the ultra-low-rise jeans in her “Heartbreaker” music video that became a staple of the early 2000s. Low rise jeans could often be seen paired with crop tops and oversized belts. Meanwhile, Christina Aguilera embraced chunky highlights, bikini tops and laced-up jeans in her early “Dirrty” phase, a look which quickly became popular. Missy Elliott could be seen rocking fuzzy hats, oversized jackets and high-fashion streetwear, while Jay-Z could be spotted at the 2001 VMAS in an oversized basketball jersey and long cargo shorts.
Photo: Lawrence Lucier | Getty
The early 2000s were also defined by the micro mini skirt, which can be seen on icon Mary J. Blige at the 2001 MTV EMAs. The 2000s also introduced bedazzled accessories, which became a trend with pop artists like J-Lo and Beyoncé. This fashion era was all about low-rise, shine and attitude.
2003 to 2005: R&B and hip-hop dominated the scene
By the mid 2000s R&B and hip-hop became even more influential with artists like 50 cent, Alicia Keys, Kanye West and Beyoncé dominating both the charts and the fashion scene.
The era was defined by the rise of velour tracksuits from brands like Juicy, which could be seen on many music artists in their day-to-day, including Britney Spears, Kelly Rowland and Mariah Carey. Denim was huge; cargo pants became a symbol of relaxed, street-smart style. Around this time, skinny jeans, which were worn by artists like Beyoncé and Alicia Keys, began to make their way into the fashion world, eventually replacing the previously popular baggy style. Oversized sunglasses were a staple accessory, a trend that was quickly adopted by music icons like Gwen Stefani and Justin Timberlake. As Kanye West emerged as a music and fashion icon, his graphic tees became a must-have for fans of his music.
Photo: Getty Images
The mid-2000s was all about casual, comfortable, yet stylish looks that merged with the changing music culture.
2006: A wildcard year for music and fashion
2006 was a bit of a wildcard year for both music and fashion. While artists like Shakira and Justin Timberlake were influencing the mainstream, newer sounds like pop-punk and emo were emerging with bands like Panic! At The Disco.
The fashion of the time was a mix of everything from Victoria Beckham’s embellished skinny jeans to Nelly Furtado’s layered tank tops. Body-con dresses and fitted jackets were also big, while the previous era’s love for the mini skirt slowly transformed to longer maxi styles. Pink and green emerged as a popular color combo, which represented the year’s playful and youthful aesthetic.
Photo: Getty Images
2007 to 2009: Pop-punk and the rise of new icons
By the late 2000s, pop music and pop-punk had taken center stage. With artists like Pink, Avril Lavigne, Rihanna, Flo Rida and the Black Eyed Peas at the top of the charts. A defining song of this time was Flo Rida’s “Low” with references to popular fashion trends such as the waist-hugging apple bottom jeans and “boots with the fur,” which were popularized by Gucci and made available to everyday consumers by UGG.
Avril Lavigne embodied the pop-punk look with Converse sneakers, black jeans, studded wristbands, pink highlights and clashing fabrics. While Rihanna’s “Good Girl Gone Bad” era brought a much edgier, leather-centered, vibe to the table.
Photo: Scott Gries | Getty Images
2010 to 2014: Pop icons and the hipster invasion
The 2010s saw the rise of an entirely new generation of pop icons, including Kesha, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj. These artists had a huge influence on fashion, pushing the limits of what was considered stylish.
Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj turned bright neon colors and chunky pumps into fashion staples. Both artists used fashion as a form of self-expression using colorful over-the-top looks to reflect their bold personalities. Lady Gaga’s career at this time was defined by her fashion choices. She could be seen in everything from dark sunglasses with her hair shaped like a bow to her studded leather jacket and Coca-Cola hair rollers, and lest we forget her forever legendary 2010 MTV VMAs meat dress.
This era also saw a rise in not only artists like Taylor Swift, One Direction and Lana Del Rey but also in popular social media sites, such as Pinterest and Tumblr, which led to the 2010s “hipster invasion.” This era saw fashion statements like denim jackets, combat boots, skater skirts, flannels tied around the waist, beanies, fedoras, and of course, mustache-themed accessories. If you’re looking for fashion inspo from this era, look no further than the iconic music videos of this time.
Photo: Startraks/REX
2015 to 2019: R&B and rap take over
As R&B and rap dominated the charts with artists like Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Cardi B, streetwear took over as the most popular trend in fashion. This period saw the rise in popularity of “hype beast” fashion, which was defined by expensive clothing and exclusive limited-edition brand collaborations. Bomber jackets, ripped jeans, graphic tees and oversized hoodies became everyday go-to wear. Music artists like Travis Scott and Kendrick Lamar changed the game with their Nike collaborations.
This time in fashion was also defined by the rise in popularity of K-pop groups like BTS and BLACKPINK, which inspired holographic clothing, pastel colors and “mom jean” denim. With different music groups projecting both minimalist and maximalist styles, K-pop brought a fresh and new approach to fashion.
Photo: ingressive.org
2020 to 2024: A new era of fashion innovation
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a shift in how we view fashion, with many people spending more time at home and exploring their own personal style. During this period, we saw a rise in gender-neutral fashion.
Harry Styles made history by becoming the first man to appear solo on the cover of Vogue, showcasing his flair for non-gender conforming fashion. He can be seen rocking tons of styles including dresses, bows and pink tones. Olivia Rodrigo drew inspiration from the 90s and 2000s, bringing back fishnets, bedazzled tops and bold colors, with purple becoming a signature look. Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter revived 1950s and 60s inspired styles, giving a nod to retro fashion with a modern twist. Doja Cat could be seen embodying new trends in beauty and fashion by shaving her head and repping bold statement pieces. Post Malone can even be seen embracing his own style and bringing a new vibe to the table that features statement suits and cowboy hats.
Photo: Tyler Mitchell
The bottom line
From the early 2000s to the 2020s, music has not just been a soundtrack – it has been the driving force behind some of the biggest fashion trends. Music continues to influence what we wear, how we wear it and why we wear it. As we move into the future, one thing is clear: the relationship between music and fashion will grow and offer new and exciting ways for artists and fans to express themselves through both sound and style.
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