In order to understand the Classic Rock costume ideas, I researched artists within the Classic Rock genre and their particular style of clothing. Firstly, I began by researching the most popular (according to my audience research) Classic Rock genre band - Red Hot Chili Peppers.
As you can see, the Red Hot Chili Peppers maintain a casual style throughout their public appearances. Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Pepper's lead vocalist) is seen to be wearing a casual t-shirt including an animated image. Although these images are not important to RHCP's logo, this connote a sense of comfort to the audience as RHCP feel comfortable in their position in society. In contrast, this does not support the ideology and style of a Classic Rock artist such as Alice Cooper or ACDC, however, this is what separates the RHCP from traditional Classic Rock artists; they are creating their own ideology within the Classic Rock genre and that is why they are such a successful band in the modern day.
This is my own interpretation of the Red Hot Chili Peppers style:
As you can see, I have tried to imitate the Red Hot Chili Peppers style. I have chosen to style my model in a casual Jim Beam graphic t-shirt, as it a similar t-shirt to the ones Anthony Kiedis is wearing on both images. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate a white graphic t-shirt therefore, I improvised with a light grey t-shirt. Although this is not an accurate improvisation, I believe this is a sufficient effort at imitating the Red Hot Chili Peppers style.
By choosing a graphic t-shirt that references the Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, this implies a sense of rebellion to the audience as a stereotypical rock stars lifestyle consists of drinking, female attention and lots of partying, therefore this t-shirt is supporting the ideology of a typical rock star.
Next, I decided to add a black baggy shirt over the top of the graphic t-shirt. Although the Red Hot Chili Pepper's lead singer was not wearing a baggy shirt during the shooting of these images, in the right image, one band member is wearing a baggy shirt therefore I followed the style of this band member.
As the rock star lifestyle is rebellious, I chose to trial this controversial graphic t-shirt. As it includes the taboo word 'f******', this is supporting the rebellious lifestyle. If I were to include this t-shirt on the front cover of my magazine, I would edit the taboo word, using the blur tool on Photoshop as this may repel my target audience whilst causing controversy such as influencing the target audience to wear/say offensive language.
As you can see, I have decided to dress my model in tight black trousers. I have chosen to do so as they are featured on the majority of the band members in these two images. Black is a symbolic colour of the Classic Rock genre, more specifically, tight black trousers or leather trousers. As I cannot locate any tight black leather-look trousers, I believe tight black denim trousers will imply, if not the same, then similar connotations to the target audience of my magazine.
Next, I decided dress my model in a unique style Nirvana graphic t-shirt. By featuring my artist/main image wearing a Nirvana t-shirt, this suggests that the rock star lifestyle is supported by other rock stars. This is also product placement, as ultimately, I will be persuading the rock target audience to invest in Nirvana's music. The audiences role model (main image) will appear to like the rock band Nirvana and therefore influence the target audience to invest in this music.
Finally, this is the final outfit I have chosen in order to imitate the Red Hot Chili Peppers style. As you can see, I have chosen a t-shirt that is similar colour to the t-shirt Anthony Kiedis is wearing in the image on the right. Although this t-shirt is supporting the Classic Rock genre as it is features another artist, I believe it also does not support the Classic Rock genre as it is not an iconic colour of the Classic Rock genre.
I have also chosen to include black denim trousers for this shot. I have done this as later images of Kurt Cobain, lead singer/guitarist of Nirvana are wearing blue denim jeans therefore I was merging the two styles together in order to create an sufficient style for my fictional artist.
Next, I studied the style of the famous American rock band Bon Jovi, which was voted the second most associated band with the Classic Rock genre, in my audience research. These are two images of Bon Jovi (left as a group, and right, the main singer posing for a photo shoot).
As you can see there is the use of leather jackets and dark glasses. These are both iconographic of the Classic Rock genre, ultimately connoting that this band is a traditional, stereotypical rock band. In the right image, Jon Bon Jovi is seen to be wearing a colourful scarf, this contradictions the Classic Rock genre which is most associated with the colours red, black and white. This scarf consists of the colours yellow and purple therefore, like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, is creating his own unique look whilst still maintaining the iconographic conventions of a typical Classic Rock artist.
