To look at your every day gent going about his business, there is little to suggest anything of the skinhead about who he is or what he does; the skinhead is the rebel in society, the island, the underground cult hero synonymous with left wing politics and 80’s anarchy, something the modern man has little resemblance too.
However, thirty years later and with closer inspection, while the skinhead and their quintessential look may no longer be as prevalent in modern society, their look, in various guises is on every high street the length and breath of the UK.
Don’t believe us? Well here’s five prominent items of current clothing that were all an essential element of skinhead culture…
Bomber Jackets
From street style gurus to skater kids, hipsters to trendsetters, the bomber jacket has become a mainstay in recent years. So on trend it almost hurts, this classic piece of military clothing was adopted by skinheads the world over and has now become as much a part of the mans wardrobe as it was in the 80’s. Be it with chinos and white trainers or jeans and a pair of hi-tops, the bomber jacket in all its guises is very much a staple of fashion today.
Check Shirts
Take a look around you and the likelihood is at least one man in your line of vision is wearing a check shirt. This classic number was essential to the skinhead look – you’ll be hard pushed to find an image where a skinhead is not wearing a check shirt – and has become a staple of every man we know. Ok, so you may not be wearing it with braces but we at High Def Male would bet our last penny you own one.
Black Boots
The Dr. Marten boot was ever present in the skinhead look and while you may not have ventured for a classic pair of D.M’s we suspect there are a good pair of boots serving you well this winter. Perfect for those long winter walks or great with a suit if you want to go for the brogue boot variety, it may not have rebel written all over it but it still harks back to those defiant days.
High-Cropped Jeans
If there is one trend which has appeared anew in the last couple of years, it has to be the high-rolled or cropped trousers / jeans. Every man and his dog are showing off their ankles or at least the top part of their boot. Now Google the word‘skinhead’ and you will see you were far from the first fashion brigade to alter the hemline of their jeans. Nowadays a pair of running trainers are more likely to finish off the look but remember, the skins were doing it first.
Accessories
From the little red beanie atop your head, to the braces you may wear in the office, these are all elements adopted, and adapted, by skinhead culture. And it doesn’t stop there either; shoulder bags, badges and key chains are very much part of the modern day ‘it’ crowd and while they may not be an accessory per se, theonce rebellious tattoo has now become such a part of the man on the street they are worn with pride by men from every walk of life.
Channel Your Inner Skinhead
So you see, our views and stance in life may have changed and the ways in which we shop may have altered beyond all recognition but whether you like it or not, the skinhead culture has somehow managed to worm it’s way into our wardrobe.
Fashion is and always will be an endless cycle and while times change and the ways in which we wear our clothes alter, the same key items will always find a way to be worn.
