Event Review: Convergence of Music and Fashion Special Seminar

Editor's Note: Steve Gordon, Esq. served as moderator of the Convergence of Music and Fashion Special Seminar.

In preparing for tonight's event, I wanted to provide a summary of the influence of music on fashion through history. So I went to the library to do some research. I thought I would find a huge amount of material. In fact, I found almost nothing on the history of music and fashion. What I did find were books and articles on how music has influenced fashion in the last several generations. For instance, the book by Tommy Helfiger with Anthony DeCurtis, "Rock Style," goes back in time as far as Motown and Elvis. Another example is "Rock/Fashion" by Joshua Sims, which goes back only as far as Rock and Roll.

It appears that in regard to the influence of music on fashion that the real action has taken place only recently. Perhaps it is only in recent times that music has grown in influence in our culture to the extent that it has started to provide us with a new way of identifying ourselves, as well as merely entertaining us.

Let me give you some examples: James Henke, the Vice President of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, wrote in the introduction to Helfiger's book, "It was Elvis who defined the extremes of rock style. Back in the mid '50s he laid out the blueprint for the rock and roller as REBEL -- the black pants, the jacket, the hair, the snarl."

Henke continues: "It's not an exaggeration to say that Elvis and the Beatles were cultural phenomena that literally changed the world. They redefined the images of what was culturally 'sexy', 'hip', or 'cool.' Dressing like your rock idol meant you were, or aspired to be kindred spirits with that artist's musical and 'Spiritual' Message." In other words, those icons gave people something to be!

We could go back a little further ­ dressing like Miles Davis was being cool without being a member of the establishment. Miles showed us we could wear a suit, without being a suit! Same could be said for Chuck Berry. Of course, Mick Jagger gave us a number of styles and identities to choose from.

The point is that these artists not only gave us music to identify who we are, they gave us a look and a style as well.

I wondered what all these characters had in common and why they had more influence on style and fashion than any of the musicians before them. For instance Mozart, Beetoven and Bach basically looked just like the people who listened to their music.

Why have contemporary artists had more of an impact on fashion and style? The answer, it seems to me is two letters: TV. It was television that gave music special power by making the music accessible to millions of people around the world and made the music visual.

Think of it: Before television and music videos, singers and musicians were mainly heard and not seen. You could listen to them on the radio, but it was necessary to leave your house, travel to a club or a theatre, and pay a ticket or a cover to see an artist in order to absorb his fashion style. It was the coalescence of the music, rock and roll and television that allowed the distinctive sound and LOOK of such fashion icons as the Beatles and Elvis to be seen by people around the world.

And I think it was television that encouraged these artists to push the envelope in terms of visual style: For instance Mr. James Brown looked the part of the Godfather of Soul. And the Doors looked the part of hippie rebels.

Of course, the apotheosis of the coalescence of music, fashion and celebrity came about later with the advent of MTV. Like or not, MTV helped create some of the best celebrities of our times. And of course each of these artists had their own special identity, style and look, for instance, the "Material Girl" or the King of Pop. The Result of this coalescence of celebrity, music and fashion: Sean Jean! I believe Mr. Combs gets it exactly right by saying, "It's not just a label, it's a 'life style.'"

He's selling an identity through music and fashion. And he's selling music and fashion through creating his identity, which he calls his "life style." In fact, he's selling the American dream -- the guy who has it all and did his own way. And now you can dress like him as well as identifying with his music. Same goes for EVE with her Fetish line and Gwen Stefanie with her new apparel line, dubbed L.A.M.B. We've all heard about these endorsement deals. But what drives them is that you can now identify with your favorite performer by dressing like your favorite performer, instead of just listening to his music.

But what is the future of the convergence of music and fashion? Will it grow even more and take different forms? Will fashion sites that sell a celebrity¹s clothes start to sell their music as well? This seminar will address these issues and many more.

To hear the entire seminar, click on www.SteveGordonLaw.com after July 1, 04.