Music and fashion have been holding hands for ages. When you think of your favorite band or artist, you're usually met with a mental image of what he, she, or they looked like at the peaks of their careers. Whether it's the Beatles with their bobs or MC Hammer with his Hammer-pants, music and the artists who make it have been setting the trends more than any look coming down the catwalk, and this power is an important facet to the industry in which these artists grow.

It's hard to say whether or not a band or artist's "look" began as a monster of an idea when music was first recorded and sold commercially. Did the big execs take into account what their stars looked like before it became popular to tour and sing on television? Do you think Diana Ross and her Supremes would've made it as far as they did without the bouffants and gold, sequined dresses? The Rat Pack wouldn't be so revered and respected if they hadn't worn those suits, would they? And, if Britney Spears never wore that Catholic Schoolgirl uniform, would she be the mess she is today?

Famous musicians have been trendsetting for decades, and, in recent years, not just through their onstage looks, but also the looks they mass-produce. New artists have capitalized on their newfound fame and freedom to create fashion lines of their own. Travis Barker of Blink 182 has Famous Stars and Straps (which he created in '99), Gwen Stefani has her little L.A.M.B., and even Mandy Moore has a new line called Mblem. And like a good B-side, the fashion industry plays right along, with music-tinged events such as VH1's "Fashionably Loud", and the Cat Power performance at Karl Lagerfield's Chanel Spring 2007 runway show. It's easy to see how well music and fashion have complimented each other over the years.

Let's not forget about the little people, though. Each genre of music has its own dress code to live by, and the fans have been following - ahem - suit. When you hear that first twang of a country song, you think of cowboy hats. The minute a rap spats over the radio, you're picturing squeaky-clean sneakers and enough bling to pay for college. And, moreso than ever, when you see those hipsters and hipsterettes walking down the streets, with their skinny jeans and babydoll dresses, you know they're big fans of the indie music out today. Not only does what you wear, more often than not, showcase your style in music, it's usually what your favorite artists are wearing to begin with.

If the projected image of an artist is one of the biggest drives in how to market them, then it's safe to say "look" can make or break the music of today. But is that a good thing or a bad thing? Whatever the reason, clothes that can make the man can also sell the single.