Projects — D.esm.ond

My metaphorical game of life, essay from my psychology course. The task was to write an essay about your life and how all of your past experiences have shaped you into who we were currently. While also requiring us to state where we see our future going. I had to revisit some past memories in order to write this essay. I explained how I viewed my life and detailed where I see my life going. I really had to think about my goals and everything I have learned in my 23 years of life. I got an A on my essay because of my detailed writing and passion for the topic.

When I look in the mirror before I step out into the world, I can honestly say I’m happy
and proud of the man looking back at me. I have worked extremely hard on controlling my
thoughts and maintaining a structured healthy mental. That has made my overarching insecurities
and uncomfortable anxiety more manageable. I have more or less created an image of myself that
I have manifested from my thoughts and dreams. So much so to the point that I am living the life
my 5-year-old self would have dreamed about living at the time. Around the time of adolescence,
I made a clear evaluation of the capital I possessed as human in my general society. Measuring
my strengths and weaknesses, in order to see where I really stand in this world.
I have always paid extremely close attention to how people treated me amongst my peers
along with the reactions certain behaviors would cause. For example, in school I would see how
teachers would give very little grace to the kids that misbehaved, never turned in work and who
were overall disrespectful. So, with that knowledge and knowing how accident prom and spacey
I can be at times. I decided to be an extremely respectful student who Principiated in class turned
in work on time in order to gain favor from the teachers in particular. what manifested out of that
behavior was my teachers were always more understanding when I had to miss class, didn’t do
well on an assignment or was just having a bad day overall and needed some space.
Once I realized that you can somewhat control your reality if put more stock in your
strengths than weaknesses. I started applying that strategy to every aspect in my life. I am an
African American male in a western white society. I grew up around majority white people and I
currently live in a neighborhood that is majority white people. So, it is easy to say that I am not
the beauty standard for men in western culture haha. However, I have been told my entire life
that I was handsome by people of all ethnic backgrounds. So, I knew that I was conventionally

attractive, I am able bodied, and I have a gift of creativity. So, I made the best out of the
privileges I did have. I used my creativity to create this image of someone who always looks
good and went from a very average normal way of dressing to always looking my best around
the age of 14. In addition, early on in my childhood I noticed how the kids that looked better got
treated better as sad as that is to say. So, I made shore I always looked presentable when out in
public so I could reap the benefits. The response I got from society was extremely positive and
very helpful in building my self-confidence as I was aging through my adolescence.
So, by the time I was in high school I would dress up for School every day of the week. I
can honestly say that I looked photo ready every day for the full four years of high school. I used
my creativity as a mask to hide how afraid and insecure I was deep inside, due to my
homosexuality. Like I stated previously I became aware of my personal capital really young.
Now as an adult I can understand the reason why I was aware of myself, and my actions was
because I was gay inherently. I have always marched to the beat of my own drum and have
always stayed true to myself. But in my childhood years the other boys didn’t respect that. I got
picked on heavily for my perceived homosexuality. Boys really gave me a hard time growing up
because I was an easy target. Which resulted in me trying everything I could to not be picked on.
Which included me lying about my sexuality until I was 17 (an age where I felt safe
enough to stand in my truth) and a very violent phase I went through around the ages of 8-13
where I Felt the need to prove to other boys that I wasn’t weak or “gay”. So, I engaged in many
physical fights to prove my masculinity. Which somewhat helped my case in boys leaving me
alone, but some still didn’t give up on bullying me. The rules of my Elementary school were
much more relaxed than those of my middle and high school. My middle school especially had

