Sometimes when beauty trends hit the catwalk it's hard to see how to take them from high fashion to everyday life. When the punk trend hit the shows of Fendi, Gucci and Givenchy earlier this year, I was initially skeptical of how this would translate to the main stream, but there are plenty of ways hints of this bold and dramatic trend can be rolled out for a regular Saturday night, a day in the office or a Sunday afternoon date. Here's how...
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The punk era started as a music genre in the 70's but quickly became an all round cultural movement against the establishment. It was pioneered by bands such as The Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Ramones and was very much about being bold and making a statement. The beauty looks of exaggerated and smokey cat eyes, choppy hair styles and pale skin are easy to track back to the style of Siouxsie Sioux, Joan Jett and Debbie Harry, but punk certainly wasn't left in the 70's. This year's Met Gala theme of Chaos to Couture saw serious punk influences in the styles of Miley Cyrus, Anne Hathaway and Taylor Swift to name just a few.
Though I could sit here and talk about the fashion all day (I'll summarise – leather, plaid and studs are a good place to start), the beauty is far more wearable on a day to day basis, so let's first talk about eyes. For this trend, the eyes are pretty much the basis of the whole look. It's easy to go overboard when attempting a punk eye, so the key is to pick one feature to dominate. As far as liquid eyeliners go, I'm a huge fan of the Barry M Blink Pen. Ideal for creating a smooth line, no matter how unsteady your hand is, this felt-tip style eyeliner makes creating a dramatic sweep across the lid easier than ever before. After you've used the black eyeliner, try use a coloured eyeliner midway between the brow and the lid line (Sleek's Eau La La Liner, available from Boots comes in a whole range of vibrant colours). Fill your brows Cara Delevigne style with MUA's Brow Kit to finish off your bold punk eyes.
Though it's worth choosing one feature to really rock when you're trying out the punk look, a splash of bright red colour across the lips is a simple way to inject your daily life with attitude. Hot pinks, rich purples and deep crimsons are also perfect for this too. Keep your skin a simple shade of pallor with a base foundation. There will be no rouged cheeks or dewy complexion here – just keep it super simple and let your features do the talking.
For your barnet, if you're serious about this style, it's worth investing in a do with choppy layers or opting for a daring pixie cut. If you're just looking for a temporary fix, muss up your hair and add texture with Lee Stafford's Messed Up cream and add volume with TIGI Bedhead's Queen for a Day Spray. Tip your head upside down then spray with hairspray to really add volume at the roots, then tame with a comb so you've got the look without looking like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards.
Will you be trying the punk look over the winter months? Who's your favourite female punk Idol? For me, it has to be the amazing Debbie Harry.
Written by Alice-May Purkiss
@alicemaypurkiss![]()
The punk era started as a music genre in the 70's but quickly became an all round cultural movement against the establishment. It was pioneered by bands such as The Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Ramones and was very much about being bold and making a statement. The beauty looks of exaggerated and smokey cat eyes, choppy hair styles and pale skin are easy to track back to the style of Siouxsie Sioux, Joan Jett and Debbie Harry, but punk certainly wasn't left in the 70's. This year's Met Gala theme of Chaos to Couture saw serious punk influences in the styles of Miley Cyrus, Anne Hathaway and Taylor Swift to name just a few.
Though I could sit here and talk about the fashion all day (I'll summarise – leather, plaid and studs are a good place to start), the beauty is far more wearable on a day to day basis, so let's first talk about eyes. For this trend, the eyes are pretty much the basis of the whole look. It's easy to go overboard when attempting a punk eye, so the key is to pick one feature to dominate. As far as liquid eyeliners go, I'm a huge fan of the Barry M Blink Pen. Ideal for creating a smooth line, no matter how unsteady your hand is, this felt-tip style eyeliner makes creating a dramatic sweep across the lid easier than ever before. After you've used the black eyeliner, try use a coloured eyeliner midway between the brow and the lid line (Sleek's Eau La La Liner, available from Boots comes in a whole range of vibrant colours). Fill your brows Cara Delevigne style with MUA's Brow Kit to finish off your bold punk eyes.
Though it's worth choosing one feature to really rock when you're trying out the punk look, a splash of bright red colour across the lips is a simple way to inject your daily life with attitude. Hot pinks, rich purples and deep crimsons are also perfect for this too. Keep your skin a simple shade of pallor with a base foundation. There will be no rouged cheeks or dewy complexion here – just keep it super simple and let your features do the talking.
For your barnet, if you're serious about this style, it's worth investing in a do with choppy layers or opting for a daring pixie cut. If you're just looking for a temporary fix, muss up your hair and add texture with Lee Stafford's Messed Up cream and add volume with TIGI Bedhead's Queen for a Day Spray. Tip your head upside down then spray with hairspray to really add volume at the roots, then tame with a comb so you've got the look without looking like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards.
Will you be trying the punk look over the winter months? Who's your favourite female punk Idol? For me, it has to be the amazing Debbie Harry.
Written by Alice-May Purkiss
@alicemaypurkiss