Street style. Anti-establishment. Edgy outfits. Alternative. All of these words are used to describe people who rebel and embrace punk fashion.
Punk fashion includes clothing, hair, makeup, and jewelry. The style can change wildly from person to person, whether they are a fashion designer, band member, or your average punk.
But where did the punk movement begin, and what does it really include?
Punk fashion goes against the norm. The punk style first emerged in the streets of London during the mid-1970s and was highly influenced by punk rock, an aggressive style of rock music that emphasized self-expression and self-assertion. People wanted to be heard, and they were not afraid of looking or sounding gritty to do it.
Expressing one's unique identity and not conforming to rules formed the backbone of the punk movement; punk fashion was a protest. Punks were making statements about money, war, and clothing standards that shocked and offended people in the 1970s.
In the 1970s, people in Britain were experiencing mass unemployment. There were also conversations about women's rights, equality for the LGBTQIA+ community, environmental crises, and conflicts like the Vietnam War happening around the world. As a result, punks started to dress in deliberately torn clothes, rags, and secondhand oufits. These people wanted to boldly show that something was wrong with society and that big changes had to happen.
Many fashion designers started making messy, edgy clothes to join the punk movement. The most famous fashion pioneer from the 1970s is Vivienne Westwood, the “mother of punk.”
Vivienne Westwood worked with Malcolm McLaren to make punk more mainstream. She created fashionable outfits with shocking graphics, rips, and belts. Her official store is still running today.
Led by Westwood and McLaren, distorted outfits with big zippers, studs, badges, and jewelry were now being used as political statements on the street. These clothes had something to say—they carried slogans, not logos.
Other designers and punk aesthetics started to catch on, too. Musicians like the Ramones and Blondie influenced many punk trends, and brands like Levi's and Doc Martens became staples for punks to modify and wear. The punk style of Blondie's frontwoman Debbie Harry is featured on the left. Her hair, eye makeup, and strapped shirts became iconic.
Punk fashion has always been about more than looks. Punk fashion was created to point out issues in society. Clothes were cut up and bought from thrift stores because many people did not have a lot of money. People also lacked opportunities, especially women and people of color, and wars were making people concerned about life.
These issues sparked rebellion. Changing your clothes, hair, and style to become punk was a way of being unapologetically you and letting people know that times needed to change—whether you liked it or not!
Anarcho-punk fashion is about anarchy. Many of these punks critique authority, and they do not use products that were tested on animals. This is why anarcho-punks usually avoid leather or wear fake leather.
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Glam punk originated from glam rock bands in the early 1970s. This punk subculture embraces bright colors, costumes, and makeup for all genders. Unlike other punk styles, glam punk seems to come and go.
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Garage punk embodies the fashion of 1970s bands like the Ramones. Clothes are often thrifted from the mid-late 1960s, and the resulting outfits are more casual than other punks.
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Horror punk, also known as deathrock, is similar to goth fashion. The subculture draws inspiration from horror films, cryptids, and other occult occurrences. In this case, deathrock may be shortened to D.R.
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Street punk is the newest style of punk fashion. These punks combine traditional punk outfits with new trends. These outfits intentionally clash and are heavily modified by the wearer.
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Let's be honest. There's too many types of punk out there to count. So find out what inspires you—and start your own punk subculture! Nothing about punk fashion is cookie cutter or conformist. Don't let these labels limit you or tell you what you should do.
This modern punk look takes inspiration from street punk with a nostalgic
t-shirt, facial piercings, dyed orange hair, and dramatic eye makeup!
This look is pure garage punk. See the long hair, vintage jacket, and bold graphic tee? A look like this can typically be found at your local thrift store.
Sometimes the best looks combine multiple styles. Notice how the hair,
makeup, chain necklace, and glammed up vintage t-shirt effortlessly match.
Looking for a more subtle approach to punk? Try a dramatic hairstyle like
the anarchists do, then mix and match any torn or distressed clothing.
Ready for something more dramatic? Go for it! This punk look is complete anarchy with a leather jacket, tartan pants, chains, studs, and smokey eyes.
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Rebel Pin. All images adapted for student use. Designed by Kendall Trumbore.