Emo fashion | Emo Style | Emo Fashion "Rules."| What is the Emo Fashion ?
Friday, 1 July 2011
Emo Fashion
The basic fashion...
Emo guys usually have shaggy hair, that covers a majority of their forehead and eyes. Much like the girls, they like to dye their hair dark colors. Especially black. When it comes to their clothing, emo boys usually sport under sized clothing. A lot of them will wear girls pants. When it comes to their shirts, they like the vintage look. Much like the girls again, emo boys like to have facial piercings. Emo girls hair is shorter than what must girls have. They like to dye their hair black and cut their bangs uniquely. Jewelry is a big part of their fashion. Body piercings, and facial piercings are very common among girls. Girls and boys tend to purchase all their clothing at thrift store. However, many emo kids will make their own clothing or mod their own clothes to fit they look they are going after. Girls and boys that are emo share the same taste when it comes to fashion. Glassed which are horn rimmed are quite popular, along with bags cluttered with patches
What is the Emo Fashion ?
Emo fashion has changed over the years so there are really two parts to the answer for this question: emo fashion of the past and emo fashion of the present. While there are some basic generalizations across the board, the emo fashion style has changed from a pretty tight dress code to a much more relaxed style that encompasses a variety of different elements.
Emo Fashion of the Past
In the beginning, most emos conformed to a fairly strict fashion statement, all the while claiming that their style was unique. The irony with being unique is that the more people that jump on the bus, the less unique a style becomes. Emos shunned the idea of a standardized fashion, and in their attempt to be different, created just that.
Hair was, is, and probably always will be a huge part of emo fashion. Originally, to be emo you had to dye your hair black. Not everyone did it, but it was the thing to do if you were truly going for the emo style. The emo hairstyle for guys typically consisted of flat ironed hair with a side swooping bang that covered one eye. The emo hairstyle for females brought back the idea of big hair but also encompassed the side swooping bang that covered one eye. I think the best comparison of the female hairstyle would be to that of Elvira.
Giant hair bows were a big time accessory for girls. Eyeliner found its way onto the faces of emo guys and gained the affectionate name of guy liner. Again, not all emo guys wore guy liner but enough did that it became a pretty popular part of the emo fashion statement. Some even went a step farther by wearing eye shadow and other make up items.
Emo males started wearing girls jeans. In the beginning this created much controversy which later died down when retailers caught on to the trend and brought back skinny jeans. Tight clothing, in general, was/is a fashion standard for emos.
The fashion style was very vintage looking in the beginning. Many emos went to thrift stores to shop for printed t-shirts and flannels. Thick framed glasses, sweat bands, and messenger bags were also a pretty big thing at the time.
Thanks to the emo culture, lip piercing gained in popularity. This has probably contributed greatly to the exploding expansion of new piercing parlors opening up across the United States. Many emos got a single lip piercing on either the left or right side of the lip.
Emo Fashion of Today
Many things have changed but a lot has also stayed the same. It’s still a popular trend among emos to flat iron their hair as straight as humanly possible. A few additional hairstyles have been added to the repertoire of guy emo hairstyles, like spiking the back of the hair. The female emo hairstyle hasn’t changed much.
While many emos still dye their hair black, it’s no longer a hardcore requirement for the style. There are quite a few emos out there that dye their hair platinum blonde instead. It seems to have become more about how you wear your hair than what color your hair is. The newest hot female emo hair accessory is multi-colored hair extensions. In fact, coloring part of your hair a radical color was quite the trend for a while.
Much fewer emo guys wear guy liner now. Like many of the original emo fashion trends it has faded into the background.
Tight clothing is still very much in style with the emo culture, though much of it has taken a more modern look. Stripes are popular in emo fashion as well as stars, hearts, skulls, nautical stars, and sparrows. Emo females typically wear more trendy fashion as opposed to the original vintage style.
Piercings have also seen an expanded horizon. Many emos have gone from a single lip piercing to snake bites. Hip piercing has also recently become popular.
There’s really no telling how much more the emo fashion style will evolve. Unlike many other fashion styles the stability of emo culture changes as time passes. Some imagine that it will fade out completely with time. Until it does though, it will certainly be interesting to keep an eye on the rising and falling trends
Emo Fashion "Rules."
Emo fashion doesn't quite have as many rules as many people would think. After all, while there are definitely things that are cool and uncool, it's not quite as rigid as say, those yuppie places that won't let you in unless you're up to their "dress code." This is not to say that going to an emo show while lacking any sense of emo fashion will make you instantly accepted, or that you will feel incredibly comfortable in the environment, but you'll pretty much get in the door no matter what.
