DEFEND POP PUNK (Generic is the new Individual)

Music and fashion are inextricably linked, and it's been this way since the dawn of time. Unless you live under a rock, you'd know that whether you like it or not, what you listen to and what you wear will always influence each other. This makes me cringe.

Even though i know it's unavoidable, the thought of people being able to assume they know everything about you just by looking at your outfit annoys me and people are so judgemental nowdays it never bodes well. But why should we care? I love that people can be creative and really "say something" about themselves through style, and music is a massive part of this. I can say all of this yet i walk around in band tee's all the time and i dress to fit certain "genres" on a daily basis. However, what i can't fathom is when people focus all of their energy into fitting just ONE. Maybe it's just me.

Like lots of other young people, every day my outfit shouts something completely contradictory to the day before. Monday; Iron Maiden shirt and biker boots, metalhead on crack. Tuesday; denim dress, leather brogues, masturbate to The Smiths. And i don't think that this is a bad thing at all.

I guess what i'm trying to say is that i am ALWAYS slightly reluctant to mention music in relation to fashion, because i have delved into the depths of musical snobbery and it's a dark place full of insecure asshats and arrogance. We do not want to open that can.

BUT ONWARDS AND UPWARDS. Fight for your right to party, and whatever clichés or sayings that fit. Who cares? Do what you want and screw the rest.

Beards, beards, beards.

On that note, i would just like to make it known that i am a MASSIVE Pop Punk fan. And by "massive" i mean that although i am selective i'm a big fan. Four Year Strong are one of my favourites, they seem to combine the heavy element with amazing lyrics and sing along-able choruses that make me happy. The beards help. Also a plus; they seem to be devoid of the annoying whiney clean vocals that seem to be a Pop Punk staple (basically the reason i can't listen to New Found Glory. Oh well.)

When i dress casually (for uni, etc) my friends joke that i look like a completely different person. One of them said i looked like a grown up Pop Punk groupie. I decided to not take offence and punch him in the nuts.
I've put together a little collage of the things i like to wear that apparently make me oh so deliciously generic.

Click for a larger version!

 1) Moto Ankle Grazer Jeans £36 @ Topshop

2) Varsity Sweater £30 @ Jane Norman

3) ADTR University Tee $13 @ Victory Records

4) Varsity Jacket £19.99 @ H&M

5) YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick £22.50 @ Selfridges

 6) RayBan Original Wayfarer $145 @ RayBan Store

7) Vans Lo Pro Era £35 @ HIP Leeds

The great thing about this sort of style is that it's comfortable, functional and great for the summer. Cons include being mistaken for a boy, or being hit on by boys in New Found Glory t-shirts.

Sometimes being generic is a good thing, and people just need to admit that. If you're going to walk around in an outfit like this (which i do on a daily basis) you can't go around telling people how individual you are and get offended when you see a bazillion other kids in the same merch as you or the same same Vans.
Take it with a pinch of salt, they've obviously got impeccable taste if they look like you. And if they end up being the sort of people that eye you up and give you "the look" because of it, flip them off or scream a line from a Blink 182 song or something. It works for me. After all, Pop Punk is all about saying SCREW YOU to the haters, and doing your own thing (...even if it is what everyone else is doing.)

At the end of the day, there is no such thing as originality. I like it when i see someone in a similar outfit as me, it reminds me that i'm not quite completely segregated from society. Sometimes it's nice to know that there are people out there that like the same stuff as you. Not everyone holds this opinion and will be so accomodating, but you don't know them so...whatever! I love a good pair of skinny jeans, vans and a varsity jacket when i'm running around campus or just doing my thing, and if people don't like it then they can suck my left nut.

Take care, and stay posi! Or something along those lines.
Lots of love,