Glam rock fashion doesn’t just revolve
around dark and masculine type of clothing like what we are used to
seeing. Unlike goth and punk styles, metal and rock fashion has a wider variety of styles to offer, evolving each year. It combines glam metal, punk rock fashion and
gothic rock, Its fashion influences can still be seen on streets worn
by both young and older generation who share the same love for the rock
and metal bands of the 80’s to early 90’s.
Let’s unravel this colorful and glittery
era to the darker, punk and edgy era of glam rock, understanding and
rediscovering it from the music to fashion. So be prepared to be rocked!
Classic Glam Era (60's - 70's)
Glam rock fashion rose to fame in the UK
from the influence of ‘60’s progenitors like Led Zeppelin and early
80’s T.Rex and the English rock band Slade. During the ‘70’s, David
Bowie started incorporating eccentricity into his wardrobe and wore
glittery makeup for his performances. His Ziggy Stardust persona gave
birth to glitter rock and androgyny. Futuristic makeup and shiny clothes
thus became a trend. Glam rock is a fusion of pop and rock. Glittery
boots, stripes and eccentric clothes became a trend through music makers
like the New York Dolls, Sweet and more followed suit.
Post Glam Era (80's - 90's)
Rock musicians of the 80’s paid homage to
the bands of the 70’s and took a different approach to the glam rock
fashion. Big tousled hair for males, gender bender outfits, outrageous
thick makeup, signature guitar riffs, spandex, studs, spikes, denims,
platform shoes, metallics, armors, and they also incorporated animal
prints to their attire. There was a crossover and fusion of different
genres from glam metal, which is another sub-genre of glam rock, going
to the direction of heavy metal and hair metal. Though some of the
colorful fashion trend from the classic glam era started to disappear,
greater fashion trends of mixing and matching of clothes emerged. Most
masculine musicians like Bowie were still able to pull of the concept of
androgyny perfectly. These musicians sold double and even triple
platinum sales with their albums and greatly influenced the late 80’s to
early 90’s trend.
The New Era of Glam Rock
Music and fashion has evolved through the
years with new artists emerging and developing their own identity and
signature styles while still paying homage and taking inspiration from
the early musicians and trendsetters. Lady Gaga once said that her
fashion inspiration is none other than David Bowie. She added a twist to
her style with some kind of disco inspired looks, and a typical club
kid sense in fashion. Black Veil Brides, an American rock group, added
punk and edge to their style by having long hair and wearing black
makeup, body paint and tight studded clothing. Recent bands inspired by
KISS, Motley Crue and the glam metal acts of the ‘80s are the German
rock band, Tokio Hotel. With his long hair, feminine features and good
taste in clothing mostly inspired by Bowie, Bill Kaulitz of Toky Hotel
has rocked the glam rock look with his smokey eyes and painted nails.
Steel Panther are an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles
California and are known for their dirty yet humorous songs and crazy
stage personas. Up to this date, the quartet still carry the look,
lifestyle and glam of 1980’s bands.
Top: Andy Biersack of Black Veil Brides, Bill Kaulitz of Tokio Hotel, Ralph Saenz and Rush Parish of Steel Panther, Bottom: Lady Gaga & Black Veil Brides
Glam Rock Signature Styles
Filled with eccentricity, gender bending
and out-of-the-norm clothing, this genre and subculture has to be seen
to be appreciated. Colorful and flashy, glam rock is all about the
show. See the signature styles of Glam rock and incorporate these cool
rock, pop and metal fashion looks in your wardrobe;
i) Big hair
Post Glam Era contains subculture like Hair
Metal, the bigger the hair, the better. Beware though because those
thick, lustrous hairs need a tremendous amount of hair spray. Hair
teasing and perms with bandanas as common metal men accessories.
Too impatient to grow out your hair? There
are various hair extensions which in different shades that will match
your hair color. You can choose from straight, wavy or curly, whatever
you want!!
- ii) Rocker Makeup
Say hello to “guyliner” and “manscara”.
Yes, makeup wasn’t just for women to enjoy. Most musicians rocked the
stage with their glamorous eye makeup and face paints. From white face
paints to colorful ones, they’ve done it all. Glitter, eyeliner and
lipstick have been a staple for glam rock. From the thick face paints of
the 70’s to smokey eyes of present make-up artists. Glam rock icons
have maintained their signature stage persona through the use of
cosmetics. Modern rock artists were able to tone it down by sticking to
the cool smokey eyes.
- iii) Animal Prints
If you don’t have any ensemble of leopard
print, then you need to get one! Worn by many famous rockstars, animal
prints compliment the texture of spandex. Their vests, bandanas, and
even their guitars had it! Animal prints were not originally worn first
by women in the fashion industry. Don’t you think men look hot with it?
Check out Motley Crue's Tommy Lee!
iv) Sequins and glitters, spikes and studs
Popularized by David Bowie, the gaudy
sequins and glitters remind us of disco lights and flashy shows. Though
now it must be a major fashion faux pas when worn today, being a rebel
you just love to turn some heads.
v) Metallic tops
Although shiny, metallic tops used to add
glamour to several musicians. Silver metallic ensembles were pretty
popular in the post glam era especially when paired with black spandex.
vi) Tight bottoms
The tighter, the meatier. Just kidding! The tighter the better, because when it hugs your legs, we can see those well-toned gluts and hamstrings. Skinnies and leggings for girls and guys used to be in, and after several fashion trends from loose pants to bell bottoms, the skinnies and leggings are back!
vii) Platform shoes to Old Western Boots
Platform boots
as popularize by KISS were worn on spandex and metallic outfits,
together with an armor. Compliment these shoes with bandanas, buckles
and chains to really look like a rocker.
viii) Glam Rock Inspired Runways and editorials
According to T.rex’s frontman the late Marc
Bolan, glam rock’s already dead, and has been reborn into “Shamrock.”
Since it came to mainstream, the essence of it is already gone.
However, it’s still being revived and has
improved over the years through fusion with different subcultures. By
going haute couture, the runways have celebrated and major fashion
houses commemorated the colorful days of Ziggy. Stardust is also refered
to as the darker side when glam rock meets glam metal.
All these various street style ideas have
Glam rocks uniqueness and touch. However, it doesn’t matter what your
rocker fashion choices are, glam rock
fashion has no definite rules when it comes to layering and matching. So have fun and rock on!!
Do you really think glam rock’s too
mainstream and should die down? Any style tips that you love which
emerged from your favorite musician? Who’s your favorite ‘80’s band?