This is my own interpretation of Bon Jovi's style:
As you can see, I have used the graphic taboo-word t-shirt 'Lady f****** Gaga'. I am aware of the controversy of this t-shirt however, by using the blur tool on Photoshop, I will be able to blur the taboo word in order to cover the offensive language. By featuring a taboo word on the front cover of my magazine, this will allow me to maintain the rebellious connotations of the rock lifestyle.
Furthermore, I have included a black and white scarf in order to resemble Bon Jovi's style. As you can see in the image on the right, Bon Jovi is seen wearing purple and yellow scarf. As my colour scheme is red, black and white, a black and white scarf is ideal to wear for a Classic Rock artist that is going to feature on my magazine.
As my colour scheme is red, white and black, black denim trousers are also ideal for my model to wear during the shoot. Black denim trousers are also iconographic of the Classic Rock genre and therefore I will ensure my model is wearing black denim trousers.
I have also decided to trial a leather jacket. Leather fabric is iconographic for any artist within the Classic Rock genre and therefore I believe that a leather jacket is a great prop to feature on the front cover of my magazine. Bon Jovi are famous for their leather-look as are other Classic Rock artists such as Alice Cooper and the rock band KISS. Leather is also iconographic of motorbikers and therefore, this supports the idea that my artist is rebellious - supporting the overall theme of rebellious for my magazine as a whole. I previously stated that the interests of my target audience consisted of motorbiking, therefore by including a leather prop, this widens my audience to anyone remotely interested in motorbiking.
3. Costume Design - Nirvana
Finally I studied one of my favourite bands; Nirvana. Nirvana got voted one of the top three bands most associated with the Classic Rock genre, according to my audience research. The first image is a shot of Kurt Cobain - the lead singer and guitarist in Nirvana and the second image is a shot of the three members of Nirvana: Cobain, Dave Grohl and Kris Novoselic.
As you can see their style is borderline effortless, similarly to the RHCP, Cobain is seen to be wearing animated t-shirts that do not connote relevance to Nirvana as an institute however support the theme of rebellion for the Classic Rock genre as the slogan on Cobain's t-shirt in the image on the right says 'corporation magazines still suck'. This conveys that Cobain and Nirvana are rebelling against society and they disagree with the structure of society. Nirvana are notorious for their rebellious ideologies and therefore this is supporting Nirvana's stereotype, as well as the Classic Rock genre's ideologies.
This is my interpretation of Nirvana's effortlessly 'grungy' style:
This is my recreation of the style of the grunge band Nirvana. As you can see, I have maintained the convention of a graphic t-shirt. To begin with, I have excluded the use of a sole image on the t-shirt, instead, I decided to trial a stripy black and white top with a chequered shirt over the top. I believe this outfit is not supporting the rebellious rock lifestyle due to the colour of the white top. Although it maintains the colour scheme of my magazine, I feel does not match the criteria of my ideology of the Classic Rock genre.
Next, I pieced together The Black Keys top, the casual shirt and finally, the black denim trousers. This outfit is more accurate than the first Nirvana interpretation that I configured. I followed the style of Nirvana's lead singer Kurt Cobain, as he was often photographed having tucked his t-shirt into his trousers whilst wearing a belt. By following Cobain's style in this manner, this allows the audience to understand the ideology of the my main image, as they will associate the style of my main artist to the style of Kurt Cobain.
As you can see I have decided to dress my model in a Nirvana t-shirt. I believe that this is was an important choice to make as this t-shirt supports the ideology of the Classic Rock genre. Nirvana were a notoriously rebellious band and therefore this is supporting the ideology of the Classic Rock genre as well as the fictional band that I have created.
Next I decided to change the colour of the model's trousers. To begin with, I stuck to the conventional black, denim trousers that are iconic of the Classic Rock genre, however, I decided to trial the blue denim trousers as these were conventional for Nirvana. I felt that the blue denim trousers did not meet the criteria of the conventions of the Classic Rock genre and therefore, I feel the black trousers will be more suitable for the target audience as they will understand the conventions and ideology of the my magazine and the Classic Rock genre.
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