Punk rock is an attitude. It can't be learned, it can't be acquired, and it can't be bought. Attitude is something that you're born with...however, you aren't born dressed, so somewhere along the line you're going to have to buy clothing.

The entire idea behind "punk" is Anarchy, so unless you want to be labeled a poser, your clothing should reflect your anarchist side. A true punk can spot a poser from a mile away. The typical poser tends to wear a punk band t-shirt that is gleaming white and pressed (probably washed by mother). If jeans have holes, they were clearly cut with scissors, and the Vans on their feet are still stiff and new. The Poser will sometimes try to fool us with spray-in hair color left over from Halloween. The Poser dresses so that he can mingle in both polite and punk

societies simultaneously. Either you are punk rock or you aren't; you make the choice.

Now sometimes we will meet someone whom, upon first impact, we would call preppy. But as I have said, punk rock is all about attitude. Sometimes, these so-called preppies just have trouble reflecting their insides on the outside. If this is your affliction, a good place to begin dressing for success is your very own closet.

You can rip sleeves off of t-shirts and add patches and/or safety pins to almost any article of clothing (note: these patches should be patches of punk bands purchased at punk shows). An article of clothing that no self-respecting punk can go without is the hooded sweatshirt. Patches on the hooded sweatshirt are essential. Other ways to decorate the hooded sweatshirt are to add studs or spikes to the cuffs. These are best purchased online at www.angryyoungandpoor.com, but if you need them this instant,

you can also buy them at craft stores like Michael's or your local head shop. Safety pins can also help to put the punk in your sweatshirt. Add them around the edge of the hood, along the bottom edge, or even right down the middle. Besides decoration, safety pins also come in handy when performing emergency body piercings or for fixing your pants when one of the holes gets a little too big.

A true punk rocker would only be caught in a mall if he were beat up by rednecks, knocked unconscious, tied up in a burlap bag and thrown into the shopping facility. Then, the instant he came to, he would run out of the glass doors screaming and perhaps roll in a pile of cigarette butts and beer cans to wipe the filth of corporate commerce from his flesh. However, we understand that some punks live in locations with limited resources, and that a venture into a mall may have to occur as a last resort.
However, the first places to shop are used clothing stores. These include: www.niftythreads.com, where you can access quality punk outfitting from anywhere on the globe, and Savers, where half-price Saturday an entire outfit can be purchased for under $2. If you live in a city with a Buffalo Exchange, you can exchange your old clothes for new, old ones. If you live in California, you have to check out Jet Rag. In New York, go to Domsey's; the stuff there is dirt-cheap and the place is freaking huge. In Arizona, there is a great store called Plush. Most of their clothing is pretty retro, but the wigs are great and there is a multitude of plaid. And if you live anywhere else or you plan to travel, you must get this book: SPIN Underground USA. It has the best used clothing stores in 24 different cities.

The pros of used clothing are that used clothes are generally cheaper than new clothes, and they're already broken in. The cons are that the clothes often need altering, and it takes a lot of hunting and a good eye to find clothing that has punk potential (unless, of course, you let the folks at www.niftythreads.com do the dirty work for you). For those of us who can't sew or just don't want to, altering used clothes could potentially suck. New clothing, on the other hand, comes already cool. The two best places to go are Urban Outfitters and Hot Topic. The problems with these stores is that: A) some of them are in malls, B) punks hate malls, C) they are expensive, D) they also require a good punk fashion eye, and E) punks really hate malls. The key to shopping in a new clothing store is to be able to spot clothing that will look good with your already-owned punk gear. NEVER buy an outfit that the store

already has set up on a mannequin, and NEVER EVER buy anything in the window. A good way to pick out clothing is to watch the jocks and cheerleaders in the store. If they sneer at any article of clothing, chances are that it is a good item to purchase. Remember, one of the cool things about being a punker is that clashing is accepted and encouraged! Take advantage of this!

As I mentioned above, clothing can also be purchased over the internet. However, to do this, you must have access to a credit card number (either yours or someone else's, if you know what I mean). Some websites I suggest checking out are: www.sickworld.com, www.angryyoungandpoor.com, and www.niftythreads.com. Niftythreads is especially cool because it is USED CLOTHING ONLINE. It even has little pictures so you know what you're getting, and it's dirt cheap so that you can afford to look punk AND still buy cigarettes!

Two words: chains and spikes. The best place to go for these is Wal-mart, and head straight for the pet supply aisle. Pick up a few dog collars and dog chains. Spikes and studs can be added to the collars and the chain can be adjusted to fit any part of the body. All of this will cost under $20. However, if you are too lazy to put a little work into your accessories, then head to your local head shop and spend way too much money for pre-spiked collars.

Another punk accessory is headwear. If you don't have a mohawk, then headgear can complete the outfit. The beanie is a unisex head cover that makes almost anyone look a lot tougher than they really are. For punk girls, a do-rag is the ultimate headwear. A do-rag (for those of you who don't know) is a bandanna tied underneath the hair. For reference, watch any Laverne and Shirley episode.

Ass kicking in the mosh pits at shows requires the appropriate footwear. Again, two words can sum up this section: Combat Boots. Every punk needs a set of these. I urge you to stay away from Doc Martens, though, and instead get a pair of Grinders. Besides being the better-made boot, they are also much cooler.

For sneakers, there are many acceptable choices, but my two favorites are the Converse All-Stars and the Old Skool Vans. For those straight-edgers, the All Stars are 100% animal friendly. Two more words: Outlet Store.

Now you have achieved the ultimate punk look. You will realize that once you have one outfit, the rest are much easier to pick out. Or, you can just wear the same outfit all the time (another bonus of being punk is that you have the right to be dirty). Just keep in mind that even in the right clothes, you can still be a poser if you don't have the anarchist attitude. And no outfit can give you that.