Punk Fashion Tips

Punk style emerged in the 1970s as an attitude-infused anti-fashion movement, and "true" punk persists today as such. Take a walk through your local mall, and you'll probably see a Hot Topic store, the main example of punk culture being trendily (and ironically) mass-marketed.

Don't let Hot Topic fool you. Popular punk style is a watered-down version of the real thing, which aims to deliberately shuck fashion trends rather than cater to them. Punk culture doesn't have a squeaky clean moral track record: it's infused with suggested (and sometimes real) violence. The Straight-Edge movement of the eighties, for example, tied punk style up with vehement opposition to drug use and swearing, to the point that skin-head-like punk gangs would beat up marijuana users, casual drinkers and dirty-talkers severely, with no recognition of the personal freedoms others should be granted.

That, of course, isn't really what punk's about. Straight-Edge tarnished the statements made by the style only a little. Punk is more broadly about dancing how you want, vandalizing a little (a real punk always carries a sharpie), speaking your mind, getting loud, challenging the assumptions of others, and being justified if you're angry.

Punk style lacks many gender rules. Most things worn by punk women can be worn by punk men, especially black jeans, which are usually tight. Recently, bondage pants have come into style (these are pants with straps and chains dangling between the backs of the legs), but are certainly not necessary. Plaid is very punk as well, in zippered pants and skirts, as well as suspenders. Two punk friends of mine, who are a couple, are about the same size. Despite being opposite sexes, they shared all of their clothes for a few years.

Black is a near-necessary color for a punk outfit, but not the only one: punk is not goth. The difference? Punk often uses black as a backdrop to accentuate a loud dash of bright color, rather than giving black center stage.

Punk isn't goth, nor is it emo: emo is the best name to use for the Victorian influenced, pretty, frilly punk now popularized by Hot Topic and recent music. Punk is more daring, more shocking, and more dangerous than emo.

Don't be afraid to rip your clothes: ripped is better. A tank top or "wife beater" (that's a men's sleeveless undershirt), especially if ripped, goes well over a brightly colored or black bra for women. With the awareness that a rip draws the eye, rip your clothes strategically,

By : Currie Jean