This document analyzes fashion trends and themes in R&B music videos based on gender and song type. For males in R&B videos, common fashion includes expensive casual clothing mixed with tattoos and flashy jewelry to convey wealth and status. Females may wear either classy or revealing clothing depending on the song's message, and emphasize makeup, hair, heels and jewelry to look appealing. Slow love songs feature more covered clothing and neutral makeup to reflect emotion, while fast songs depict parties and flashy cars. Gender roles and stereotypes may sometimes be challenged through fashion choices as well.

1. Genre Analysis
Sophie Moody

2. FASHION: Men
In R&B music videos, fashion helps contribute to the type of message the
artists want to convey in in a variety of ways. This is why there is usually a
consistent and similar theme of clothing used however depending on the
gender of the artist, may be presented in slightly different ways.
Smart/Casual:
Men generally dress in expensive smart clothing although may often be mixed with
casual. This may be to represent their wealth and high class in society as they are
generally quite popular artists as well as being rich. Examples of artists who do this
are: Chris Brown, Drake, Tyga and Ne-Yo.
Tattoos:
If the artist is topless in the music video you are able to see that they have a
majority of tattoos placed around their body. Generally on their chest and along
both arms. This may be due to a personal love of tattoos, or most commonly a sign
of meaningful symbols-their love for music/creativity.
Jewellery:
Most artists wear jewellery in their music videos however in R&B they only wear a
small amount, however each one is very expensive and flashy. This is usually
watches and chains. A reason for this is to show off their wealth as they own some
of the most expensive brands of jewellery.

3. Ne-Yo- One in a Million
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tpl9Ltk
RRw
Omarion, Chris Brown, Jhene Aiko- Post to be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPxVSCfo
YnU
Tyga-Glitta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZHycUA_
42M
In Glitta you can see all aspects of
mens fashion being shown in the
music video as Tyga has tattoos, a
chain and the idea of casual yet
expensive clothing. In One in a
Million the idea of smart clothing is
being shown.

4. FASHION: Female
Classy/Revealing:
Dependant on the narrative of the song and what the video is based on women generally wear
either classy or revealing clothes. The reason for looking classy would be to project the idea
that women are independent and can also have high class status. In some cases it may also be
to raise awareness towards feminism. In terms of wearing revealing clothing it is to provoke a
sensual kind of theme as well as being directed more towards a male target audience. With
revealing clothing, women also tend to wear heels. This is to elongate their legs to make them
look taller and more appealing towards males.
Jewellery:
As well as males, females also wear jewellery. This may be due to the fact that jewellery is in
more demand from women than men in life in general therefore they wear more in the videos.
However it may also be due to the fact that women use the jewellery in order to attract their
audience-being both male and female.
Hair and Make-up:
Women tend to have their hair done in different styles which would exaggerate their looks and
make them look more appealing to their audience; this is usually done by placing extensions in
their hair or adding hair products. Make-up is also a huge part of a women's look as it
represents her beauty and ability to look appealing. They usually wear dark make-up to
exenterate their natural looks especially around their eyes; sometimes wear red lipstick when
trying to look dominant or seductive.

5. Yonce-Beyonce
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcF5HtGv
X5I
Jennifer Hudson-Think Like a Man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSE_S8W
XQrI
Tinashe-All Hands on Deck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxUdFQ6
N_OI
In the ‘Yonce’ video there is an example
of how make-up is used to relate to the
song and make the artist look visibly
appealing and seductive, where as in
‘Think Like a Man’ the women are in
formal clothing to make them look
independent and classy.

6. ICONOGRAPHY
• In most R&B music videos males present themselves in a sensual, provocative way. This is to attract
the opposite sex in the way that they dress and how they act in the videos. Most males do this by
being topless in order to come across appealing to women. As the years have progressed women
are also presenting themselves by wearing minimalistic clothing and dancing in a sensual way to
attract men. This is a developing convention that is starting to progress in other artists and
challenges gender stereotypes.
• In some cases some artists develop or change these conventions in order to put a message across
to their target audiences. For example Ciara tried to address the fact that certain actions men do
are seen as acceptable, but if a women is to do the same it is referred to negatively. By presenting
this idea, she switches roles and dresses like a man to connote the idea of gender stereotypes-
challenging the conventions women usually follow in normal R&B music videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HKH7Emy1SY

7. Slow Songs
Slow R&B songs generally surround the themes of love and breakups. This would
usually be sung by females and instead of wearing revealing/minimal clothing they
would be fully clothed and depending on the theme, would determine the colours
being used. If the song focuses on love, there would be bright colours and involve a
happy kind of vibe, whereas if it is about heartbreak, the video will be dull and darker
than normal. In these kinds of songs the artists face is made to look neutral and nude
to reflect on the natural beauty. This is because there are many shots which show the
artists face close up in order to capture the expressions and emotions. The locations
are very basic and if about heartbreak, it tends to be in a room where there is a
limited amount of objects in the room. The lighting used in the music videos are also
grey scale and sepia to appear soft and reflect their emotions. When men do love
songs they tend to include only themselves in the video or sing to another person,
typically the girl they have/had love interest with.

8. Trey Songz-Can’t be Friends
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArdBI_F1L
Ko&list=PLooYZnvGcpTRePlVlxp3qvpbIs8v71sYf
Ciara- I Bet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okGcksY
M0N8

9. Fast Songs
Fast songs tend to be more upbeat and happy in R&B music videos. If done by males
they are usually filmed in clubs/parties and involve a lot of movement such as
choreographed dancing and travelling in flashy cars. They use artificial lighting to
create different kinds of effects and tend to include women dancing and wearing
minimal amounts of clothing. This depicts men as wealthy and loving life whereas if
the artist is a women it connotes a sense power and independence. The mise en scene
of the videos further supports these themes by including objects such as expensive
champagne and sunglasses to appear cool. Often the objects included are some sort
of advertisement for the product. Women's make-up also seem to be much brighter to
exaggerate their features and link in with the theme of the song.

10. Chris Brown- Loyal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXRN_LkC
a_o
Beyonce- 7/11
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4YRWT_
Aldo