no tolerance for fighting. So out of fear of being kicked out of school, I stopped fighting out of
defense for myself and the bullying continued which I wasn’t happy about.
Those are some of the hardest years of my life so much that I just block them out entirely
because of the emotions of being disrespected for simply being myself. But the one thing that
kept me going was my artistry and my love for fashion. luckily due to my mother and I being in
a stable working class we were able to have disposable income. My mom allowed me to buy the
clothing I felt I needed to fit in at school which worked extremely well in my favor and became
the thing I am known for even to this day in my adulthood. Fashion and my appearance became
one of one salient aspects of my social location. With my eye for style, I stood out from my peers
making me perceived as confident and worthy of respect. Which was my whole point for
dressing up in the first place. Clothing is the best nonverbal way to express one’s feelings. I
wanted to feel powerful and confident, so I expressed that in my clothing choices. Which made
me in a sense untouchable to my bullies, I had become for a lack of better terms to “good
looking” to pick on anymore. My extravagant style mixed with the support I had from my friends
really made me unstoppable in my adolescence years.
I want to mention as a young homosexual in high school the slick remarks and rude
comments never go away entirely. But the bullying was nowhere near to the same magnitude to
when I was a young teen, due to this new image I had adopted. which leads me to my next
important aspects of my social location. My support system which is my mother, and my close
friends are the key to my stability period. I say that with such confidence because my anxiety is
awful, and I can really be my own worst enemy. I have always had someone in my life that cares
and wants to help me. I can’t tell you how many times my mother has listened to me for hours on

the phone talking about my feelings and emotions. My best friends listen to all of my crazy
stories and do their best to support me in difficult situations.
Even through all my darkest times in my life I always had a best friend or my mom or
someone who deeply cared for me and wanted to help me through anything I was going through.
I’m extremely thankful and blessed for my support system because I have a huge heart and I am
a really emotional person. I personally desire people that really understand my mental, who
relate to me and have my best interest in mind. Luckily for me I have always had the strongest
support system. That is truly what keeps me afloat, having someone who will listen to you
ramble when u need to ramble and who will hold you when u need to cry. I put out a lot of
positivity in this world. I love to help others in need and be that support system for my loved
ones and I can honestly say it comes back in my life just as much as I put it out.
Which is why I feel that my optimism and overall positive attitude is the final salient
aspects of my social location. I am Mr. Positivity always on the look for the bright side or the
silver lining in any bad situation. My positive attitude has thus created my positive reality. Not
necessarily just the tangible things in my reality, but my overall happy mindset. I started
changing the way I thought about myself when I was a Junior in high school when I learned
about the law of attraction and how your present reality is a manifestation of the energy you were
putting out in the past. With that knowledge I was able to evaluate my mental. Because at this
point in my life I had figured out how to control the tangible, but I still was carrying around all
those undiscovered demons on the inside. So, I took a step back and stopped being so negative
with the way I spoke and thought about myself. Which changed my mental life forever.
Now here we are at the age of twenty-two, I would love to say I have it all figured out and
that I am completely confident in who I am. But that’s simply not the case and I am okay with

that. My faith in God helps me sit at peace with what’s to come. I am still on myself discovery
journey to truly love myself although I have come light years from where I was prior, I am
nowhere near the finish line. To this day I am hyper critical of myself because I always want to
present the best version of myself to the world. I still have that fear that deep down that it can all
be taken away, and that people will find out I’m not as confident as they think. But on the bright
side I stand in my truth and I’m free to be who I truly am. When I evaluate my life in comparison
to that of my peers it can be extremely easy especially in the age of social media to be doubtful
of oneself especially when everyone else seems to be doing better than you with their careers or
relationships. What really helps me with that self-doubt is I start thinking of all the positives I
have in my life like my artistry, support system and my overall love for life and positivity.
Overall, my life has continued to work itself out for the best. Every obstacle was there to teach
me how to overcome it.
I see life as a metaphorical unfair game, we all start off with tools for success in life. Some
have more and some have less. But it’s not about how many tools you have to help beat your
competition, it’s how you use your tools that makes the difference in benefiting your own life.
It’s how you work through the game with the tools you have to obtain the best version of the life
you want. No one else has the same story as you, therefore no journey can be compared to yours.
With the skill sets I have garnered from my twenty-two years of life, I know how to navigate
obstacles when confronted by them, in addition to accepting myself for who I truly am, in an
unapologetic fashion, all the while outrunning the odds set against me by this westernized world.
I have come out on top, highly educated and prepared for what life has to offer me not just as a
man but a man who stands in his insecurities and doesn’t allow them to shape the life he desires.

