Punk Fashion Through The Ages

Although punk rock was born in the 60's, it didn't gain international notoriety until the 70's. During this time the style really started to take on a life of its own. Over the years punk fashion has adapted into a number of different subcultures, each with their own distinct look. This post explains how punk fashion has changed and adapted throughout the last four decades.

1970's

Punk clothing was initially handmade, often stitched together from scrap denim and leather. After the rise of bands such as the New York Dolls and the Ramones, punk clothing started getting mass produced for sale in record shops, speciality clothing stores and even fashion magazines.

Early punk fashion was deliberately anti-materialistic and usually unkempt. In the UK, the vast majority of the designs stemmed from famed designers Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren. In fact, McLaren is often credited as birthing the style on a commercial level.

Typical items in the 70's punk scene included offensive slogan t-shirts, leather jackets, custom blazers and patches with band logos. Towards the latter half of the 70's the scene started to incorporate BDSM styling, such as fishnet stockings and spiked bands.

1980's

During the 80's, what's generally considered “typical punk fashion” emerged and the scene was exemplified by the hardcore bands Black Flag, Minor Threat and Fear. While punk fashion sprouted an array of subgenres during this era, many of the original 70's features remained the same.

While both the British and American punk scenes fused together, certain aspects of the American fashion style never quite made it over the Atlantic. For example, punks from the DC scene often adorned flannel shirts, ripped jeans and long hair. This style was especially popular in Seattle and paved the way for what would later become grunge.

One of the most prominent changes in 80's punk fashion was the footwear. No outfit was complete without Dr. Martins, motorcycle boots or combat boots. Hairstyles also got more extreme. Tall mohawks in vibrant colours and Misfits' style devilocks were very popular, and even to this day, form the basis of the horror punk genre.

1990's

During the 90's everything changed. With punk and hardcore music no longer popular on a mainstream level the traditional punk style started to fade. The emergence of the skate punk bands of the mid 90's such as Green Day and Blink 182 caused the fashion style to take a more toned down approach.

Typical skate punk features include suede footwear, baggy t-shirts, jeans and workman’s trousers. The colouring also took on a whole new vibrant approach, virtually abandoning the darker undertones of previous decades.

2000's – present

Since the early 00's punk fashion has fused with many other genres and styles, creating a vast array of subcultures. Some of these styles have even mixed with more mainstream musical genres such as dance and pop, creating a more varied movement that's distanced itself from the original political ideologies.

At Soho's punk clothing suitable for every subgenre. Whether you prefer the dark features of the 70's and 80's or the more contemporary approach, we have something for you.