Do you identify as punk? Like many things, the word punk has taken on a whole new meaning since the 1970s. Punk used to refer to destructive and dangerously rebellious teenagers. Now it’s so much more than that. It is a desire to be different, to not conform to society’s standards. Punk is a way of life. It’s loud and takes no prisoners, it is a revolution, it is a rebellion against authority, it is anarchy, and it is not for the faint of heart.
Punk for a Day (Day) is today. Would you like to try out the punk style? There doesn’t seem to be any reason for this holiday other than pure American absurdity. The punk rock fashion of the 1970s is trickling onto modern runways. Rebellion is trendy. Loud music has to be part of a punk’s day to day life; music is the driving power behind the movement. Crank up classics like the Sex Pistols, the Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, or the Ramones to get in the right mindset. It is even more powerful to go to a live underground Punk show. High power dancing and thrashing is a necessity.
If you want to take a break from your mundane style and try on a new punk rock persona, here is what you will need: head to the thrift store and pick up a vintage leather jacket. This can be paired with skinny legged denim/ leopard print/ or plaid pants or a short pleated skit, and make sure to add loads of safety pins, a band t-shirt of your favorite Punk band, combat boots or Chuck Taylors, and a stand out hair style. To get the mohawk look for just today, you can color it with temporary spiking gel. Pink, purple, and blue are among the most popular hair colors.
Punks have always been associated with piercings and tattoos as well. Multiple ear piercings, nose and septum piercings, lip piercings, and more are all part of the look. The last step in your transformation is to get a new piercing or tattoo, but if you really only want to commit for today, faux piercings and temporary tattoos are also available and fun to play with. Always remember, just because you dress the part does not mean you are a Punk. Be careful not to encounter any real punks today, because they will call you a poser. Punk fashion, or what is now considered the modern punk “uniform,” is easily imitated, but the Punk way of life requires much more commitment to achieve.
