John Lennon's Top Ten Fashion Hits

 

When someone mentions an iconic musician, it's impossible to relate them solely to their songs. You relate them to their style too because, as is so often the case with great artists, they understand that clothes, shoes and excellent hats are an essential part of their expression.

Allow us to elaborate. Mick Jagger? Made his name with House Of Nutter suits. Jim Morrison? Leather kecks. The Beatles? Too many statements to mention (though we were particularly taken with the Lonely Hearts Club era). And what of perhaps the most stylish number of the fab four? What of John Lennon? Even with those tiny round spectacles, that New York City tee and his collection of slim black suits, it's difficult to pinpoint his signature style because, over his life, he coined so many.

Despite being one of (if not, the) biggest musicians of all time, John Lennon never lost sight of his soul and that sense of honesty undoubtedly informed his style. “I'm not going to change the way I look or feel to conform to anything,” Lennon famously said. It's a claim that rings true primarily because he set his own wardrobe rules and, 50 years on, many of us are still being influenced by them.

So today, on what would have been the artist's 79th birthday, we're serving up some of his most memorable outfits.

1. When he proved white was a winning finish

How to seal an outfit with a sophisticated statement? Clad yourself in white like Lennon. If jeans are a bit much for you, this is the approach to take: checked trousers and a black T-shirt topped with a white denim jacket. Oh – and a bright baker boy cap. If white is the colour of purity, Lennon was certainly dressing with honesty.

2. When he made the case for the dog-ear collar

A loose business shirt with a dog-ear collar – what's cooler than that? The dog-ear design was quite a sensation through the Seventies, but Lennon was one step ahead of the game. Here he sports it in 1966, blending casual elegance with formality through the simple act of undoing a top button. As for the belt? It looks like stripes aren't just for your shirt.

3. When he proved the power of velvet

Listening to any of John Lennon's lyrics is like embarking on a romantic musical getaway and with a sweep through his style archive we can safely say that it doesn't finish at the end of a song. Proof? This velvet ensemble. We're not sure which item we're loving most here: those likely flared trousers, the long tuxedo coat, the slim fringed scarf or the black beret. The only thing he'd be taking that hat off for? Yoko Ono in her feathered masterpiece.

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John Lennon's 8 Greatest Fashion Hits

 From his iconic rounded spectacles to shaggy hair and a peace-loving, laidback style, John Lennon’s fashion taste has pervaded decades and remains one of the most tasteful, distinctive celebrity wardrobes of the 20th century.

To celebrate his 80th birthday, we’re bringing back 8 of our all-time favorite John Lennon looks to celebrate the life of the legendary singer-songwriter who gave the world not only some of the most powerful music of human history, but some of the most powerful messages, too—peace, love and a great sense of style.

Happy birthday, John Lennon!

Image via Pinterest

When it comes to this look, iconic doesn’t even begin to cut it. The statement fur coat piece is fit for a rockstar, of course, and paired with John’s simple white turtleneck layered under a black shirt with black pants, this look is the perfect combination of edgy without being over-the-top.

Image via Redferns/Goodwin

For the past few decades, name “John Lennon” has been almost synonymous with the word “peace”—and for good reason. The soul behind Imagine carried his message of love throughout his life, including bringing it into fashion and wearing peace on his sleeve—literally. And with the paisley button-up and tinted orange glasses to complete the laid-back denim jacket look, it’s no question why this look iconic look remains a fan favorite.

Image via inspirsession.com

An all-white ensemble is hard to pull off, but when done right, it screams “taste,” “sophistication” and “effortless class”—and John Lennon does it right. The look is so simple yet so striking, especially with the brown details of his bag, bracelet, and shades.

Image via The Golden Yearz

This ’67 flick of John, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr is iconic for so many reasons, one of the most notable being what John is wearing. I mean, the indigo pants with the chunky black belt, groovy green printed patterned button-up and the statement coat with white fur trim? The look exceeds all fashion expectations (especially when juxtaposed with the more dressed-down approaches of Paul and Ringo) and the mullet is just the icing on the cake to complete the look.

Image via WeHeartIt

It’s evident that John Lennon was somewhat of a Renaissance man, adept not only in music and the arts but in fashion, too. After all, this tube-socks with the striped pants and baby blue blazer over the graphic tee look would be fantastic in and of itself, but in a Lennon-esque fashion, John truly takes it to the next level with the simple addition of the bold tie around his neck.

Image via Getty Images

Matching outfits with your bae is always cute, but no one ever did it like John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Their matching black shiny boots, black pants and sleek black blazers are suave and cool, and John’s tiny black shades and cap tie the whole thing together.

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And the award for the most stylish Beatle goes to...

Among Beatles fans and according to Fab Four folklore, if you had to categorise the personality of each band member,  John was the 'clever one', Paul was the 'cute one', George was the 'spiritual one' and Ringo was the 'funny one'. But who was the most stylish? 

When it came to style status, John was head and shoulders above the other three. There are literally no pictures of John Lennon badly dressed. None. You could argue that unlike his contemporaries and the other three Beatles - this was because he missed the pitfalls of being a middle-aged popstar in the 80s. (Alas, we shall never know.) 

But what was it about Lennon's style that was so different to the other three Beatles? Brian Epstein may have directed them in their early years away from leather jackets and greased back hair, to the matching suits and mop tops for which they are so famous, but of the four of them, in his personal life, Lennon was the Beatle who was a true style chameleon. From clean-shaven, suited and booted 60s mod, to round glassed, hirsute, psychedelic hippy - and everything in between. He had a knack of putting together an outfit with just the right accessories and making it look...so cool. 

Ahead of what would have been his 80th birthday, here are ten photos attesting to John Lennon's fashion icon status. Happy 80th birthday to the 'stylish one'.

1 White Stripes.

John adds a rocky edge to a pinstripe suit jacket.

2 Wearing his heart on his sleeve.

The hair, the glasses, the denim jacket, the paisley shirt -the peace proclamation on his sleeve!  This look is so modern, it's hard to believe this picture was taken over forty years ago. I'd put money on this picture still looking fresh in another forty years. 

3 Rock 'n' Roll.

Three words: Yves. Saint. Laurent.

4 Beatnik chic.

How to wear a black polo neck without looking like Mark Wright or the Milk Tray Man. John Lennon gives a masterclass in how to style that most tricky to wear of men's jumper trends. And matches it to his wife without looking twee.

5 John Lennon even makes dungarees look cool.

Remember when they put Marilyn Monroe in a potato sack and said 'Marilyn can even make a sack look sexy'? This is the John Lennon/overalls/cool equivalent.

6 Beige is not boring.

John Lennon proves his monochromatic game is on point: his beige jacket/shirt combo works as the perfect light background to highlight his quirky accessories - those iconic sunglasses and the rainbow friendship bracelet.

7 Baker boy hat.

John Lennon and the Beatles were doing baker boy hats years before Beckham and his tribe cottoned on to the look. 

8 Pyjama party.

Even after having laid in bed for two weeks for their famous honeymoon/political statement 'bed in', John (and Yoko) looked immaculate in white matching pyjamas. They not only matched eachother, but also blended with the bedsheets, curtains, walls. And of course, the 'purity' of their peace message. A masterclass in couples bed dressing. 

9 The Henley and the fake fur.

A thin cotton t-shirt and a shaggy black coat. John Lennon does Kate Moss chic before she even walked the earth.

10 The 50s movie star trunks.

Overdressed for the pool party? Didn't bother John! Oh, and those boots.