The world of music is a very complex system. Music, can be argued, is in many ways the ultimate art, as it manages to express human emotion in an abstract way the most of all the arts, using the least of means of expression. This is why, in the realm of the arts, music has a unique and special place. It can even be argued that music is in many ways a very special type of art due to its unique character. While photography is influenced by painting, ballet by the theater and cinematography by all other arts, music is not connected in this manner to any other creative endeavor.
This is most likely one of the reasons why music has such a strong power over people. Think about it. Music has the power to uplift you, to drive you down, to generate a wide range of emotions within you in a matter of seconds. It is the soundtrack of life. This is why, for so many, music is strongly tied together with the concept of memory.
In music, one can find meaning, hope or purpose. Music can serve as a background or as the object of one’s focus.
Because music is so strongly connected to the human soul, it is connected to so many aspects of life. One of these is personal style. Every genre of music is in one way or another associated with an aesthetic. This principle applies to both genres of music or to whole artistic movements. Music is ceremonial – a connector between the soul and the world, and thus, it is connected to both our inside and our outside expression of our inside.
Discover in this mood board a collection of vintage music-related photographs found in the New York Public Library, which show how people across time and space have connected their appearance with the performance of music.
Tucker, C. W. — Photographer. ca. 1906
Source: Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection / Music – horn
Falk, B. J. (Benjamin J.) – Photographer
Source: Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection / Music — regional — Japanese
Source: Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection / Music — regional — M-Z
Source: Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection / Music — 1900s
Source: Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection / Music — regional — Mexican
Source: Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection / Music — regional — African
Source information not available
Source: Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection / Music — violin
Fraquoh and Franchomme
Further reading:
Fashion trends and music (Part I)
Musicians with their own fashion lines
P.S. We want to hear from you! How do you connect with music? What genre/movement is your favorite? How does it connect with your outside? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!