Highsnobiety Guide – Sneek Peak

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This mode of dress, and the
act of bricolage re-contextualization
that was so essential to it, greatly
influenced Vivienne Westwood
and Malcolm McLaren in the 1970s.
Their shop Sex began selling
gear like toilet chain
necklaces, patchwork
sport coats,, and graphic
tees clearly meant to offend.
Some of the more
famous ones include the
DESTROY T-shirt, depicting
an inverted crucifix
and a swastika, as well as
Snow White and the Sir
Punks, which features an
unauthorized use of the
Disney princess committing
a sex act with all seven
dwarfs. The shop
gained further prominence
when it was renamed
Seditionaries in
1976, Punk graphics, from
the visual art of posters to
graphic tees, heavily relied
on collages, reinforcing
the subculture’s
penchant for mashing up
different materials and ideas.
Distressing and customization
played an important part in punk
style, often repurposing button-down
shirts with graphics, royal
stewart tartan trousers with zippers
In the United States, The Ramones came to
symbolize a more austere punk uniform, often clad
in Schott Perfecto jackets, ripped Levi’s 501 denim,
Chuck Taylor sneakers, and slim-fitting T-shirts,
an influence that can still be seen today.
on the backs of the legs, and bondage
straps on trousers. British stylist
Judy Blame rose to prominence
during this era, and established a
legacy of iconic punk aesthetics
that made the culture even more
credible in the fashion industry.
In the United States, The
Ramones came to symbolize a more
austere punk uniform, often clad in
Schott Perfecto jackets, ripped
Levi’s 501 denim, Chuck Taylor
sneakers, and slim-fitting T-shirts.
This more casual take on punk style
evolved to movements like Youth
crew, a scene characterized by its
moralist outlook, optimism, and
penchant for sportswear staples
like varsity jackets, military pants,
shorts, band T-shirts, and sneakers
from brands like New Balance.
Labels like adidas and Champion
were also popular. That movement
also gave rise to straight edge culture,
in which participants abstained
from drugs and alcohol
altogether.
Punk’s influence stretched
to Japan, where the in-your-face
aesthetics resonated beyond the
music. There, the subculture’s style
influence inspired Rei Kawakubo at
COMME des GARÇONS, whose
deconstructed designs and use of
unorthodox materials perfectly
align with the established punk
look. Jun Takahashi of
UNDERCOVER was greatly influenced
by the subculture, and his entire
label carries forth some of
punk’s most recognizable iconography,
like anarchist symbolism,
graphic print leather jackets, and
extremely skinny trousers with zipper
details. Hiroshi Fujiwara was an
avid fan of the Seditionaries label,
and went to great lengths to collect
the apparel, eventually teaming up
with Takahashi in 2005 on a limited-edition
book showcasing the
massive collection of gear they’ve
accrued over the years.
Today, punk continues to be
an important reference for streetwear
brands and fashion designers
alike. Young Los Angeles designer
Shane Gonzales first discovered
early punk bands while playing the
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater as a child,
and retroactively discovered The
Punk continues to be an important reference point
for young streetwear brands like Shane Gonzales’
MIDNIGHT STUDIOS and acclaimed fashion
designers like Jun Takahashi of UNDERCOVER.
Sex Pistols and other groups, directly
inspiring his MIDNIGHT STUDIOS
label. Supreme has done collaborations
using the graphics of The
Misfits for its Spring 2013 collection,
and the Dead Kennedys for its
Spring 2014 collection. That same
year it also partnered with artist
Raymond Pettibon, known for designing
the logo of punk band Black
Flag, on a capsule collection of tees,
hoodies, and skateboard decks.
Musically, the punk attitude
and aesthetic have been succeeded
by a new wave of hip-hop acts.
California crew Odd Future—led
by Tyler, the Creator—gained attention
for their shocking lyrical
content and visuals, and performances
that recreated the raw,
youthful energy reminiscent of a
punk show. Other artists like Travis
Scott and Lil Uzi Vert embody a
modern spirit of punk, both in their
bold fashion choices and their ability
to turn any of their performances
into an instant mosh pit. The
message is clear: punk’s spirit is
still very much alive.
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