• Intelligencer
  • The Cut
  • Vulture
  • The Strategist
  • Curbed
  • Grub Street
  • Subscribe to the Magazine Give a Gift Subscription Buy Back Issues Current Issue Contents
    Subscribe to New York Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Profile
    Sign Out
The Cut
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
Style
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Parties & Red Carpet
  • Fashion Shows
  • Cathy Horyn
  • The Cut Shop
Self
  • Health & Wellness
  • The State of the Uterus
  • Parenting
  • Advice
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Horoscopes
Culture
  • Books
  • Television
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Celebrity
Power
  • Politics
  • Work
  • Money
  • Rebecca Traister
More
  • Latest Stories
  • Video
  • About Us
  • nymag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
  • Curbed
trendlets
May 6, 2013

Essential Punk: 15 Pieces Both Polished and Edgy

By Veronica Misako Gledhill

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet

Before it was the rehashed leather and spiked trope that it is now, punk had a menacing, threatening look: spiked dog collars, razor-sharp Mohawks, studded leather, and combat boots. After 30 years, the world of fashion has long admired the raw spirit behind punk, but it seems never quite like now, when the Costume Institute has planned an entire exhibition around the genre. Meanwhile, coned bracelets, piercings, tattoos, and spiked accessories have all become as commonplace on runways as they are on St. Marks.

We’ve also found our favorite punk pieces for you to mix into your look. Some of these —  like a blue peacock Mohawk to be worn as a belt, or a singular silver ear tusk — are dares for the more fearless to try out. Others, like a pair of simply pointed crystal earrings or silver rose thorn studs, can be worn easily with any look. In either case, don’t forget that punk is all about giving in to the inner rebel.

Related

Met Gala Gossip Roundup: 8 Things to Watch for at This Year’s Ball
View
1 / 15 Photos
Punk style starts with sharp hardware and leather. Try wearing a choker with a slouchy sweatshirt and miniskirt for a look that screams Anarchy in the... Punk style starts with sharp hardware and leather. Try wearing a choker with a slouchy sweatshirt and miniskirt for a look that screams Anarchy in the U.K.
Polished and pointed earrings like these bring edge to a date-night look.
Best for pounding the pavement, a stacked heel offers more balance for a long night out.
Basically symbolic by now. If you're in the mood, try pinning in just one ear.
Stay weird with this peacock feather Mohawk; instead of on your head, try wearing it as a belt or peplum.
Wear these silver rose thorns day to night, office to weekend, for a sharp but subtle addition.
Christopher Bailey's latest punk twists from Burberry Prorsum combine Savile Row tailoring with leather and nickel hardware.
These fluttery bits of leather have the look of barbed wire. Wear it with loose or braided hair that has that slept-in bed-head look.
This rhodium-plated bullet pendant drips with rebelliousness.
You've seen them peaking over tees and dresses on street-style icons, so try it yourself when feeling daring.
For a rougher look, take your scissors to your favorite black tee. Or if you can't,  just try this one.
A sharp object like this tusk gives a jagged assymetry to even the most basic or casual look.
These menacing cones look sharp any way you wear them, whether it's with a slubby tee and jeans or a ladylike lace cocktail dress.
Nothing says nihilist quite like skulls. These tiny ones atop metallic blue marquise stones are perfect for wearing with a low-key evening look.
An S&M ring on this otherwise unassuming white belt brings the right amount of edge to a dress or skirt.
1 / 15

Tags:

  • goods
  • shopping
  • punk
  • met gala
  • trendlets
  • fashion
  • runway
  • street style
  • More

More Galleries

grammys 2023 Feb. 5, 2023
Every Look From the 2023 Grammys Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Lizzo, Bad Bunny, Adele, Doja Cat, Jack Harlow, Mary J. Blige, Sam Smith, and more.
By Brooke LaMantia
Jan. 10, 2023
All the Looks From the 2023 Golden Globes  Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jenna Ortega, Jessica Chastain, Julia Garner, Jeremy Allen White, Angela Bassett, and more. 
parties! Sept. 23, 2022
Katie Holmes, Chloë Sevigny, and More of the Bestest Party Pics This Week  Chanel, Mejuri, and more celebrate. 
parties! Sept. 16, 2022
Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, and More of the Bestest Party Pics This Week  Fendi, Frame, and Coach all celebrated NYFW. 
emmys 2022 Sept. 12, 2022
Emmys 2022: All the Red Carpet Looks  Updating: What Hollywood is wearing to the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards. 
By Olivia Luppino
nyfw spring 2023 Sept. 9, 2022
Gigi Hadid, Chlöe Bailey, and More of the Bestest Party Pics of the Week  Saks Fifth Avenue, Longchamp, and more celebrate the beginning of NYFW. 
rip Sept. 9, 2022
The Queen Sure Did Love to Color-Coordinate  Monochrome for decades. 
red carpet Sept. 6, 2022
The Venice Film Festival Is a Major Fashion Event  Valentino and Gucci and Armani, oh my. 
red carpet June 5, 2022
All the Best Looks at the 2022 MTV Movie and TV Awards  Sydney Sweeney, Vanessa Hudgens, Jay Ellis, and more! 
parties! May 20, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Harry Styles > everyone! 
parties! May 13, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Bury me in Dove Cameron’s Saint Sintra skirt. 
parties! May 6, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Cue the Met Gala after-party FOMO. 
met gala 2022 May 2, 2022
Met Gala 2022: All the Looks [Photos]  Billie Eilish, Kim Kardashian, Michelle Yeoh, Hailey Bieber, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Blake Lively, and more. 
parties! Apr. 29, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  This one goes to Olivia Rodrigo and her sweater vest. 
parties! Apr. 22, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  “Fuck those Zoom tops.” 
celebrity style Apr. 18, 2022
The Best Looks From Coachella 2022  From Harry Styles’s sparkling Gucci set to Megan Thee Stallion’s metallic bodysuit. 
style Apr. 13, 2022
A Look Inside the New Museum’s Spring Gala  Featuring all the best looks. 
grammys 2022 Apr. 3, 2022
Grammy Awards 2022 Red Carpet: All the Looks  Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Lenny Kravitz, Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish, and more. 
oscars 2022 Mar. 28, 2022
How Were The Oscars After Party Looks Better Than The Actual Award Looks?  Finally, some fun. 
oscars 2022 Mar. 27, 2022
All the Looks From the 2022 Oscars Red Carpet  Zendaya, Regina Hall, Timothée Chalamet, Andrew Garfield, Kristen Stewart, Ariana DeBose, and more. 
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
  • About The Cut
  • About New York Magazine
  • Newsletters
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • We’re Hiring
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Ad Choices
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Accessibility
The Cut is a Vox Media Network. © 2023 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved.