Grease

Grease

Rock fashion is coming back to the forefront this summer, so we thought we'd take a look at where it all began, and how our style choices became influenced by the music of that period.

At the beginning it was all about 50s glam, as rock music started to emerge through the popular medium of Rock 'n' Roll and as such, new fashion trends started to emerge.

Now, if like us that conjures up images of Grease, prom dresses and cute petticoats, then you'd be bang on target as they were the main styles of that era.

We all wanted to be like Sandra Dee with her puffy skirts, chirpy persona and cute candy-coloured cardigans back in the day, and she became something of a fashion symbol for the 1950s.

Trendy neck scarves, puffy jackets, high-waisted skirts and heavily styled hair soon followed, and the Pink Ladies also became fashion icons in their own right for their funky rock style.

By the time we entered the 1960s, rock fashion had taken on a new persona and girls shed their 'cutesy' image to champion the Teddy Boy and greaser look.

Whilst short hair was popular amongst women in the 50s, by the time the 60s took hold, more ladies than ever were ditching the perm and sampling more drastic styles, as sported by their favourite film stars.

Those who didn't cut their hair wore their hair up in ponytails with blunt fringes, while others opted for the hugely popular beehived look.

In terms of style, both men and women were quite similar during this period, championing tight jeans, T-shirts and leather jackets, although they were all hoping to achieve a truly unique look by customising their clothes.

As rock music developed through the ages, we were treated to punk rock taking over the fashion world with anarchy and chaos becoming the new trends to champion.

Offensive T-shirts, leather jackets and customised blazers all becoming popular with punk followers, in addition to controversial slogan tees, which also became something of a fashion staple, along with ripped jeans and tight leather trousers too.

Biker boots were the popular choice of footwear during the 70s, although later on Dr. Martens in red and battered black were the only boot to be seen in. They were often worn over tight patterned trousers in either tartan or leopard print.

Punk rockers of the 70s were also extremely inventive with their fashion, using everyday items to create new looks, such as razor blades for jewellery and dresses fashioned out of bin bags.

Paint splattered jeans, leather skirts and battered denim took us into the 90s and early 00s, as a new genre of rock started to come to the forefront; Glam Rock.

Scissor Sisters

The Darkness (remember them?!) reinvented Glam Rock for the 00s, making cut out jumpsuits, furry jackets and platform shoes fashionable again.

Yes, it was very touch-in-cheek, yes catsuits have arguably come back into fashion since then and yes, they actually made latex look good, but did anyone actually copy their look?!

No, would be the short answer there, but they did manage to become icons of glam rock, just like the fabulous Scissor Sisters, as they both had a similar sense of style.

They were both individual and unique bands that really gave us some new rock fashion to champion, so here's to the next generation of rock- let's hope it will be just as fashionable and fun as the past 50 years.

Check out how music has influenced this period here.

FemaleFirst- Laura Terry


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