Style Icons: The Beatles

 Hey there RRR fans!

Let’s talk about the iconic group known as The Beatles. This original boyband has been through some pretty transformative style evolutions going from the mop top, skinny-tie regular ol Joe, to the eclectic and innovative rock and roller. Influencing an entire generation of young men, The Beatles’ reign is still prevalent, even after the band breakup in 1974. 

What are the major stylistic elements that the Fab Four brought to the table? Let’s dig in (can you tell I am excited about Thanksgiving):

The Mop Top 

Not so much a fashion element, but certainly an aesthetic, the Beatles brought popularity to their infamous haircut known as the mop-top—one of their very first instances of trendsetting when they formed their band in the 1960s. The mop-top was a long hairstyle with bangs that resembled a household tool, the mop. Like most elements of the “unconventional” rock and roll industry and aesthetic, the mop-top came to be seen as a form of rebellion. 

Leather Looks

If you can believe it, before their styles became uniquely eclectic, the brand could be seen sporting all leather looks, a style inspired by American rock and roll bands. At the start of their careers, The Beatles tried to fit in with the rest of the industry—a tactic that didn’t last long for the free birds, or more accurately, Beatles. 

The Skinny Suit and Beatle Boot

Shortly after the leather phase, the gentleman switched to a more classy option—the suit. This instantly became the image of The Beatles, the four lads rockin' out in their matching gray or black collarless suits and skinny ties. In modern fashion, we see this 1960s vintage aesthetic coming back into both men's and women's fashion, especially skinny neckwear like thin scarves, skinny ties, and string ties. When The Beatles changed to this more dapper look, the infamous tailor Dougie Millings began working with the band and would later go on to produce around 500 garments for The Beatles. 

With their straight-fitting suits and skinny ties also came the staple of the Beatle Boot. An adaptation of the Chelsea boot, featuring a pointy toe and Cuban heel instead of the regular rounded toe and flat heel. 

Flamboyant Fab Four

In the later years of the 1960s, flamboyant fashion in menswear rose to popularity, bringing about floral patterned shirts, Sgt. Pepper jackets, beaded necklaces, rhinestones, and psychedelic colors. It truly was a new age for The Beatles between the diversification of their fashion and more groovy elements in their music. This switch in style allowed each Beatle to showcase their true individuality, however, they didn’t completely ditch their suit looks. By switching up the aesthetic from preppy to hippie, The Beatles added in more silhouettes such as turtlenecks, new textiles such as velvet or corduroy, and a lot more color!

The new 2021 release of the Beatles documentary Get Back is filled with raw footage of what The Beatles were wearing back in their time. If you are interested in giving it a watch, you can find this show on Disney Plus.

Over the years, I am glad that The Beatles came into each of their own styles, however, with the exploration of their individuality came the differences in their personalities, which ultimately tore this amazing band apart. Despite this, we have been left with an amazing musical and fashionable influence of culture from the 1960s through the current year of 2023. 

Sarah - A fan of The Beatles psychedelic fashion