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Oh You Pretty Things: The Story of Music and Fashion

Lauren Laverne

Steve Condie

Matt Hill

Oh You Pretty Things: The Story of Music and Fashion: Episode 2: Idols

Documentaries

Factual: Beauty & Style

Music: Classic Pop & Rock

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

Idols

Episode 2

Episode 2: Idols

BBC Four - Oh You Pretty Things: The Story of Music and Fashion, Idols

A look at music and fashion in the 70s, a time of political, social and cultural upheaval.

Series exploring the relationship between British rock and pop music and fashion. The 70s saw Suzi Quatro's leathers, Queen's outrageous costumes and, of course, punk rock.

Just how did Britain become the place where the best music goes with the most eye-catching styles? Lauren Laverne narrates a series about the love affair between our music and fashion, looking at how musicians and designers came up with the coolest and craziest looks and how we emulated our idols.

British pop and rock is our great gift to the world, at the heart of the irrepressible creative brilliance of Britain. But it has never just been about the music. Across the decades we have unleashed a uniquely British talent for fusing the best sounds with stunning style and fashion to dazzling effect.

The second episode takes us through the 1970s, a decade of political, social and cultural upheaval reflected best in its music and fashion. Suzi Quatro on Top of the Pops unleashed her leather jumpsuit into the living rooms of Britain at the birth of the rock chick look. The fantastical world of prog rock emerged, with its golden-caped leader Rick Wakeman and his army of intellectual but corduroy-wearing followers journeying from the university campus to medieval and fantastical Arthurian worlds. Queen rocked the rainbow in their Zandra Rhodes-designed costumes, amazing the audience and cementing the band as one of the country's most loved and most flamboyant bands of all time. 

But no other British music and fashion movement has had more reverberation than the international phenomena of punk, beginning (and, some say, ending) with The Sex Pistols' sweary appearance with Bill Grundy on the Today programme. 

However, this isn't just a story of brilliant musicians and maverick designers, it's a story that touches us all because, at some point in our lives, we've all delved into the great dressing-up box and joined the pageant that is British music and fashion.

Knowledge, arts, music and culture from the UK and the world.

BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

Series about British music and fashion subcultures from the mid-60s to the early 90s.

Series following the cut and thrust between British music and fashion subcultures from the mid-60s to the early 90s.

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Oh You Pretty Things: The Story of Music and Fashion

Episode 2: Idols

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