How to Make a Punk Costume for an 80s Party
Punk is a subcultural movement that originated in the U.K. during the 1970s and remained popular until the middle of the 1980s. The members of the movement mainly expressed themselves through loud music that did not follow the common rules of melody and rhythm, obscene language and an individualistic fashion sense mainly consisting of distressed clothes, studded leather and a generous appliance of safety pins. Due to the wild look, where virtually everything is allowed as long as it is ripped or torn, punk is a favorite costume choice for 1970s- or 1980s-themed parties.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Pair of used black or blue jeans, preferably torn at various places
- White T-shirt
- Pair of combat boots or canvas sneakers
- Old blazer, one or two sizes too large
- Studded dog collar for a large dog to fit around your neck
- Bottle (3.5 oz.) temporary hair color spray in a bright color
- Black lipstick
- Black eyeliner
- Dark eyeshadow
- Permanent marker
- 20 safety pins
- Scissors
Instructions
-
-
1
Make a horizontal incision 3 inches long on each knee of the jeans with a pair of scissors. Turn the trousers around and make a 5-inch horizontal incision on the upper thighs of each trouser leg.
-
2
Spread the jeans out in the bath tub. Pour household bleach over parts of the legs on the front. Turn the pants around and pour the bleach over parts of the back . Roll up the trousers and place in a bucket for a few days until the bleach has left visible stains. Wash the jeans in the washing machine to rinse off the bleach. If you empty the washing machine and the jeans still have a distinct smell of bleach, wash them again. Dry the trousers, preferably outdoors where they can be aired at the same time.
-
-
3
Place your white T-shirt on a flat surface, the front facing downwards. With a permanent marker write the words "No Future" in two lines on the back of the T-shirt. Turn the T-shirt around and draw an anarchy sign, depicted with a capital "A" in a circle, on the front.
-
4
Determine what shoes to wear. Choose a pair of black trainers, combat boots or ankle high Doc Martens shoes.
-
5
Fasten the safety pins randomly on the T-shirt and the jeans, but ensure that you will not be sitting on them to avoid painful incidents.
-
6
Put on the clothes, fasten the dog collar around your neck and spray the paint evenly into your hair. If you are a woman, apply black lipstick, black eyeliner and dark eye shadow. Put on the large blazer and roll up the sleeves to just above your wrists.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you get the clothing from your family, you might want to mention that they will never see the jeans or the T-shirt in their original state again.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
