Fab Four Fashion

Every decade is marked by musicians who influence the fashion of the times and, in a way, become icons. But perhaps the musicians with the biggest and longest fashion influence are The Beatles.

In an era when “peace and love” was the motto, the Fab Four not only transformed the sound of their generation but also put their mark on the fashion world for the generations that followed.

Early on, The Beatles routinely dressed up in black leather, but were forced to change their look by manager Brian Epstein – good call. He convinced the boys to get rid of the leather and put them in dark, slim-cut tailored suits to make them more appealing and home-friendly.

They often wore collarless Pierre Cardin suits, but would also wear more traditional slim suits with lapels. Many times the boys opted for skinny ties and even helped make knit ties popular.

As for footwear, The Beatles put the dapper slip-on Chelsea Boot on the map.
The impact didn’t stop with what the boys were wearing. The mop-top became popular during the 1960s as many balding men raced to the store to buy mop-top wigs.

As time passed, The Beatles began branching out and found their own individual style.
Instead of always sporting matching suits, they chose turtlenecks, collared button-downs and patterned trousers. They began to incorporate vibrant color into their outfits – the ’60s were colorful in more ways than one.

In the latter part of the decade, men began showing flamboyant velvet, polyester, satin and fur in their wardrobes. The Beatles were at the forefront of this style.

The fashion sense of The Beatles continues to touch designers and fashion tastes. Walk into almost any store and you’re likely to find something at least partially inspired by the ’60s megagroup.

While I would hesitate to recommend a collarless suit, I wouldn’t necessarily rule it out completely. The influences can be seen in designers like Lee Cooper Jeans, Hugo Boss footwear and many slim cut suits seen today.

Never far from the forefront of pop culture influence, The Beatles will continue to impact aspects of the fashion world for many generations to come.