|
Discussion: Iconic Costumes In Music
Member Since: 8/22/2009
Posts: 50,646
|
So as well all know over the last few decades some artist have pushed the envelope extra far and wore things that went on to become ICONIC in the world of Pop Culture. From The 60's all the way to the 00's there have been costumes that you can wear anywhere around the globe and they will be noticed. Micheal, Madonna, Tina, Run DMC, Elvis, The Beatles, Kiss, Prince, and of a recent decade Beyonce Knowles and Britney Spears. Now I am aware that this is not all of the Style Icons but these are in fact the most popular IMO.
First off, The most recognizable worldwide would probably be that of the King Of Pop himself Micheal Jackson. Now he has many famous looks, The Grammy Jacket, Billie Jean Outfit, Bad In Leather, etc... But his most famous would without a doubt be The Thriller Costume. That simple red jacket changed Micheals Jackson life forever... Often referred to as the greatest music video ever, Thriller proved to have a profound effect on popular culture, and was named "a watershed moment for the [music] industry" for its unprecedented merging of film making and music.
Sometimes we forget that aspect of Elvis that was not music, movies, sex, drugs and rock & roll. I mean that which was pure and true fashion trend setting. Elvis wore his hair long before everyone else thought it was fashionable. Elvis wore pink when most men wouldn’t be caught dead in it. Pink was in fact, Elvis’s favorite color. Elvis wore silks, velour, handmade and custom shirts before anyone else thought to do it. Elvis wore big belts, jewellery normally not seen on a man but on Elvis…well he made anything look good. The landmark television special “Elvis Aloha From Hawaii” was telecast live to several countries via Satellite. Elvis wanted a costume that signified America, so designer Bill Belew produced a white jumpsuit with an American Eagle patterned in red, gold, and blue gems. The costume’s spectacular calf-length cape proved to be too cumbersome during rehearsals, so Elvis ordered a hip-length cape to replace it. A belt decorated with gold American eagles accented the ensemble. During the show, Elvis threw the belt into the audience and later threw the cape into the cheering crowd as he finished the closing song. Elvis ordered a second cape and belt for the jumpsuit and wore the outfit in later performances. By the end of 1974, Elvis stopped wearing capes onstage. Not only were they heavy and uncomfortable, but members of the audience tended to grab the edges of them while he was performing, resulting in some near accidents.
Beatles style is a journey that runs the gamut from elegant to acid trip. It’s a common evolution for popstars, which makes it rather easy to figure out which aesthetic you want to incorporate into our own look. Would you rather be the young attractive Elvis or the bloated, drugged-up Vegas version? The story with the Beatles, though not as extreme, bares the same saddening similarity. Conveniently, the early days of the Beatles in their slim-cut suits and Chelsea boots is as retro as it is relevant. The boots with their ankle-to-toe center stitch seam and higher heel were dubbed Beatle boots after John and Paul fell in love with them while shopping for shoes in London. Four bespoke pairs were consequently commissioned for the band and the rest is history. Today, Chelsea boots remain a staple for any man’s shoe collection. While you’ve undoubtedly been fed enough helpings of advice on trimmer suits and equally sleek accompaniments to choke a horse, The Beatles are just one more reason to give your wardrobe a dose of Dexatrim.
The ‘it’ girl of the 80s, Madonna is arguable one of the most stylish and influential icons of all time. Famous for her eccentricity and provocative nature, girls alike were trying to emulate her during the 80s. Madonna began many trends including wearing short skirts over Capri pants (this tend is still seen today). Often seen in garters, lacy stockings and wild, teased hair, Madonna wasn’t short of being controversial. The multi award winning singer’s influence on fashion in the 80s make her a true star icon.er famous "bullet" bra was designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier in 1990 for her “Blond Ambition” tour. Madonna’s bullet” bra was similar to Turner’s “Sweater Girl" bra. Both created cone-shaped bustlines, but the “bullet bra” was worn as outerwear! Madonna's “bullet bra” was a sensation during her tour. It was based on an antique breastplate worn by Italian soldiers. The bra was sold at an auction for $14,200.
