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Dressed To the Beat: The Inseparable Relationship Between Fashion and Music
Picture a concert hall just before the lights go down, the crowd buzzing with anticipation as the artist prepares to take the stage. The crowd is a visual expression of the music they're waiting to hear, from carefully curated vintage looks to oversized silhouettes, leather and statement accessories. When the artist finally graces the stage, their clothing becomes part of the visual performance. Fashion is more than the clothes we wear; it physically represents the cultures, communities and experiences that shape us. Similarly, music permits artists to communicate their cultural backgrounds, influences and identities. Both are creative mediums and hold an interesting relationship, particularly when they intersect.
Japanese designer Takahiro Miyashita demonstrates this relationship through his cult label Number (N)ine. Known for his fascination with rock music, Miyashita frequently incorporated subtle musical references into his collections, particularly through his admiration for Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, recreating the singer’s signature red-and-black striped mohair sweater. Musical notes and lyrics also appeared in the detailing of his garments. Rather than simply referencing musicians through graphic prints or band merchandise, Miyashita translated their influence into the very identity of his designs. His work illustrates how music can become more than a source of inspiration by informing an entire design philosophy.
The relationship, however, is far from one-sided. Just as designers look to musicians for creative direction, musicians have increasingly embraced fashion as an extension of their own artistry. A$AP Rocky is perhaps one of the most recognisable examples of this crossover. His 2013 track Fashion Killa celebrates designer fashion, name-dropping an
extensive collection of luxury houses and designers, from Isabel Marant to Rick Owens. Its accompanying music video, directed by the late Virgil Abloh, stars Rihanna alongside Rocky as the pair explore designer boutiques and try on coveted pieces. The result feels less like a conventional music video and more like a moving fashion editorial, blurring the boundaries between music, fashion and visual storytelling. Rocky's relationship with fashion extends beyond personal styling and lyrical references. Through his creative collective AWGE and fashion label American Sabotage, he has ventured into design himself, exhibiting that his interest in fashion goes well beyond the wardrobe of a performer.
More recently, Charli XCX has offered another interesting example of this crossover. Following the cultural phenomenon of Brat, her work has increasingly moved between music, fashion and film. Her 2026 project Music, Fashion, Film makes this relationship particularly apparent. Its single SS26 draws directly on the language of fashion, alongside brief appearances by publicist Lucien Pagès, editor Carine Roitfeld, and fashion designer Vaccarello in the music video, set in the midst of a fashion show. The accompanying album artwork features fashion designer Marc Jacobs alongside musician John Cale and filmmaker Martin Scorsese. The cover itself becomes a statement about the creative worlds that inform her work.
Beyond designers drawing from music and musicians entering the fashion industry, certain artists have become enduring style references in their own right. Aaliyah is a particularly compelling example. Her signature combination of oversized trousers, cropped tops and baggy denim helped establish an aesthetic that continues to influence contemporary streetwear. Developed alongside stylist Derek Lee, whose inspirations drew from the diverse subcultures of New York, her look balanced traditionally masculine and feminine elements, creating an identity entirely her own.
Lenny Kravitz offers another interpretation of this balance. With an unmistakable rockstar aesthetic rooted in the flamboyance of 1970s rock, Kravitz has consistently challenged conventional ideas of masculine dressing. From leather trousers and oversized sunglasses to flowing silhouettes, sheer fabrics and statement jewellery, his wardrobe embraces both masculine and feminine influences. Drawing inspiration from musicians such as Jimi Hendrix and Robert Plant, his style is an extension of the attitude and artistic freedom that define his music.
So, whether it is a designer translating a musician's influence into a collection, an artist developing their own fashion label, or an audience adopting the aesthetic of their favourite genre, the two industries continually shape one another. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of their relationship is that neither needs the other to exist, yet both become richer when they intersect. Music gives fashion a cultural soundtrack, whilst fashion gives music a visual language. Together, they create something that extends far beyond what we hear or wear.
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This was a lovely article. I greatly admired all the genres mentioned and the use of different eras of music.