 Black seems to be making a comeback overseas. This has mostly been brought about by two of the most breakthrough bands coming out of London. These bands are the Horrors and Ipso Facto. The Horrors have brought upon a new sophisticated goth/punk/mod look that many guys and girls alike have been trying to reproduce. What began as an underground Horrors following, soon became a kind of movement in itself.
The New Goth
The band had their major breakthrough in 2006 when their music video that was directed by Chris Cunningham (of Aphex Twin, Björk, and Portishead music video director fame) was banned from television because it contained too many flashing lights that are known to cause epileptic seizures. Their success can also be said to be brought on by English music magazine NME, as they continued to hype the band in every issue. Soon after, the band exploded with a huge following amongst teenagers. The band has toured non-stop for years on end and has even been in great demand down in Mexico. Late last year, the Horrors actually played their first show in Mexico at D.F.’s Manifest music festival. One must youtube the Horrors in Mexico in order to get an idea of how big they are down there. Amongst the footage you’ll even see the band getting bombarded by fans whilst leaving the arrival gates at the airport. Although much of their music sounds like a mixture of every Nick Cave group mixed with a bit of 60’s garage and electronica, it’s very hard not to notice their style of dress. When asked about what they’re wearing, Rhys (aka Spider Webb) answers with “We dress in the finest of dandy attire, I think that sums it up.” Unlike the new rave movement that began around the same time, the Horrors were wearing tight black clothing with the occasional white and grey. Their style of dress almost looks more like the spooky 60’s garage/mod revival bands in the 80’s with a cleaner Victorian feel. You can see this Victorian/Regency style with their stand-up collar dress shirts, cravats (silk scarf worn as a tie or bow), pointy shoes and boots, and their slim-fit waistcoats and suits. In a way you can describe the mode of dress as new Goth or new Victorian.
 Major Designer is Taking a Notice
One can also see this influence on Dior’s Homme lines since then. Dior’s male models are even seen sporting bowl hair cuts, sometimes even covering their eyes completely. This hairstyle has been dated back to 60’s and 80’s garage bands, and is now seen sported by the Horrors. Dior’s lines include stand-up collar shirts, drainpipe jeans, silk bow ties, pointy dress shoes and boots, and various fitted suit jackets and coats.
Not Your Ordinary Girl Group
 What the Horrors have done for fashion amongst mostly males, the new all-girl band Ipso Facto is doing for females. Although Ipso Facto is also from London, they claim that they don’t come from the same scene as the Horrors. Ipso Facto have only been together for a little over half a year and seem to have the same influences in music as well as style as their male counterparts. Ipso Facto’s music is hard to describe, as it tends to have haunting, melodic girl vocals backed by almost a bit of tamed psychedelic and garage music. Their style of dress is nothing new amongst females, considering that the Horrors have indeed sparked this change in style amongst females and males starting in ‘06. With their bowl/bob haircuts, bell-sleeved doll dresses, and pencil skirts, one can see the major 60’s influence mixed with a darker feel. Ipso Facto has however gotten new faces amongst females interested in this style.
From the Stage to the Streets
A black clothing item can almost always be combined with any other color. It is the one color that can be used universally. Lately, black’s polar opposite, white, has been seen being paired up with it. This combination, along with wearing all black, can bring about a sense of elegance and sophistication. I’m not saying that you should always wear a suit and cravats (or dresses and gowns for you ladies), but I’m not saying that you should wear a black sweatshirt and black jeans either. Think more along the lines of a fitted black or white turtleneck paired with skinny black jeans and dress shoes. The look will guarantee to have heads turning and will make you seem like you belong in a café writing poetry. So stop thinking that you’re going to look like a freak, or that you’re going to look like a funeral attendee. If this is the case, one should stop and think of the song made famous by the 60’s garage group the Standells, “Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White”. |