The Roberto Cavalli expansion project the situation was that I need to come up with a brand expansion idea for my marketing course. The task was to pick a brand we felt could use a brand expansion line and come up with a marketing strategy. I took action by starting the project early, I wrote my essay on the expansion ending with a final result of an A+ grade on the brand expansion project.

The Roberto Cavalli brand was created by designer Roberto Cavalli. Cavalli attended the Academy of Art in Florence around the late 1950s, focusing on textile prints. During this time, is where the seed of the Cavalli brand began to sprout. He began to curate his creative design style and his artistic expression by applying paint to textiles in new creative ways, therefore creating exciting new clothing designs. “The fashionistas” states a quote from Cavalli “My dream, maybe because of my family, was to be a painter. I chose in one moment the direction of textiles; from textiles, I went to fashion.” (Johnson, 2019). After years of building his aesthetic and perfecting his craft, Roberto Cavalli debuted his first collection in 1970.

Consisting of gorgeous evening gowns with a new and innovative designs of dyed leather. In addition, he also went on to invent and show in his future collections jeans trousers; made of printed denim, intarsia leathers, brocade, and wild prints. These solidified his name as a fashion textile genius. Roberto Cavalli is without question a luxury brand because of the garment details alone. Intricate, detailed, and complicated techniques are used to create his garments for his collections, along with exotic furs, textiles, and fabrics. That gives his clothing its unique luster, with his clothing being worn by some of the biggest supermodels, pop stars, and actresses.

The Roberto Cavalli brand is undeniably a luxury brand for the rich and famous. "Business, of fashion" explains that “Roberto Cavalli has made a career out of dressing women in his highly decorative, flamboyant and intricate gowns. Unapologetic glamour, fluidly applied onto the female form with an Italian man’s sensibilities, has come to be Cavalli’s signature style.” (N.A, 2013). However, who doesn’t want to be dressed in a unique piece of wearable art by Cavalli? This is why the brand is suitable to explore brand expansion. There will always be a market of people with more refined tastes for expertly crafted garments. We would be targeting the demographic of fashion lovers who are looking for clothing with personality, nostalgia, and sex appeal - things that the Roberto Cavalli brand was built on. Detailed Clothing with a personality that allows the wearer to stand out and feel confident. Regarding the recent resurgence of early 2000s fashion trends coming back into the mainstream.

I see this Roberto Cavalli expansion succeeding far beyond anyone’s expectations. I also feel like if some of Roberto Cavalli's old techniques and motifs were revisited and remastered it could really give the brand more recognizable attention in our current climate. Bringing in a newer generation of clients as well as people who grew up with the brand idolizing the designs. Resulting in multiple demographics shopping and getting involved in this expansion. I plan to expand the Roberto Cavalli brand by introducing a new product line called “Zenith by Roberto Cavalli”. This new product line would be inspired by the brand expansion of Heaven by Marc Jacobs.

The success of the Marc Jacobs expansion has really assisted in keeping the entire Marc Jacobs brand name alive with the newer generation of creatives. “British vogue” writes “Nostalgia is currently driving the fashion market, and Heaven has its finger on the pulse, … Making the line obtainable for Gen Z shoppers is super important, now more than ever.”

(Subair, 2022). Expanding the target market to the newest generation is our primary goal. To further introduce a new demographic to the iconic history of the Roberto Cavalli. Currently Gen Z is leading the curve when it comes to popularity in fashion.

This new expansion would be a great way for new young customers to get their toes wet with the brand before exploring the more high-end market of Roberto Cavalli garments which p.s. could use a revamp as well as far as creative direction goes but I digress. For this expansion, the team would be creating clothing collections with more environmentally friendly fabrics and more affordable materials. For a price range that will appeal to age demographics of 16–36-year-olds.

