QUEEN
BY LUCY RILEY PHOTOS BY ELLA SPREMULLI
The band Queen forever changed the face of rock and roll for the world. It was composed of four members: Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon. Their most famous songs continue to be played all around the world, and their reputations as singers and performers outlive them. Together, they formed a band that changed the rock world through both music and fashion.
All four members strongly embraced and pioneered the 1970s and 1980s androgynous style, especially Mercury. The style embraced all forms of fashion to create a cohesive yet eclectic look. The members of Queen embodied a very strong androgynous aesthetic as a band, with each member having their own look while still following the ’70s “rockstar” brand of long hair and tight pants. Queen, and more specifically Mercury, paved the way for that glam-rock style. Mercury is one of the first defining musicians who embraced the style in the industry alongside other musicians such as David Bowie, Prince, and Mick Jagger.
Along with the gender-neutral style, Queen took on the over-the-top colors and prints in the fashion of the time, creating an extensive style that is still present today. The fashion choices of artists like Harry Styles are very inspired by Mercury’s. For example, Styles’ sequined jumpsuit from his Coachella performance in 2022 is incredibly reminiscent of the silver-sequined catsuit Mercury wore on the band’s “News of the World” tour in 1977.
Each member of Queen has been a part of some of the most iconic aesthetics, from their album cover looks to the binary-breaking looks in the “I Want to Break Free” music video. However, the looks that have had the most influence and stood the test of time belong to Mercury. His looks have become timeless through the decades and continue to make reappearances. The one that stands out the most is his white outfit with his yellow and white military jacket that he wore at the Knebworth Park concert — his last performance.
Throughout its tenure, Queen brought forth a variety of looks. Each time the group stepped foot on stage, the crowd saw four different outfits encompassing the band’s four members while still creating a cohesive look.
