Style tribes have influenced fashion trends for decades.
On April 11, 1977, WWD’s Page 1 story, “Beware of the New BP” (short for WWD’s “Beautiful People” in Social Reporting) pointed out that British punkers are scenic. With the movement’s DIY protest style safety pins, razor shard T-shirts, fishnet stockings, sterling silver earrings, tattoos, heavy makeup, decorated leather motorcycle jackets – black has focused on the industry. WWD had already made notes on Vivienne Westwood’s and Malcolm Mclaren’s evolution of fashion lines and trends as store instigators.
The evolution of punk was not widely accepted throughout the pond. However, it was about to change when British designer Zandra Rhodes took inspiration from the Style Tribe and created her “conceptual chic” collection. It embodies the DIY style of the punker in a vibrantly coloured jersey dress, and of course, Black is looking for its latest consumer state side. The collection debuted in time for the changing seasons in Bloomingdale, New York.
