Music and Clothes: A Good Fit
My Morning Jacket, Drive-By Truckers, Vampire Weekend, and finding the right fit
And as long as I got my suit and tie
I'ma leave it all on the floor tonight
—Justin Timberlake, Suit & Tie
The right song with the right clothes can make you feel like leaving it all on the dance floor. This week’s Bonus Track—and the picks from Adam, Kody, and Mat—show us that music and clothes are a good fit.
Adam’s Pick: Half a Lifetime by My Morning Jacket
Go drink in every barroom
Go sleeping by the lake
Go by and by and love the way
You get every chance you take
The Jacket released an album recently. It’s great from start to finish, but I’ve had this tune on repeat. I love the feel of it, but the message is also worth pondering. Get out there and take those chances you get—even if they take a while to pay off!
Kody’s Pick: Outfit by Drive-By Truckers
This song is a masterpiece. Written by Jason Isbell as a Father’s Day gift for his dad, it weaves together bits of advice passed down from a Southern dad to his Southern son.
One classic word of wisdom: “Don’t call what you’re wearing an outfit.”
The song sticks with you. Anytime I’m tempted to describe my clothes as an “outfit,” I think of Isbell’s dad—and suddenly, a little twinge of shame sends me searching my mental thesaurus for a better word.
Mat’s Pick: Horchata by Vampire Weekend
“Contra” has one of Vampire Weekend’s most iconic covers. The Ralph Lauren polo takes me back to high school. However, this song also makes a great reference to looking psychotic in a balaclava (think ski mask). Ultimately, Vampire Weekend is a great “clothing” band. They have tons of references to a preppy aesthetic and Ezra Koenig is a bit of a style icon himself. On another note, this song makes me crave some horchata soft serve from Little Rey in Atlanta. All in all, it’s a great tune. Enjoy!
Bonus Track: Finding the Perfect Fit by Renee Toole
Finding the right song is like trying on clothes. Sometimes, you like what you have on, but it’s not quite the perfect fit for the moment. Different moods and events call for appropriate attire—and so it is with music.
When I come home from a long day and just want to get comfortable, I put on my favorite sweatshirt—the one that fits just right and makes me feel most like myself. It’s familiar, almost like an extension of me. My song version of this is Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer. It sounds the way I hope to be perceived.
When I need to throw something on and I’m not sure what kind of day it will be—sunny or rainy, happy or sad, dressy or casual—I reach for a pair of jeans. They’re tried and true. Circles by Post Malone feels the same way to me. There’s never a time I want to skip it; it somehow always fits the vibe.
Then there are times when you’re ready to hit the town and have fun—you throw on your dancing shoes. For me, that’s a pair of heels that may or may not stay on all night but still make me want to head straight to the dance floor. What song makes people want to cut a rug more than September by Earth, Wind & Fire? I also love that I have dozens of memories of my dad twirling my mom around the house dancing to this song.
I would be remiss to write a whole article about songs and clothes and not mention Cardigan by Miss Taylor Alison Swift. It’s nostalgic. It makes me feel safe. It makes me feel warm. It’s like a beanie you wear from the middle of fall through the end of a harsh winter. It’s interesting how much comfort plays into our most beloved songs.
When I think about a slow morning—taking things easy and letting the day settle into whatever it wants to be—my heart fills with gratitude for the beautiful simplicities of life, even in the mundane: songs sung in the kitchen and the loved ones nearby who are delighted to hear them. This whole scene is best experienced wrapped in your softest robe, listening to one of my all-time favorites: I Wish I Was by The Avett Brothers.
Music and clothes may not have much in common, but we wear them both—on our bodies or in our hearts and minds. They help us express ourselves and tell the world who we are and what mood we’re in. And there are few feelings more satisfying than trying a million things on and finally finding the perfect fit.
Renee Toole is a photographer in Louisville, KY, and loves all things creative. She is prone to folk music but can’t deny the hold that the pop girlies have on her. She loves meeting new people and laughing with her friends.
What clothes of yours fit with a particular song or genre of music? Email us or reply in Substack. We love to hear from you! Have a great weekend.
-TheMusicSwap