Early Punk in the late 70s

 

Punk, in terms of music and aesthetics, first came into the UK public scene in 1976, originating from London, and soon becoming adopted nationally by youth dissatisfied with the over-saturation of 60s counterculture and rock music. 

Bands such as the Sex Pistols, The Damned, The Clash, Souxsie and the Banshees and blondie thrived, and fashion adopted rips, leather, tartans, safety pins and bondage elements, with an emphasis on DIY and self expression. 

The punk fashion scene was heavily influenced, if not birthed by SEX, a shop on King's Street in London created by Vivienne Westwood and Malcom McLaren, whose provocative designs were worn by the Sex Pistols. 

Clothes were designed to attract attention and question the norms of conventional society. Clothes were often thrifted and up-cycled into one-of-a-kind punk designs. Attitudes to clothing were always to be as presentable and clean looking as possible, which punk saw to contradict. 

Hardy clothing choices such as leather jackets, often embellished with anarchist phrases, band patches and spikes, alongside heavy boots and military style shirts and trousers were common, as they provided a durable stylish choice that lasted you through the years of gigs, parties and communal living spaces that punks frequented. 

Much like the decade earlier, with the 60s being iconised for the provocative, yet progressive impact of the mini skirt, the late 70s bought with it deconstructed clothes with crass prints and body modification - a direct contrast to the preppy and well trimmed nature of fashion expectations before. 

Hair was just as important, often coming in a range of neon and vivid colours, often coloured with vegetable dyes after over-bleaching at home. Other styles included spiked and angular haircuts, with parts, if not all, of the scalp shaved. Much like the hippies who came before, the punks of the late 70s also saw their hair as a way to fight back against the mainstream culture.

Piercings and tattoos were also a provocative choice, as body modification brought a direct opposition to the natural look of the bohemian 70s. Facial piercings and tattoos that we would consider normal today, turned heads and dropped jaws 50 years ago.

Punk fashion has become a heavy influence in todays fashion, and continues to inspire new creatives and designers. Punk always remains an iconic subculture associated with 70s fashion.