Punk with a twist

The enigma of punk has always eclipsed the fashion galaxy. Vivienne Westwood, the grand dame of British fashion, who with her partner Malcolm McLaren (1946-2010) created some of the most iconic punk looks had once said, “The best way to confront British society was to be as obscene as possible.” 

Designer Gaurav Gupta says, “It is a mixing together of cultures as an individual perceives them, almost always with a sexual underplay.”

Rebellious style
“Think rebellious styles, mix match haberdashery and early 90s revival of anti-fashion silhouettes. The anarchistic spirit and the celebration of the zestful anti-society spirit appeals to the masses. This defiant attitude inspires to explore, innovate new design concepts with a unique sense of freedom,” says designer Aniket Satam, whose new collection is called Convent of Chic.

Gaurav doesn’t see it as a major trend but agrees that there will definitely be unmissable accents from that period. “Also, it is emerging more on the high street level than the high end. Metal chains, shoulder pads, gold, a riot of flashy colours, exposed mid-riffs, bra tops and loose denim jackets are in,” says he. 

“The columnar silhouettes are built from a textural mélange of suede, raw silk and delicate beaded lace in a striking palette of blood red, cobalt, ink blue along with classic ebony and white. Restricting patterns to graphic grids are formulated by intricate matting to craft a unique checkered weave,” says Satam.

Softer punk
“I have brought copper to life by mixing it with rose gold. Also, I have combined leather and metals, leather with silk bodysuits and also metal with silk. I think one can tone down the severity of the look by wearing a cropped jacket with a button down shirt and pants or wear it with a tunic or an over-sized shirt,” says Kanika Saluja of Annaikka.  
   
“In 90s the punk movement was strong and stark but now we are seeing a softer and a beautiful version of it. In our fall winter Wild Child collection, we showcased the grunge and punk look laced with rockstar glam,” says Falguni Peacock.

Pulling off the punk
‘‘Complete your look with deep dark eye make-up, red lips and maybe a faux hawk. During the day pair shorts with a jacket and finish the look with either a pair of pumps or peep-toe shoes or booties. You can’t wear it with a pair of strappy sandals. You could either tie your hair up or opt for a slick ponytail or a messed up hair look,” says Falguni Peacock.