Also, pulling inspiration from the success of past Roberto Cavalli brand expansions such as the children’s line “Angels & Devils” the “Class line, 1998” and “Just Cavalli, 1998” which included men’s wear, women’s wear, and accessories. What will separate these lines from the new “Zenith by Roberto Cavalli” expansion would be the price range and emphasis on nostalgic silhouettes. The past expansions were still priced at designer price points. The goal of this is to allow these garments to be accessible to the Gen Z demographic; or anyone who is conscious of their disposable income but still wants to be fashionable and represent a designer brand.

Further following the Heaven by Marc Jacobs exclusivity marketing strategy. To additionally add to the brand's exclusive appeal. Minor restocks will be put into action to keep the brand’s clothing in high demand. I believe with planned marketing strategies and detailed personalized garments this brand expansion can exceed our expectations. While also giving the Roberto Cavalli name a new generation of customers. Ultimately embracing the history that Roberto Cavalli worked so hard to create. To continue the Roberto Cavalli name for generations to come.

Citations

A, N. (2022, July 20). Roberto Cavalli is part of the BOF 500. The Business of Fashion. Retrieved November 25, 2022, from https://www.businessoffashion.com/community/people/roberto-cavalli

Johnson, J. (2019, December 10). History of Roberto Cavalli. True Fashionistas. Retrieved November 25, 2022, from https://truefashionistas.com/blogs/fashion-files/history-of-roberto-cavalli

Subair, E. (2022, April 19). How Marc Jacobs's heaven became a gen-z fashion obsession. British Vogue. Retrieved November 25, 2022, from https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/ava-nirui-heaven-interview-2022/amp

My research essay on Eric Fischl from my contemporary art course. The situation was we had to pick an artist who made the majority of their art after 1980 and research their artistry at large. I took action by picking a peculiar and interesting artist that created art pieces with multiple layers and hidden messages. As the research continued I was able to learn so much about Eric Fiscal. Which resulted in me getting an A on my paper as the final grade.

Distinctive artist Eric Fischl is known for his taboo approach to his creative vision and art. In the 1980s Fiscal exploded onto the scene with his highly suggestive, sexually figurative paintings. That instilled tons of emotions in his audience and viewers. As part of the Neo-Expressionism movement, Eric had his own unique style that allowed him to stand out among other artists. He pushed boundaries and established himself as a risk-taker not afraid of his own artistic expression. But empowering his deepest thoughts and challenging the thoughts of others. Invoking numerous emotions in his audience to further make one question their own mind and thoughts around certain taboos.

One might chop up his artwork to just begin sexually exploitative art. But his particular style of art is to make one question and think. While manifesting some sort of feeling in the audience with his work. Fischl's art stands out because of his layers and attention to light, detail, and color, his artistry is filled with depth and emotion. Discovering the meanings behind the sexual nature and taboos of his artistic expression of the human mind, to further understand the meanings of his sexual narratives and taboos of his art.

The story of this peculiar artist begins with his birth in 1948 in New York City. Eric grew up in Long Island until his family relocated to Phoenix, Arizona at the age of nineteen in 1967. His childhood was very uncanny and toxic, he describes his childhood as “alcoholism and a country club culture” which are often the themes that are explored and expressed in his art and creations. Most artists use past experiences from their childhoods and current lives to express their feelings and in a way use them as a form of healing and release. As he aged, he attend two universities first Phoenix College and then Arizona State University before pursuing a career in the art world. So, in 1972, Eric graduated with his BFA from the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia. After that Fischl relocated to Chicago working in the museum of contemporary art as a security guard. During his time working in the museum in Chicago, he was inspired by the unique artist Hairy Who to begin his career as a painter.

Continuing his art journey, he took a job in Nova Scotia in 1974 teaching painting at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. But by 1975 Fischl held his first solo art show that was curated by Bruce W. Ferguson, at the Dalhousie Art Gallery in Nova Scotia. Fischl moved back to New York in 1978 and got married to another American artist named April Gornik, known for her landscape paintings. Eric begins painting his now-famous depictions of taboo suburban culture and life. Garnering his as reputation as a skilled Figurative painter of private and sexually provocative themes and narratives. He became known as the “painter of the suburbs," embracing formerly taboo themes like adolescent sexuality and voyeurism.” (N.A,2008). Eric is a very talented artist with an easily recognizable style and aesthetic. Fischl’s art is associated with the Neo-Expressionism art movement.

