This month The Metropolitan Museum of Art celebrates all things Punk with their PUNK: Chaos to Couture exhibit. At the Met Gala 2013, fashion’s biggest night, celebrities showed their interpretation of the punk aesthetic. Whether punk only lasted for “100 days,” as stated by Mick Jones from the Clash, or is an ongoing movement that continues to this day, punk has long been a source of inspiration both in music and fashion. Whether looking to emulate style icons, or want to bring in inspired elements, punk glasses can be embodied through dark sunglasses or frames featuring unique detailing.
Early icons, Lou Reed, Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols, the Ramones and Joe Strummer of the Clash all shielded their eyes with dark sunglasses, whether a classic Ray-Ban Retro-Wingtip or dark pair of aviator sunglasses, mixed with a wardrobe focused on black leather and denim.
The sunglasses picks of the early punk icons endures with this Ray-Ban 2140 901 Black 54 Retro-Wingtip style and these Joseph Marc Sun 4110 Gunmetal aviator sunglasses.
From its first days, Vivienne Westwood, alongside Malcolm McLaren, shaped the look and feel of the punk movement. Westwood has never given up her brash attitude and continues to design with inspirations from the era. Iconic fashion houses, including Chanel, Givenchy and Versace, have all folded punk elements in their collections. Gianni Versace turned the trend on its head, choosing deliberate cuts in his fabric with strategically placed safety pins rather than the torn and disheveled look from his inspirations early days. Chanel and McQ by Alexander McQueen have featured distressed design and punk iconography. Punk glasses draw from a similar design approach with intriguing elements incorporated with strong black frames.
Fashion’s elite showed up in punk couture for the Met Gala with pieces integrating spikes on a gown, as seen on Cara Delevingne, or on a cropped motorcycle jacket as worn by Sienna Miller, both by Burberry. Co-chair Rooney Mara selected Givenchy Haute Couture and a ultra-dark lipstick, while Sarah Jessica Parker topped her Giles Deacon gown with a Philip Treacy headpiece that mimicked a Mohawk hairstyle.
To incorporate punk glasses style in your wardrobe a great pair of thick glasses frames, such as these Gant Winslow Glack Clear frames, are a great choice. As Cara and Sienna have done, you can also look for detailing, such as the studded details on these Love L733 glasses frames.
The simplest way to stay within the punk aesthetic? Look for all black glasses and sunglasses frames and compliment with black and denim pieces.
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