Report: Reflections On Heavy Metal Fashion

The Canadian, Canada's new socially progressive and cross-cultural national newspaper, has published an article on "heavy metal fashion" — described as "the style of dress, body modification, make-up, hairstyle, and so on, affected by many fans of heavy metal, or, as they are often called, metalheads." The article continues: "To those with informed heavy metal fashion sensibilities, and with particular reference to those people within the metal subculture, relatively subtle differences in clothing can speak volumes about a person's tastes and, more critically, show whether or not they are a 'poseur.'

"Origins: The clothing associated with heavy metal has its roots firmly ensconced within the clothing adopted by biker culture, and even earlier the clothing commonly worn by the rockers of the sixties. The bikers legacy to the modern metalhead is their affinity for leather jackets, heavy boots (often work boots or combat boots, distinct from the long steel-toed boots worn by skinheads or the ornate footwear favoured by goths),jeans and denim jackets or waistcoats, often adorned with badges and patches and a peculiar fascination with the imagery of Nazi Germany, often to shock (It must be noted that the swastika is normally avoided: the iron cross however, is particularly popular. See MOTÖRHEAD). However, the iron cross could also be traced back to the Crusades-era middle ages, a symbol of the Knights Templar. Metalheads have also been known to wear military clothing like field jackets and bits of camouflage uniforms like shirts and/or trousers to wear alongside their black T-shirts and black combat boots."

Read the rest of the article at www.agoracosmopolitan.com.