How to Dress Punk

By: Rachel Mork

Wondering how to dress punk? Have you discovered the punk attitude and lifestyle appeals to you, but fear you don't know how to dress the part? The foundation behind punk clothing styles is the attitude of counter culture, rebelling against what society says is acceptable or expected. Because of this, your first step should be to take a look at what most people are wearing, then decide to dress in a way that reflects your objection to these standards. Do you see women dressing femininely and in ways that exploit their bodies? A punk woman dresses in such a way as to express her personality, not to fit a mold dictated by what society says is beautiful. Do you see men dressing conservatively? A punk man dresses to honor his opinions, not bowing to the demands of the corporate world.

But what does that mean practically?  Remember, the primary foundation of punk clothing styles is originality, so you'll want to take the ideas and tweak them such that the style becomes your own. The following are common punk clothing ideas:

How to Dress Punk as a Woman
Punk women tend to wear clothing that does not accentuate their curves, or if it does, it does so in a rebellious way. Punk band concert tee-shirts are common punk fare, especially if paired with leather pants or ripped jeans. Leather, rubber, denim and animal prints are all common punk materials. Black jeans, burned, torn or shredded, are very popular. You may want to wear a black denim mini skirt or jean shorts with shredded tights in neon or dark colors, cinched at the waist with a cool belt with spikes or studs. Look for wild colors, unusual prints, thought-provoking words or dark colored shirts. Accessorize with safety pins, studs, spikes and chains. Look for some wicked combat boots or crazy heels in neon colors or with studs. You'll need a leather jacket for cold days, too.

How to Dress Punk as a Man
Find a tee shirt with a controversial saying on it, ripped jeans with safety pins, a heavy leather jacket with lots of spikes and a pair of hi tops or combat boots for a classic punk man's look. Fill your wardrobe with radical tee shirts, pants with zippers and snaps on them and leather jackets.

Remember, make sure your wardrobe reflects who you are and exactly what statement you are trying to make. Don't think of the punk culture one with a set uniform. Let your personality shine through.

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