Article by Georgina Cammayo | Photography by Diamond Dixon | Owl Staff
When the rap group Run DMC released their single “My Adidas” in 1986, fans nationwide immediately sought after the athletic brand. In a 2011 interview with MTV, Darryl McDaniels a.k.a “DMC” recalled witnessing countless fans rocking Adidas track suits and stringless black and white Superstar sneakers with pushed-out tongue, complete with Cazal eyewear and a Kangol hat-a look made famous by the group.
Music artists have a tremendous effect on their followers’ fashion sense. It’s not uncommon to find a fan that dresses similarly, if not exactly like the artist he or she listens to.
When asked about where their fashion sense comes from, HCC students favored music as an influence for their style. Psychology major Shannon Houser says, “I’ve noticed a lot of my fashion sense still comes from the alternative music that I started out listening to. A lot of the hairstyles I used to have when I was young were very much influenced by Hayley [Paramore].”
Quentin Jones mainly listens to metal and hard core. Bring the Horizon and Attack Attack are his artists of choice. “The way my wardrobe is, I base off of how they dress,” he says. Black skinny jeans and Vans for shoes is a signature look for the Mass Communications major, as well as flannels or a band tee.
“Music artists have a tremendous effect on their followers’ fashion sense. It’s not uncommon to find a fan that dresses similarly, if not exactly like the artist he or she listens to.”
Taking the theatrical route, Abby Hevesy says she’s into Broadway musicals because of the stories that go along with them. In describing her personal style, this History major says, “The way I dress is a little bit out there. My musical taste is a little bit theatrical, so I guess it’s sort of inspired by that. I really like to dress up and they do a lot of that in musicals.”
Some students have a wider taste in music. International Relations major Christian Posko’s preference ranges from EDM to rap. Gang Starr, Bob Marley, and electronic artists like Narrow and Sub Focus are a few of his favorites. “I wear tight pants kind of like some of the rockers do and I wear boots a lot of times, but I don’t necessarily know if that means that I go with one [genre] more than the other.”
Unlike Christian, a single artist inspires Nursing major Amanda White. “Lady Gaga influences what I wear because she wears whatever she wants but makes huge statements with it. I put together random things that I like and make a statement the same way. I’m just not as bold.”
The tendency to match outfits with particular artists ultimately draws from our ability to relate to the music they produce. Joe Rather, a Business Administration major explains, “I think that many people dress in sync with the music they listen to not because the music influences it, but because they already agree with what the music expresses and the way they dress is an extension of that.”