While incorporating his chosen themes and messaging in collaboration with this high-energy movement. The Neo-Expressionism art movement found fame at the beginning 20th century but gained popularity again in the 1970s due to German-born artist Georg Baselitz. Georg was at the forefront of the Neo-Expressionism movement and led the revival of the movement that began in the 1970s. By the 1980s people favored more of the excitement and personality from Neo-Expressionism in comparison to the simplistic and chic nature of the conceptual and minimalist movement of the past.

Artists such as jean Michael Basquiat, Anselm Kiefer, and Julian Schnabel are some of the top artists known for their Neo-Expressionism art, they are responsible for propelling this movement forward. The Neo-Expressionism movement allowed for artistic expression from every angle including sculptures but most importantly paintings with the expression of explicit narratives of erotica, cultural history, and mythology. The art story states that “Because Neo-Expressionism accepted and rejuvenated historical and mythological imagery -- as opposed to the modernists' tendency to reject storytelling…some scholars believe that Neo-Expressionism played an important role in the transition from modernism to postmodernism” (N.A,2023). Throughout the movement’s timeline of popularity. Neo-Expressionism was an extremely popular phenomenon in the art market in both the United States and Europe until the mid-1980s but came to a complete end by the early 1990s.

Eric Fischl's art holds deep meanings within his paintings, that might be uncomfortable for some viewers of his audience. A painting of his that really instills uncomfortable emotions is titled ‘Sleepwalker’. The painting is of a young pubescent boy standing in a plastic pool in a suburban-style backyard holding his penis with a fixated gaze. The painting appears to be a private moment of exhibitionist behavior of the young man. But we as the viewer doesn't know exactly what is going on. All we can do is interpret the feelings we get from the provocative imagery. The feelings I receive are those of awkwardness, shame, and fear of explicit public exposure of discovering one’s body. I took this painting as the young man pleasuring himself with the discovery of his own body a sexual awakening of oneself. Mixed with the uncontrollable feelings of the hormones one has at the age of puberty. Where one is discovering sexual nature and urges for the first few times in one’s life. Along with the curiosity of exploring one’s sexuality and fantasies.

The second painting of Fisch’s that instills a certain emotion in the audience is titled ‘Bad boy’ an extremely uncomfortable and provocative photo of a young boy viewing his mother's body as she lays in a spread eagle-like position on the bed. While at the same time, the small boy seems to be stealing money from his mother’s purse in secret. This painting is extremely provocative and poses thoughts of young boys’ relationships with sexuality. The awakening of sexuality and carelessness of his mother who is allowing her nude body to be exposed to her young child. While simultaneously expressing the juvenile impulses of stealing for his own personal gain. Eric Fischl states that the painting "Bad Boy" equates the boy's moment of sexual discovery to a theft," … parents blind themselves to their children's needs and impulses, the suburban … culture that blurs the line between sexual and buying power, between genuine emotion and the superficial looks of things" (Fischl,2013).

Now when evaluating these two pieces of art they obviously have a common theme of what would normally be common simple settings. With a juxtaposition of the provocative actions being expressed in these common settings. Which is Eric Fischl's overarching theme, across the majority of his art. Both paintings involve the sexuality and sexual expression of young males. With both paintings presenting a young boy’s discovery of sexuality, exhibitionism, and sexual acts. Both have taboo element themes such as masturbation in ‘sleepwalker’ and some form of a incest-ish relationship in ‘Bad boy’.