* Basic Emo Fashion "Rules."
01. Band t-shirts
Band t-shirts are cool. You just have to make sure you're wearing a cool band's t-shirt. I can not stress this enough. You can't just slap on a Lynrd Skynrd t-shirt and be emo. You might be able to get away with an intentionally ironic shirt - something like Cinderella or Winger, but you better have the rest of your emo fashion in order before even trying this.
Important note: Don't be "that guy." You know who I mean, right? The guy who wears a shirt of the band he's going to see that night? There is little in the world more lame than being "that guy." Put it this way: If you're at the From Autumn to Ashes show? We know you like them. You don't need to wear the shirt to make sure everyone knows. We're all laughing at you if you're "that guy." [And yes, even if you bought the shirt at that show... for the love of all things holy, don't put it on. Put it in your bag, your girlfriend's bag, or buy it after the band is done. Geez, people.]
02. Hoodies
Without emo kids and emo fashion, the hoodie business would collapse. In my house, every time I come home with a new hoodie [and I have a bit of a thing for them], my boyfriend jokes about how "desperately" I needed a new one. And then gets mad at me for stealing his. Hoodies are just a staple of emo fashion, and a decent collection of them is essential to any emo wardrobe.
That said, it's important to have an emo hoodie. Because other people do wear them, you can't show up in a sports team or a college hoodie and be emo. You'll look like a dork or a poser and not remotely in touch with emo fashion. Band hoodies? Good. Emo-approved clothing company hoodies? Good. Skulls, stars, cute designs on the hoodies? Good. Plain hoodies? Acceptable. It's really easy... don't wear anything that would lead someone to mistake you for a frat boy or frat girl and you're probably good to go.
Note: hoodies are acceptable year-round. They make short-sleeved and summer-weight hoodies. Get some, or your summer emo fashion will suffer greatly.
03. Jeans
Tight, not baggy. Boys used to be all but obliged to wear girl's jeans, but that standard has been significantly relaxed. Feel free to wear boy jeans, if you're a boy [but not if you're a girl!], just make sure they fit. You don't want them hanging off your ass or ten sizes too big! You're not a thug or a skater circa 1994.
04. Extra shirts
You think your band t-shirt and hoodie are enough? Well, maybe. If it's the summer. But you know what could really up your emo fashion quota? An extra shirt under your band t-shirt. They now make tons of long-sleeved shirts that are perfect for layering, an emo fashion staple. You can use a solid color, a print, whatever suits your mood, really. For some reason, it makes you more emo to have more clothes on. I honestly attribute this to Gerard Way and his near-obsession with wearing as many layers of clothing as is humanly possible.
05. Jackets
Jackets aren't very emo; get some more hoodies. Wear a lighter hoodie under a heavier one, if you're cold. Gas station jackets are also okay, but not as cool as they used to be. Nonetheless, you won't be shunned like you have the clap at an orgy if you show up wearing one.
Avoid things like ski jackets or normal winter jackets unless it's seriously, seriously cold out. Actually, no matter how cold it is? Avoid ski jackets. Especially with a bunch of tickets hanging off them. And this really has nothing to do with emo fashion, per se. It's just that people who wear jackets like that look like gigantic, honking douchebags.
I'm gonig to keep bringing this up as a sidebar, but you'll definitely want to get some emo ringtone for the people that don't actually have you in view but are within earshot.
06. Scarves
Emo fashion + scarves = a match made in heaven.
What kind of scarves? Simple. Thin, long, knitted/crocheted scarves. Solid colors are fine, stripes are better. That's all. You can wear them year-round, so long as they're lightweight. Why are scarves a staple of emo fashion? I don't know. Why is the grass green? We just accept some things in life and move on.
07. Gloves
Fingerless gloves are an excellent emo fashion accessory. They add to the layered look and well, they just look cute. They can be solid, striped, or have designs on them. When it's cold out, there's a bonus: not only are you fashionable, but your hands are significantly warmer than they'd be if you didn't have the gloves on. Your fingers, though? Not so much.
08. Accessories
The thing about emo fashion is accessories aren't all that key.
- A piercing or two is always good. Ear plugs are popular, but not everyone wants to stretch their ears out and that's understood.
- Necklaces are good. You can wear more than one. Hemp, lace, or anything that looks like something a hippie or a frat person would wear is a bad idea. Ball chain is good. Plastic ball chain is okay, but avoid the raver look at all costs
- Need a purse? Okay - tote bags are fine. Messenger bags are also fine. Both get bonus points if they have band logos on them. [Are you grasping that band logos are essential to emo fashion? Good!] Cute backpacks are good. Guys can just use regular ones. A pin or patch or two helps. Under no circumstances should you use a purse or bag that looks like something your mother would carry. Unless your mother is emo. In which case, you're probably a bit confused. Maybe ask your therapist about that.
