Emo Punk

Emo Style Guide And Tips

Emo is a style of music and fashion that is more subtle and has a broader fashion base than extreme styles such as goth or punk. The term emo came out of the 1980s music scene in Washington DC. As a backlash to the hardcore music prevalent at the time a new genre of music took shape. Softer and slower with more personal lyrics bands such as Rites of Spring and Embrace began to pave away for a new genre referred to as “emocore” referring to the more emotional and introspective style than had gone before. This genre would evolve and develop throughout the 1990s and was popularly referred to as emo, and it was under this appellation that this style became widely known as it entered the mainstream in the 2000s.

Emo has become more than a music sub-culture, popular among teens it has emerged as a dominant behavioural and fashion trend as pertinent as the goth or punk styles that went before.

Emo can mean a lot of different things to different people and how much or how little you incorporate emo style into your appearance is up to personal preference. Some people are comfortable “going emo” all the while or only dressing up for special occasions. This article outlines the basics of an emo style and gives ideas on creating the perfect emo look that suits you.

The most distinctive part of the emo look is the hairstyle. Black is the order of the day in the emo ensemble and usually emo hair styles start with a deep black colouring. As few people have really black hair you can start by dying it deep black or brown. From there you can put in natural highlights like blonde or go for a striking punk vibe using neon pinks, reds or electric blues.

Emo haircuts are usually asymmetrical and have choppy sharp out layers. You can be as original and imaginative as you please creating looks that are well groomed, wild and trendy. Before choosing your hair style your hair also needs to be straight and sleek. You can achieve this look with hair straighteners and hair product and spray. Spiking your hair is popular but go for more sleekly styled spikes rather than the random spikes of a punk look.

Emo hairstyles are open to all kinds of experimentation to help you find and individualise your look. Emo styles make use of accessories such as grips, clips and headbands. These can accentuate and create various shapes and again is a fun way to find the style you are happy with. The hair can be any length and there are no hard or fast rules to cutting the hair but normally the cut is usually longer at the front so that it can cover and frame the face in that distinctive “emo” look. Best option is to go to a professional hairdresser and explain what kind of emo look you want and maybe ask their advice on what would be the best style for you.

Like with the hair, emos also tend to wear a lot of black. But unlike the goth look this is offset with bright and vivid colours. Black jeans and a black shirt could be matched with a bright red tie along with matching or contrasting accessories. Band t-shirts are popular though it might be a good idea to be clued up on the music of the emo scene. Hoodies are also part of the look and you can individualise again with motifs like stars, skulls or crosses. Skinny jeans are a must and worn by both girls and boys. They must be well cut and the right length so they don’t drag on the ground. They can be also be emo-enhanced with zippers, chains or random buttons in places they don’t normally belong.