The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a landmark show “Punk: Chaos to Couture” happening now. This show is bound to open up some excellent chatter about what constitutes Punk and Punk Fashion in many people’s eyes…or whether America or the British were first on the scene, but all that doesn’t really matter. What matters is that there was this necessity at the time to break out of what was the “norm” and push forth a movement that allowed the Youth culture of the 1970’s to rebel against a preconceived path that was chosen for them. Punks took fashion into their own hands, destroying tees, sweaters and the like and using safety pins to hold pieces scarcely together. Punk was defiant and unmaterialistic when it began. It was reinvention at its finest in the form of fashion, music and political declarations. Punk was going against society and all the trappings that came with it. It’s still such a relevant and necessary force today.
This particular show plays homage to Punk-era fashion and the influence it had (and still has) on today’s couture designers, forgoing the unmaterialistic aspect of how it began mind you. My favorite designer in this realm is the first lady of Punk Fashion: Ms. Vivienne Westwood who is just as edgy and sharp-tongued as she when she first stepped on the scene. If you have any doubts about how much Vivienne Westwood is still provoking at 71 years young, have a read of this fabulous article the NY Times posted back in March.
Oh, and it has to be said, Christina Ricci wears it best to the gala opening in her ‘punk inspired plaid Westwood couture’ dress:
As for me, I would have been happy had I found a pair of Givenchy’s beautifully inspired zipper shoes along w/ the plaid Vivienne Westwood dress! Viva Le Punk!
Photo credits: Vogue Magazine & Getty Images
love the plaid dress!!! i have a Vivienne Westwood dress I rarely wear but will cherish forever, and leave to my daughter, who loves fashion.