- Socks. Knee socks with patterns are always good. Fishnets are cute with skirts [on girls! If you're a boy in a skirt, you're goth, not emo!]. Thigh highs are cute, too. Striped stockings/tights. All of these are acceptable, just choose carefully so you don't end up looking like a typical stripper, rather than a cute girl rocking an emo schoolgirl look.
09. Shoes
Ah, shoes. Converse? Always good. Vans are also always good. Girls can wear cute buckle shoes from companies like Demona... but for the most part, emo fashion dictates that shoes are simple and flat. If you're a girl in a skirt or dress, with fishnets or knee socks/thigh highs... combat boots can be cute... but might be mistaken for punk if the rest of your outfit isn't properly emo.
10. Makeup
Okay, this is easy. Black eyeliner. Lots of it. Boys need to put it on and make it look smudged, as if they slept with it on. If you can actually sleep in it, that isn't a bad idea. Girls, you want to be a bit neater. Clean lines are great. I recommend using a pencil on the inside of your eyes and Urban Decay liquid on top. Then use some eyeshadow that matches your outfit. Boys... you don't really need eyeshadow, but if you are so inclined? Nothing but black or dark grey. You're not Jeffree Starr, are you? No, I didn't think so.
Boys don't need lipstick or anything else. Girls, feel free, though the truth is, Burt's Bees or Bonne Bell lipgloss will do just fine.
As for nail polish? Boys: black only! And it looks better chipped... a freshly manicured boy is kind of creepy, to be honest. Girls: black is good, but matching your nails to your outfit is also perfectly acceptable.
Clearly, this is just a general guide to emo fashion... some basic rules. And while you're not going to get away with wearing a paisley skirt with a Phish shirt and be the bastion of emo fashion, remember this: rules are made to be broken. And if you can rock it, rock it. Who knows? Maybe you could create some new emo fashion trends. Just don't do anything silly, because the last thing I want is to go to a show and see a bunch of chicks wearing those hideous shirts that make everyone look knocked up....
* Basic Emo Fashion "Rules."
01. Band t-shirts
Band t-shirts are cool. You just have to make sure you're wearing a cool band's t-shirt. I can not stress this enough. You can't just slap on a Lynrd Skynrd t-shirt and be emo. You might be able to get away with an intentionally ironic shirt - something like Cinderella or Winger, but you better have the rest of your emo fashion in order before even trying this.
Important note: Don't be "that guy." You know who I mean, right? The guy who wears a shirt of the band he's going to see that night? There is little in the world more lame than being "that guy." Put it this way: If you're at the From Autumn to Ashes show? We know you like them. You don't need to wear the shirt to make sure everyone knows. We're all laughing at you if you're "that guy." [And yes, even if you bought the shirt at that show... for the love of all things holy, don't put it on. Put it in your bag, your girlfriend's bag, or buy it after the band is done. Geez, people.]
02. Hoodies
Without emo kids and emo fashion, the hoodie business would collapse. In my house, every time I come home with a new hoodie [and I have a bit of a thing for them], my boyfriend jokes about how "desperately" I needed a new one. And then gets mad at me for stealing his. Hoodies are just a staple of emo fashion, and a decent collection of them is essential to any emo wardrobe.
That said, it's important to have an emo hoodie. Because other people do wear them, you can't show up in a sports team or a college hoodie and be emo. You'll look like a dork or a poser and not remotely in touch with emo fashion. Band hoodies? Good. Emo-approved clothing company hoodies? Good. Skulls, stars, cute designs on the hoodies? Good. Plain hoodies? Acceptable. It's really easy... don't wear anything that would lead someone to mistake you for a frat boy or frat girl and you're probably good to go.
Note: hoodies are acceptable year-round. They make short-sleeved and summer-weight hoodies. Get some, or your summer emo fashion will suffer greatly.
03. Jeans
Tight, not baggy. Boys used to be all but obliged to wear girl's jeans, but that standard has been significantly relaxed. Feel free to wear boy jeans, if you're a boy [but not if you're a girl!], just make sure they fit. You don't want them hanging off your ass or ten sizes too big! You're not a thug or a skater circa 1994.