With all of the similarities between the two paintings the element that separates the two are the messages and underlying themes that allow them to differ. The ‘Bad boy’ painting strikes this unsettling feeling of the loss of innocence. With negligence from the person who is supposed to care for you the most i.e., your mother. Fischl even states himself as I mentioned previously "Bad Boy" equates the boy's moment of sexual discovery to a theft,"(Fischl,2013). Which is a symbol of dysfunction whereas ‘Sleepwalker’ is a theme of sexuality expression, curiosity, and the natural urges to explore one’s sexual identity and fantasies. In an explorative manner in comparison to a toxic and flawed fashion. Which was expressed in the ‘Bad Boy’ painting.

That is what separates the two paintings. Both explore topics of sexual awakening with different elements that separate the different emotions the audience will feel from the viewer's perspective.

In conclusion, Eric Fischl is an extremely talented artist with a provocative aesthetic and story that is authentic to him and his artistry. Fischl uses his gift to make us jaded viewers feel the emotions we suppress or ignore. He exposes truths, taboos, and hidden backgrounds and forces you to think about what you are viewing. The beauty of his art is in his depth, detail, and messaging. The meaning behind his artwork has layers that allow it the be interpreted in many different ways an authentic explication that can be true to you individually. Using his life as a metaphorical vessel to help us see how we view our own past and present lives and the differences and similarities. Eric Fischl definitely has left his mark on the art world. His unique mix of sexually provocative imagery with a larger message at bay build, an insightful narrative. That will allow his art the longevity to be forever discussed for centuries to come.

References

Cityfile. (n.d.). Eric Fischl. Gawker. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.gawker.com/551833/eric-fischl

N, A. (n.d.). Artnet.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.artnet.com/artists/eric-fischl/biography

N, A. (n.d.). Biography. Eric Fischl. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from http://www.ericfischl.com/biography

N, A. (n.d.). Eric Fischl paintings, Bio, ideas. The Art Story. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.theartstory.org/amp/artist/fischl-eric/

N, A. (n.d.). Exhibitionism and Skoptophilia: Fischl's Sleepwalker - FLVC. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://journals.flvc.org/athanor/article/download/125508/124492/

Seed, P. J. (2013, June 7). Eric Fischl: From bad boy to good man. Eric Fischl: From Bad Boy to Good Man. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from http://www.johnseed.com/2013/06/eric-fischl-from-bad-boy-to-good-man.html?m=1

Wolf, J. (2022, January 30). Neo-expressionism movement overview. The Art Story. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.theartstory.org/amp/movement/neo-expressionism/

The history of punk rock essay I wrote in a street-style course I took. The task was to research the history of punk rock fashion and write an essay about the topic. We were required to have the most detail possible in our essay. So I had to strengthen and structure my research in order to get a good grade. My particular writing style allowed me to express my essay in a unique manner. My professor said that I have a special way of writing words. Expressing my point in a magazine, article format. I got a A+ on the essay as my final grade.

Fashion is art, fashion is creativity but most importantly fashion stands for a symbol to further a narrative of feeling. Above all, it is an outlet to exhibit political statements, individualism, and the ultimate form of self-expression. Fashion has the ability to nonverbally make a statement on how one internally feels, which holds immense power in itself. When you think to yourself about the way people dress and why they chose that particular outfit, you must consider what that person’s current reality is. Consider what is going on in their immediate environment. What messages are they trying to convey? Punk rock was a form of self-expression that made such a statement that it was impossible to be ignorant of the realities of these creative individuals.

Picture this, it’s Britain in the mid-1970s - social unrest is running rapid and the natives of Britain are going on strike in response to high rates of inflation. According to ‘History hit’ “millions of people were affected, and the country faced serious political and economic challenges as the attitude of post-war affluence wore off”, (Roller, 2021). Everyone from doctors to garbage collectors went on strike. To add more fuel to the fire, the Britain Irish Republican Army “IRA” launched terrorist attacks around this time on the natives of Britain. Whose primary goal was to free Northern Ireland from Britain’s control.

