There’s something almost unsettling about the extent to which music influences style. I’m not just speaking of the recent additions of iPods as an accessory to the wardrobe, however with all of the cases and covers and personalization the market offers, they have become somewhat of an icon of fashion. But no—music stretches even farther into the fashion industry and wraps itself around almost every breathing teenage and twenty-something body out there.

You may or may not have noticed it, but this phenomenon has been pertinent and pressing in the forefront of my mind for a while now. And this morning, I was pushed so far as to write about it. “What caused this urgency?” you might wonder. Someone said that I looked “emo.” Now, this isn’t a shot at all the “emo kids” out there, but that was not the “look” I was striving for.

Step back for a moment and think about exactly how you envision yourself—or what title a passer-by might bestow upon you. Maybe you’re an “emo kid” or a “goth,” a “punk” or a “hippie,” a “diva” or a “hick.” The list goes on and on, that is, at least as far as musical genres go. All of those “types” are defined by music. And not only can you classify yourself, but other people can just as easily associate you with a certain group.

As for myself, over a period of years I have tried to fit into a number of these subcultures. I’ve worn wristbands and dark clothes and skater shoes to try to be punk, I’ve shopped at thrift stores to try to be…well, a number of things. You get the picture. I’ve never really succeeded; I always turn back to the lazy “college-look”: t-shirts and jeans. Recently, I decided it was time to develop a style for myself, which is what started me thinking about this whole mess. It caused me to wonder why people dress certain ways, whether it’s a good or bad thing, and so on. Now, I definitely lack most of those answers, but I have made several observations—some which are obvious if you sit and think about them (such as the broad topic of music relating to style) and some which are a bit shocking (or at the least, nasty).