04. Extra shirts
You think your band t-shirt and hoodie are enough? Well, maybe. If it's the summer. But you know what could really up your emo fashion quota? An extra shirt under your band t-shirt. They now make tons of long-sleeved shirts that are perfect for layering, an emo fashion staple. You can use a solid color, a print, whatever suits your mood, really. For some reason, it makes you more emo to have more clothes on. I honestly attribute this to Gerard Way and his near-obsession with wearing as many layers of clothing as is humanly possible.
05. Jackets
Jackets aren't very emo; get some more hoodies. Wear a lighter hoodie under a heavier one, if you're cold. Gas station jackets are also okay, but not as cool as they used to be. Nonetheless, you won't be shunned like you have the clap at an orgy if you show up wearing one.
Avoid things like ski jackets or normal winter jackets unless it's seriously, seriously cold out. Actually, no matter how cold it is? Avoid ski jackets. Especially with a bunch of tickets hanging off them. And this really has nothing to do with emo fashion, per se. It's just that people who wear jackets like that look like gigantic, honking douchebags.
I'm gonig to keep bringing this up as a sidebar, but you'll definitely want to get some emo ringtone for the people that don't actually have you in view but are within earshot.
06. Scarves
Emo fashion + scarves = a match made in heaven.
What kind of scarves? Simple. Thin, long, knitted/crocheted scarves. Solid colors are fine, stripes are better. That's all. You can wear them year-round, so long as they're lightweight. Why are scarves a staple of emo fashion? I don't know. Why is the grass green? We just accept some things in life and move on.
07. Gloves
Fingerless gloves are an excellent emo fashion accessory. They add to the layered look and well, they just look cute. They can be solid, striped, or have designs on them. When it's cold out, there's a bonus: not only are you fashionable, but your hands are significantly warmer than they'd be if you didn't have the gloves on. Your fingers, though? Not so much.
08. Accessories
The thing about emo fashion is accessories aren't all that key.
- A piercing or two is always good. Ear plugs are popular, but not everyone wants to stretch their ears out and that's understood.
- Necklaces are good. You can wear more than one. Hemp, lace, or anything that looks like something a hippie or a frat person would wear is a bad idea. Ball chain is good. Plastic ball chain is okay, but avoid the raver look at all costs
- Need a purse? Okay - tote bags are fine. Messenger bags are also fine. Both get bonus points if they have band logos on them. [Are you grasping that band logos are essential to emo fashion? Good!] Cute backpacks are good. Guys can just use regular ones. A pin or patch or two helps. Under no circumstances should you use a purse or bag that looks like something your mother would carry. Unless your mother is emo. In which case, you're probably a bit confused. Maybe ask your therapist about that.
- Socks. Knee socks with patterns are always good. Fishnets are cute with skirts [on girls! If you're a boy in a skirt, you're goth, not emo!]. Thigh highs are cute, too. Striped stockings/tights. All of these are acceptable, just choose carefully so you don't end up looking like a typical stripper, rather than a cute girl rocking an emo schoolgirl look.
09. Shoes
Ah, shoes. Converse? Always good. Vans are also always good. Girls can wear cute buckle shoes from companies like Demona... but for the most part, emo fashion dictates that shoes are simple and flat. If you're a girl in a skirt or dress, with fishnets or knee socks/thigh highs... combat boots can be cute... but might be mistaken for punk if the rest of your outfit isn't properly emo.
10. Makeup
Okay, this is easy. Black eyeliner. Lots of it. Boys need to put it on and make it look smudged, as if they slept with it on. If you can actually sleep in it, that isn't a bad idea. Girls, you want to be a bit neater. Clean lines are great. I recommend using a pencil on the inside of your eyes and Urban Decay liquid on top. Then use some eyeshadow that matches your outfit. Boys... you don't really need eyeshadow, but if you are so inclined? Nothing but black or dark grey. You're not Jeffree Starr, are you? No, I didn't think so.
Boys don't need lipstick or anything else. Girls, feel free, though the truth is, Burt's Bees or Bonne Bell lipgloss will do just fine.
As for nail polish? Boys: black only! And it looks better chipped... a freshly manicured boy is kind of creepy, to be honest. Girls: black is good, but matching your nails to your outfit is also perfectly acceptable.
Clearly, this is just a general guide to emo fashion... some basic rules. And while you're not going to get away with wearing a paisley skirt with a Phish shirt and be the bastion of emo fashion, remember this: rules are made to be broken. And if you can rock it, rock it. Who knows? Maybe you could create some new emo fashion trends. Just don't do anything silly, because the last thing I want is to go to a show and see a bunch of chicks wearing those hideous shirts that make everyone look knocked up....
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