Noting needs to be said for the next style Icon.... Many people are famous icons for clothing, This next woman is not only famous for a piece of clothing but also her hair. Tina Turner named "one of the greatest singers of all time" by Rolling Stone, Tina has sold nearly 200 million copies worldwide and she has reportedly sold more concert tickets than any other solo music performer in history. With vocals and a stage presence that are just as awe-inspiring as her legendary legs, Tina is arguably a force of nature and a great icon of beauty and style. Anytime you see the hair and the dress, you know its TINA.
Okay, so maybe they're not your cup of tea, but legendary rappers Run D.M.C. brought a lot of style into the world. The trio of Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell, Joseph "Run" Simmons and Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels ("DMC", in case you're wondering, stands for "Dirty, Mostly Clean") created a look that -- like it or not -- defined a great deal of urban culture in the 80s. Black hats, black jackets, big glasses and chains were necessary, yes, but the most important part of the style was a pair of Adidas. Ideally, you'd have several pairs, as the tribute song "My Adidas" makes clear: "got blue and black/ when it's time to chill/ and yellow and green/ when it's time to get ill." So, while they are important both as musicians and as the first group to bring rap into the mainstream, Run D.M.C. always will be just as important, as far as I'm concerned, for their lasting contributions to street style.
In the new generation there have been few artists who have become TRUE style Icons and can be recognized worldwide. Beyonce Knowles has become on of those few. A single black leotard with a pair of pumps and a high hump of the hair with dark makeup and a titanium glove proved that Icons in pop culture did not die. The music video has achieved fame for its intricate choreography, which has been credited as having started the "first major dance craze of both the new millennium and the Internet". The song gained popularity for its catchy hook and theme of female empowerment, and it was ranked #1 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the Best 100 Singles of 2008 and number two on MTV's list of the Best Songs of 2008. The music video has inspired a legion of imitators who have posted videos of themselves on to YouTube attempting to perform the choreography in the costume worn in the video. From Malaysia, to Egypt, America to The UK everyone knows Single ladies. The costume became one of the most popular costumes of 2009 for Halloween without even being in stores. Many celebrities have also worn the costume in parody videos from The Jonas Brothers to Justin Timberlake. The video won many awards from VMA's, EMA's, MOBO Awards, Bet Awards, Soul Train Music Awards and etc...Towards the end of the video, Knowles flashes her $5 million Lorraine Schwartz wedding ring that camouflages with her titanium glove, also made by Schwartz.
Last but not least the other one person from this generation who became a style icon. The schoolgirl outfit worn by Spears in the video is on display at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The knotted shirt design was Spears' idea, she recollects saying, "The outfits looked kind of dorky, so I was like, 'Let's tie up our shirts and be cute'"On the final episode of TRL, the video made number one on the countdown as the most iconic video of all time, also making it the last music video to ever be played on the show. On MTV Latinamerica the video came in at number 7 of Los Videos mas MTV or The most MTV-like videos and in number 3 of The Top 100 Pop Videos only after Madonna and Michael Jackson. In 2009 Spears released the third music video from her album Circus, titled "If U Seek Amy." At the end of the video, the little girl is wearing a strikingly similar outfit to the original school-girl uniform Spears wore in this one. The girl's hair is also in pig-tails, with similar ribbons to the music video she did for this one.
|
|
|
Member Since: 4/12/2007
Posts: 5,851
|
One big for each of these pop culture icons.
|
|
|
Member Since: 9/3/2006
Posts: 27,884
|
Madonna, Michael, Elvis and the Beatles: unbeatable.
|
|
|
Member Since: 2/22/2008
Posts: 46,108
|
This one is pretty iconic too:
|
|
|
Member Since: 2/9/2008
Posts: 32,819
|
I love the list but I'd have to add a few.
FWIW I think Michael's glittery/gloved outfits are just as famous as the "Thriller" jacket, and I think the "Like a Virgin" dress is still Madonna's most famous outfit.
|
|
|
|
|