Punk (Not Really)

As 2011 begins, people are beginning to look more towards spring fashions.  One trend highlighted in the collections of Chanel, Alexander McQueen, Marc by Marc Jacobs,  Balmain, and others was the punk- biker aesthetic.

Ironically punk was originally a sign of rebellion against mainstream culture.  It was a look that featured distressed clothing, leather, denim, offensive t-shirts, recycled items, heavy eyeliner, safety pins, and random slogans.  Pioneers in punk included Malcom McLaren and Vivienne Westwood, whose store in London is considered the birthplace of punk.  Perhaps one of the most iconic moments in punk history was in 1975 when Patti Smith's album Horses was released.  The iconic album cover featured Smith wearing a suit, untied tie, slinging a the jacket over her shoulder.  She became known as the "Godmother of Punk". 

But the '80s was when the punk we know today was created.  This is when combat boots, kilts, dirty jeans, chain belts, silk-screened shirts, studs,  and more extreme hair came into play.
But the punk in modern fashion is very different from the origins.  This is mainstream punk, which is not part of the subculture punk.  Mainstream punk is when the people who are the opposite of the punk idea decide that the style, not the idealism, is in style.  But mainstream punk is more politically correct than punk.  One example of mainstream punk is Green Day.  This spring, mainstream punk is "it". 

Chanel punk feels gothic, yet lacks the political rebellion that created the alternative style.Expect safety pins, biker jackets, studded everything, distressed denim, black, boots, dark makeup, buttons, veiled clothing, and kilts.  But it isn't true punk that is in this year, just a cleaned up version.