Punk

[Caroline]

I;ve always wondered about the purpose of punk fashion and its roots. I'd love to know more about the history of the movement in europe, and the reasons (political, economic and social issues) that lead to its creation and appearance on the streets.
I hope you can help me! I'm curious about the history and want to find out more about the subject! Please post any information, pictures, websites or book titles here!

[sohoxchic]

i don't know too much about it...but i'm pretty sure vivenne westwood was a big part of it

[Spacemiu]

it is very debatable when punk started and where. In the late 70's tehre where bands such as the new york dolls and the velvet undergroudn that were returning to rock from the hippy and disco music of the times, also Roxy Music and David Bowie were said to be inffluences to. Vivienne westwood and Malcom Mclaren opend there store on the Kings Rd. in London also in the late 70's, the first one was called Let It Rock, wich sold Teddy Boy inspired clothes. Punk began to emerge and the style of clothing was further developed, Vivienne Westwood and Malcom McClared where very insturmental in this. They later changed their shop to SEX and then Seditionaries.
The main seen in Europe was in London, with the Sex Pistols, Siouxie&The Banshees etc. America had the NY seen, with the ramones, tv and more new wave bands like blondie and the talking heads, sentering around the CBGB club, and the LA seen with bands like X and FEAR.


I'd say look at http://www.punk77.co.uk/

[inzombia]

There are hordes of books on the emergence of punk and its aesthetics, but you're interested specifically in the fashion aspect, read Dick Hebdige's book Subcultural Style, which examines British punk fashion from the 1970s. (Personally, I tend to side with the argument that it began in New York City, and not London.) Punk fashion, however, has changed a lot over the years, so what looks like "1977" (otherwise known as "postcard punk," with the liberty spikes and bondage pants, and yes, engineered by Westwood and McClaren) is quite anachronistic (and limited to a small number of punks, even at the time -- for instance, The Clash were much less ostentatious).

1970s US punk also tended toward the Patti Smith, leather and jeans aesthetic, rather than the mohawks, etc., which were imported later. (Scenes of punk rockers in films such as Summer of Sam are actually quite inaccurate.) 1970s Australian and New Zealand punk looks took their cue from New York, rather than Britain, as well. (The film Dogs in Space is pretty good.)

[Kimkhuu]

Great pics! I think most true punks have really bad (as in cool) style, but some people (erhhhm, Avril Lavigne, Green Day, Good Charlotte, Ashlee Simpson) are totally ruining the whole concept.

Because must we not forget that true punks follow a certain ideology (ex: future no more.....). I guess lots of kids today are punk just for the sake of having a certain interesting look, which is of course true, but is totally stupid too.

[charlottesometimes]

I agree with Spacemiu. I think punk was heavily influenced by the likes of the New York Dolls, Velvet Underground and most importantly Iggy and the Stooges. There's a good article here: http://www.fastnbulbous.com/punk.htm

One of my favourite pics of Sid and Nancy

[Kimkhuu]

I'd love to see more pics posted, this is a really really wonderful and interesting topic!

[Kimkhuu]

The Ramones

[orlem]

The punks were just the counterculture of the 70s, like the beatniks were during the 50s and the hippies were during the 60s. Only, the punks weren't into education or peace, they were into anarchy and the authorities who didn't like them emphasized their "darkness" like safety pins and razor blades etc. Here's a really good site for Seditionaries, it has flash so I can't post the pictures, but maybe someone else will.

http://www.punkpistol.com/html/clothes.html

[so_jealous]

I'd say Punk started out by the fashions of the alienated youth everywhere. It was later perfected by Vivian Westwood for the Sex Pistols, who sang about anarchy and rebellion against the Queen and such. Then there was The Clash, The Ramones, etc.

But I swear if anyone says Good Charlotte, Avril Lavigne, Ashlee Simpson, etc. should be shot.

[Kimkhuu]

Originally Posted by so_jealous

But I swear if anyone says Good Charlotte, Avril Lavigne, Ashlee Simpson, etc. should be shot.

You're gonna need some serious backup. Most teen mags are promoting the new "punk" style and often featuring the likes of Avril Lavigne and Ashlee, the new queen of punk.

How scary is that?

[orlem]

Originally Posted by Kimkhuu

You're gonna need some serious backup. Most teen mags are promoting the new "punk" style and often featuring the likes of Avril Lavigne and Ashlee, the new queen of punk.

How scary is that?

Well, maybe "pop punk" deserves some discussion too? Maybe we don't like it, but it is its own distinct style, different from Viv Westwood punk and everything else.

[cereza_glam]

great topic!

from punksunidos.com.ar










from www.skin-cgn.de

[IdiotGirl]

Punk is really a DIY ethic. It likes to either go with indie designers, or expects you to make it yourself. Or that's how it started. It was pretty much an "anti-fashion" statement, but turned into its own fashion.

I used to claim myself a punk, but I've pretty much stopped because what it once stood for has pretty much been mocked to death. When Wal-Mart carries shirts that say "punk" you pretty much know the movement has been turned into what it was against.

[inzombia]

Postcard punks! The kids with the bihawks and mohawks used to try to get tourists to pay money to get their picture taken with 'em down at Pier 39 in San Francisco.

Punks comes in a wide variety of aesthetics, i.e., Alison Mosshart from Discount and The Kills, the ladies of Sleater-Kinney, Wendy O'Williams, Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Alicja from The Ultracats and Lost Sounds, Amy from Nausea. And that's just the ladies. Check out the photos from this page, for instance, for Amy.