The Beatles as a fashion icon in 1960s

     We have been learning about history of rock music with many topics during the class. I am the most interested in both "the Beatles" and "the fashion affected by rock music" all of the topics we had, and then I will show you “the Beatles as a fashion icon in 1960s” in this blog. In 1960s, the Beatles have achieved big success not only as a musician but also as one of the fashion icons to young people in the world. The Beatles is a rock band which has four members: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They broke up in 1970, but they still have given us much influence of course in music and even fashion.

History of Changes of the Beatles’ Fashion

"the changes of the Beatles' fashion"

      At first, I am going to show the history of the changes of the Beatles’ fashion. To tell the truth, the change of the Beatles' fashion is so drastic that it does not seem to be the same group at the beginning of 1960s and the end of 1970s.

     First they debut as an idol group in 1960s. They dressed in mods fashion for example tight suits, and had the hair style to mushrooms cut which comes to be called “the Beatles cut”. They were forced to be promoted as an idle group by their manager.

     Before the debut, however, they had dressed in black leather jackets and tight jeans because they were Rock’n Rollers. 

     Then, their fashion begins to change and grew out of idle group around the end of 1960s. They began to dress in psychedelic fashion. They wore colorful clothes and grew their hair. Moreover some of them had mustache and John came to wear the glasses. It is true that they began to assert themselves to the world with dressing in psychedelic fashion.

Hair style, Suit and Boots of the Beatles

     Though the Beatles created new fashion, I am going to focus on three specific fashion that the Beatles created: hair style, suit and boots of the Beatles.

”the Beatles cut”

"the changes of the Beatles' hairstyle"

     First is the hair style. It seems the most famous hair style of the Beatles might be “the Beatles cut” in 1960s. It is mushrooms cut like the Beatles had in the beginning of 1960s. The hair style came to in fashion among the young people in 1960s. Seeing the illustration of the changes of the Beatles’ hair style, it might be found that their hair getting grow longer and longer.  

”the suit without a color”

     Second is the suit. It is also famous the suit which particular in 1960s. The suit was different from the usual type of suit because it was the suit without a color. This suit came to be the trade mark of the Beatles in 1960s because they always wear this suit. This suit was designed in the motif of Pierre Cardan’s which was the leading edge of fashion at that time. However, it was said that the sewing was the worst for cost reduction.

”the Beatles' boots ”

     Then, the Last is the boots. There is one fashion item with being named “the Beatles” like “the Beatles cut” however it seems not so famous. It is “the Beatles’ boots” which is a short boots with pointed toes and high heels. More pointed toes the boots have, better boots it is . There are four special features of the boots that the Beatles actually wore. First is the leather of the boots is black soft leather. Second is the boots has rubber in the sides. Third is the boots has a seam on the instep. Last is the boots has 5cm of “Cuban heels” which means thick heels of women shoes.

     The reason why the Beatles have still kept going on giving us some effects in fashion might be the fashions they created are enough new and creativity to remain in the modern culture.