Punk P
is a
Fashion Statement
unk. A complex cultural zeitgeist of the 70s and onward that birthed the philosophy and look we know today. A way to “stick it to the man” in all aspects of its meaning. To challenge the norm in everything you do. Its seditious sentiment was a personification of angst and volume. Influencing music, lifestyles and fashion, punkis stamped as the culture that shocked the world. Clothing is a form of expression and perhaps punk’s most recognizable. The roots of punk fashion can be traced back to one of the greatest designers of all time, Vivienne Westwood.
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By: Alfred Yeh
Ever since its conception, punk fashion and designer fashion have often playfully intermingled and swayed one another. The music and philosophies of punk is often seen in avant-garde and contemporary designer fashion. Designers often credit punk from aesthetic inspiration to direct callouts to its rich history. Many household names reference their use of punk in their collections such as Ann Demeulemeester, Jun Takahashi, Yohji Yamamoto, Raf Simons and many more. Some of these designers have notable connections to punk from their early life which
strongly influences later work. I believe that punk not only was a musical revolution, but a cultural revolution that evolved even the most elite designers at the fore front of fashion. The beginnings of punk aren’t tied up in a neat little box. There are a lot of debates as to how punk started, but there is one place that is undisputedly recognized in the history of punk. Country, Bluegrass & Blues (CBGB), a dive bar in the heart of New York City, is seen as the monolith and birthplace of punk. In its infancy, the most
