Planet Notion - Topman and The Look Presents recreate iconic rock fashion!

Music and fashion are like ancient lovers, the direction one goes the other following, the two intertwined like horny Cobra. Ahem, when we say they’re ancient lovers, we don’t mean they’re like some old moose with cataracts and a gammy leg getting a quickie from some old boy in a nursing home. No, far from being stale, fashion inspired by music continues to be as influential in 2008 as it was in the 50s, 60s, and 70s…

Now the ultimate style bible, ‘The Look: Adventures in Rock & Pop Fashion’, has decided to inject a touch of 70s rock style into the fashion industry. They’ve taken a series of iconic t-shirt designs, as worn by the likes of Iggy Pop and Mick Jagger, and reinvented them for 2008. If you’ve ever seen the sleeve for Iggy and The Stooges: ‘Raw Power’ LP, then you’ll be well aware of the designs we refer to. The back of the sleeve features Iggy peering over his shoulder, wearing a leather jacket with Cheetah head print. It remains one of the most iconic photographs taken of the punk innovator; contrasting perfectly with the album lyric: “A street walking Cheetah with a heart full of napalm!”

The jacket was designed by Wonder Workshop; it is they who have inspired The Look (Presents) new collaboration with Topman. The Wonder Workshop designs were hugely popular in the 70s with the major players on the rock-scene; I guess you could say they were the first rock fashion label. As well as Iggy and Jagger, the likes of Paul McCartney, Marc Bolan, Robert Plant, and Sid Vicious donned Wonder Workshop garments - based loosely around the aesthetic of rock tattoo designs. Together with the music, Wonder Workshop’s clothing was the epitome of the rock star style, attitude and charisma.

To bring the designs into a new era, The Look Presents teamed-up with original Wonder Workshop designers John Dove and Molly White. The Leopard print of Raw Power notoriety has been redeveloped on charcoal-tinged material, giving it a vintage undertone. Another t-shirt features two eagles attacking a dove in a kind of “Screw Peace let’s Rock” statement, whilst another features a gold snake curling round from front to back of tee… Special is an understatement.

“We are plugging directly into the electricity of rock and pop fashion by working with brilliant original designers,” comments music and fashion historian, Paul Gorman, an author of The Look. “The Look Presents is all about reinvigorating the menswear market with authenticity and integrity.”

The t-shirts will be available from the end of May priced at £25 and will be stocked in selected stores, as well as online at Topman.com. The range is the first of two t-shirt collaborations between Topman and The Look Presents, with a Nigel Waymouth range of darkly psychedelic t-shirts inspired by the legendary King’s Road boutique, Granny Takes a Trip. If you fancy getting your hands on a Look Present t-shirt, visit our competitions page; we have THREE to give away… Words: Dave Dryden