Thus, resulting in England becoming an aggressive, irritable environment. Manifesting in the birth of a subgroup of young individuals who desired to channel that aggression into their adherent appearances. The birth of punk rock symbolizes these people’s response to the environmental struggles of Britain, along with the inner demons of these individuals. Punk rock was born on Kings Road in Chelsea a posh classy area for shopping on the streets of London. Known for its upper-echelon reputation of Britain’s finest. It wasn’t until the mid-1970s that the true revolutionary of the punk rock movement opened her first store titled “Sex”. Vivienne Westwood and her Business partner Malcolm McLaren, manager of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols who also doubled as her concubine. Opened Vivian’s first boutique in London with her provocative fashions of selling glamour, stage wear, and fetish wear. These statement-making garments were sold to the subculture of kids who resonated and were inspired by Vivian’s outrageous aesthetic. Malcolm's main reason for bringing together The Sex Pistols was so that the band members could wear the clothing Vivian was designing. However, due to backlash from the public they eventually had to change the boutique's name from “Sex” to “Boy”. Which set the stage for Vivian to release her first recognizable collection called “Seditionaries” which stands for someone who causes dissent to challenge a figure of authority.

The collection birthed the idea of distressed clothing, which no one had attempted to tackle before Westwood. The main goal of this collection was to stand out and be as offensive as possible. To shed more light on the idea of distressed clothing. ‘The Guardian’ states a quote from a thesis by Kate Louise “the wearer can choose to dabble with the look of poverty while simultaneously adding to his or her symbolic waste” given that the distressed look “adds labour intensive ornamentation … that require further processing and manual labour to create them.” (Bramley, 2017). Vivian was creating history and challenging the status quo of what people deemed as traditional or orthodox.

She rebelled in her designs to further her narrative of punk rock having no restrictions and being open to anything authentically punk. There was this attitude that anyone could be punk rock. With a do-it-yourself kind of atmosphere surrounding the entire subculture. Around this time in particular pop culture stood as a vessel for creatives to inspire designers such as Vivienne Westwood and John Paul Gaultier by simply their existence being infectious. Fashion natives and punk bands allowed the space for everyone to be inspired by their peers in the punk rock subculture. When talking about the punk rock designers it is majorly important to discuss the muses of designers.

More so the people who further inspire the minds of the creatives. For example, the frontwoman for the band Blondie Debbie Harry was someone whose contribution to the music and punk scene was undeniably inspiring to millions. ‘Dujour’ describes her as the original “punk rock fashionista … with her signature platinum fringe, darker than dark painted eyes and deconstructed thrift store finds, Harry was a trailblazer in DIY style” (Ghorbani, NA). Other artists like Iggy Pop known as "Godfather of Punk", by ‘Yardbarker’ entertainment news. He was the vocalist and lyricist of the punk band The Stooges. He stood out and was unapologetic with his stage presence and his way of dressing set the tone for punk rock in the music scene. (Mezydlo, 2022). Other popular figures in punk rock music include bands such as The Clash, The Slits, Generation X, and the Buzz Cocks. The names of these bands really reflect the ideals of punk rock. Consisting of names that allude to the brash and aggressive nature of what the people participating in the punk rock subculture adhere to.

Music was a huge influence on the punk rock scene. But the true fashion icons are the ones who reign supreme in this subculture. No one’s impact was more prominent in the fashion world of punk than Pamela Rooke famously known as Jordon. The creative individual was Vivian Westwood’s muse and inspiration known for nothing more than wearing the punk threads and hanging out in the right scenes. She inspired Vivian and was the source of the rare rawness that really embodies the punk rock subculture. When breaking down what makes punk rock style, punk rock style. It’s not rocket science to achieve this look.

Punk rock was an explosive image that consisted of style choices like spiky hair, mohawks, and extremely dramatic makeup with an emphasis on the color black. Extreme eyeliner, dog collar necklaces, studded belts, safety pin accessories, and distressed garments. For all these accessories we have Westwood to thank. Also, textiles and fabrics such as mohair and leather were all the rage during this era. All these characteristics bring together the unique punk look, But the punk rock look was a lifestyle overall. Consisting of dances like the “pogo” and distinct graphic visuals such as the ransom letter fonts that were inspired by kidnappers.

