Completed Double Page Article

Just in case the article is needed, here it is in text format :
This week INFLUENCE has a very special treat for you! As usual we have investigated the world of music and examined its influences but this time with a difference! Do you have a passion for music? Yes? Well, that swiftly brings me to my next question. Do you have a passion for FASHION? Yes, you have heard this before, but this time it’s not Bratz girl power, this article explores the fashion on the High Street and how much music plays a huge part in your wardrobe. All in this weeks, STYLE SPEAKS!
Scouring Birmingham’s city centre, I was in awe of the huge spectrum of dress styles that there are out there, and one way or another, they are all somehow related to music or a particular music artist. Bust first, it was off to the Bullring! The very popular High Street stores were filled with an array of different clothing, accessories and footwear, and the first place that took my fancy was the very retro looking shop CULT. This shop’s stock is pretty much generic, carrying more or less the same vibe in women’s and menswear. The most popular brand in the shop was the Japanese founded label “Superdry”. This was plastered across the whole store, many of the shoppers I saw and had pretty much invaded the whole city centre! The selection of loose yet wonderfully tailored polo shirts, hoodies and jeans suited the casual music fan perfectly. The stylish and well known design of labels such as Superdry, Gio Goi and Paul’s Boutique create the perfect, updated and trendy look that most soft/indie rockers would love to be seen in. The clothes are simple yet effortlessly stylish, just as the music is!
At the complete other end of the spectrum I came across the highly popular sportswear shop, JD. The style is again generic, the fashion unique. Most suitable for those influenced by Hip Hop and R n B music as there is a wide range of tracksuits, hoodies and all the latest trainers by top brands such as Nike, Adidas and Lacoste. This genre of music listener has a distinctive yet unique, as they team baggy, casual sportswear with the brightest, blondest and ‘out there’ accessories that money can buy.
On this voyage for the answers to all your fashion mysteries I spotted a lot of urban music listeners sporting the renowned, world famous New Era caps. Intrigued by this craze I went to the New Era shop on the High Street and I was amazed at the number of different coloured, branded and patterned caps that one shop can hold! However, the listeners don’t just go to sports shops, everywhere is picking up this funky new style and actually, the categorised music listeners even swap and share each others style! For example, take the Oasis Market, also known as “The Goth Shop” by many Birmingham shoppers. Displaying a lot of rock music emo inspired funky and original outfits on the mannequins, this shop come tattoo parlour and piercing studio challenged the norm of fashion as we know it. By selling expected things such as fluorescent hoodies, tutu’s, All Star Converse and the most sought after accessories such as patterned gloves, legwarmers, coloured laces and only the boldest of jewellery, this underrated shop combines Hip Hop and Rock effortlessly - and why is this you ask? Well, you do remember the controversial yet revolutionary duet that also combined these very two genres, Run DMC and Aerosmith – Walk This Way. Well, this huge step in the right direction didn’t only influence fashion; it also showed other music artists where it’s at! Take the new James Bond theme tune; Jack White (guitarist from rock band The White Stripes) and worldwide R n B superstar, Alicia Keys joined together to make “Another Way To Die”. This song created a unity of mutual appreciation by fans of both genres. Nearly every store on the High Street followed the lead of this revelation. Shops such as H & M and New Look had mannequins displaying each genre alone and together, and to be honest, looking around, so did the happy shoppers! Not only did the shops make this change, but the leading brands did it too! Old School but trendy brands such as Reebok and Dunlop have made a welcome comeback by selling bright coloured retro high-tops and are right on style. Even the more urban brands like Nike are making the most of this “crossover”! This move is highly promoted by huge rap artists such as Wiley, Dizzee Rascal and Lethal Bizzle, and by the looks of things, now by the fans also!
But the one thing this experience has made clear to me is that you should never judge a book by its cover because it’s most likely that you’ll be wrong. The changing face of music is reflected in fashion and whilst some people’s personal styles are predictable from their music taste, nowadays most others are the complete opposite!