Meet the Beatles, at Bloomie’s

"None of the fashion world moves without the inspiration of music," says Josh Peskowitz, Men's Fashion Director at Bloomingdale's. "Even back before there was such a big fashion industry, musicians and the subcultures that they represented . . . they all had their own looks, and they all identified with each other by how they were dressed."

With this concept at its core, Bloomingdale's has announced the launch of their British Invasion campaign for Fall 2013, which will include exclusive Beatles-inspired merchandise. Over 40 British brands, including Burberry, Hardy Amies, Ted Baker, Turnbull & Asser and Paul Smith, have created a range of items – from umbrellas to cuff links – based on the Beatles' music, personalities and style. To commemorate the British Invasion's influence on fashion and culture, these brands have interpreted the Beatles in a variety of ways. London Undercover, for instance, has designed umbrellas with iconic Beatles lyrics and artwork, including the core of an apple (Apple Records is a partner in the entire collaboration, and they provided the designers with the rights to the band's lyrics and artwork). Turnbull & Asser created pocket squares printed with album covers. Thomas Pink devised subtler Beatles dress shirts with a yellow submarine print hidden on the inside of the collar.

"Looking at the runway this year, there's a lot of British-countryside sort of influence," says Peskowitz.  "Tweed, herringbones, Prince of Wales – all those kinds of patterns. Luckily for us, we had already been planning on doing this, and it turned out to be the perfect time." The collaboration is timed to the upcoming 50th anniversary of Beatlemania and the band's American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, and the commencement of the British Invasion of rock and pop culture throughout the world. 

The collection will be available in Bloomingdale's stores and at bloomingdales.com in September.

By Emma Greenberg