These lifestyle ideals were extremely popular in the punk rock community. As the punk subculture grew in London it eventually made its way to the states. Being most prominent in cities like New York City and Los Angeles. Where creativity is upheld and embraced to the fullest, from 1975 to 1980 punk rock was at its climax. But as well all know “Fashion is not an island; it's a response.” (Heath, 2021) Fashion must continue to evolve and that’s exactly what happened to the punk rock subculture. In the United States, the punk rock subculture evolved to the “New Wave” subculture that ‘Rock in: flux’ states it involved “Aquanet-supported hairstyles, brightly colored makeup, and outfits made of anything from leather to mesh.” (Berliere, 2019).

While in England it shifted to “The New Romantic” look. Which ‘Fashion-Era’ describes as “Typical romantic glamour had the swashbuckling style of pirates and buccaneers. Full-sleeved frilled pirate shirts were made from luxury fabrics. Theatrical brocade or hussar style jackets of velvet or silk complete with braiding were copied and appeared on many jackets.” (N.A, 2021).

Heavily inspired by glamour and luxury but by the 80s punk rock had died out.

If you by chance were still punk rock by the 80s you were classified as someone who could not let go of the past. But the nail in the coffin for punk rock was really solidified when luxury designer Zandra Rhodes presented her punk rock collection in 1977 glamorizing and appropriating the punk rock look. However, although fashion is forever evolving, the punk look is still prominent in subcultures in the current age of fashion.

When you think about fashion subcultures you should keep in mind is the idea of community. Fashion is not just about creating a specific look or appearance. Fashion subcultures are safe spaces that bring together creatives. People searching for a place of feeling and acceptance. To creatively connect and build on ideas, dreams, and fantasies. Where you can let your wildest dreams run free, which really speaks to the punk rock movement. Punk rock was all about the idea of community and coming together as one. Creating as a group to express and inspire each other. Punk was a community that brought unique people together. which is why it’s such an important aspect of fashion history.

Punk influences are all around us in fashion editorials and current trends. Punk rock garments and accessories can be found in any fashion lover's closet due to Vivian Westwood’s influence. We all hold a part of the punk rock look in our wardrobes. I know personally, I have a pair of red, low-rise, plaid tartans pants that just fulfill my pretty in-punk desires. Punk rock shocked people, it offered a new perspective on how our inner feelings and demons can be expressed in the control we have over our appearances, to further tell our stories. A true art form of fashion to help further the perspective of “the bigger picture” of self-expression. Thanks to Miss Westwood punk rock will continue to be referenced and cherished now and forever.

Citations

Heath, A. (n.d.). Amanda Hallay Heath States. Amanda Hallay. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://amandahallay.com/

Berliere, B. (2019, May 9). A brief history of new wave and why we love it - rock in. flux. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://www.rockinflux.com/news/2019/5/9/the-history-of-new-wave-and-why-we-love-it

Bramley, E. (n.d.). Distressed fashion: making sense of pre-ripped clothes. The Guardian. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://amp.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/aug/18/distressed-fashion-making-sense-of-pre-ripped-clothes

N.A (2021, April 15). New Romantics 1980s fashion history. Fashion. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://fashion-era.com/new_romantics1.htm

Cooper, R. (2018, April 10). The history and evolution of punk rock music. LiveAbout. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://www.liveabout.com/history-of-punk-rock-2803345

Ghorbani, L. (2013, April 23). Debbie Harry's punk style. DuJour. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://dujour.com/news/debbie-harry-style-photos/

Mezydlo, J. (2022, November 16). The 25 all-time punk rock characters. Yardbarker. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/the_25_all_time_punk_rock_characters/s1__28311833#slide_11

Roller, S. (2021, September 21). When the Lights Went Out in Britain: The story of the three day Working Week. History Hit. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://www.historyhit.com/when-the-lights-went-out-in-britain-the-story-of-the-three-day-working-week/