When did the skull motif become popular in fashion? I can't turn around anymore without seeing someone wearing a shirt with a skull design on it somewhere. Is it because of some emo or goth influence? What gives?
Skulls and Fashion
- Thread starter MetalPants
- Start date
john titor
Captain
Its the masonic influence on culture.
Don't rightly know the origins, but skull motifs have been getting more popular for a few years now. Barker, Ralph Lauren and Alexander McQueen instantly spring to mind as makers who've featured them over the past few years. The trend has probably now peaked/just starting to fade a little but inertia means it will still be around a while.
I think my favourite use of them is Barker's "Barker Black" range of shoes. They incorporate a skull and crossed bones design into the design of the shoes. Like loafers with crossbones across the top instead of linked horsebits or whatever. Or toe medallion designs of skulls. Kinda fun.
Are skulls more fashionable now? I seem to remember seeing them more back in the 70s than I do lately.
also due to the recent pirate craze...
It's society's way of taking something that used to seem dangerous and turning it into something bland and safe. Just like tattoos and piercings. Pretty soon they'll have a care bear out with a pentagram on its belly.
I never cared for skulls, they really freaked me out. Now that they're everywhere (I'm expecting to see them on baby clothes soon) I've got used to 'em. Recently my neice was trying to tell me the difference between icky, scary sculls and the non-scary kind. Completely lost me!
"Are we the baddies?"
I like skulls with a little skin left on them and maggots crawling out of the eyeholes. Those are the kinds of skulls I'm interested in. 
I've suddenly noticed a lot of skulls as well. Who knows why. From my perspective they're just picking up an old punk trend from the late 70's and 80's. Like the peace signs from the 60's that are also much in evidence. Skulls were considered cool. I was into punk, but never really liked skull iconography. Didn't get the appeal.
Heh, I remember one girl who used to wear a rat's skull as a necklace with pasty white make up. I guess she'd be considered a goth by today's categories, but back then punk hadn't split into sub-genres.
There's also a lot of skulls in Mexican art. I've mainly seen them with black clothing, so I tend to think they were inspired by punk.
It's been amusing and surprising over the years to watch these punk fashion looks become mainstream fashion trends.
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MeanJoePhaser
Admiral
Some woman I worked with said she wasn't "into that skeleton crap", which amused me.
Probably the same difference as between a Teddy Bear that kids sleep with and a Grizzly Bear that will eat your face.
That's true. I've noticed a lot of 60s iconography lately; my Niece loves it, which makes me happy. The skulls are kind of Punk, but I seem to remember that every other tee shirt or poster from the mid-70s had some kind of skull on it. Usually flaming.
Not really related, but I used to wear a pirate keychain at work that my kiddo has given to me. Someone were upset by the keychain, because to her it symbolises death. After seing me a few times with that chain, the woman gave me a new one. Pink with flags. It was just very important to her that I would not wear death around my neck.
My sis has given me a few different incarnations of Prada skull keychains over the years. I'm currently on this one, though it's lost all of the red and is mostly just silver and black now.
I tend to not leave my keys out in business situations, because I don't think my clients would approve.
I tend to not leave my keys out in business situations, because I don't think my clients would approve.
I think it's an example of non-conformity symbols slowly becoming mainstream and in the process losing their novelty value.
"Are we the baddies?"
It's not yet 19th September.
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