So Metal is a Fashion Trend Now?

So in every store in any mall across America it's easy to find clothes festooned with skulls and rhinestones. This is true of clothes for both men and women. Anything with the word "rock" is hot. Add "rock" and rhinestones and suddenly the shirt costs an astronomical hundred bucks and people have to have it! Stores like Metropark cater to rock fans with the tag line "Fashion. Music. Art."

I don't remember seeing skull belts in Macy's five years ago. Granted, maybe I wasn't as aware but I swear - within the last year or so - anything rock related is hot, hot, hot.

Why is this? Is metal finally mainstream again - but only in concept? By this I mean the idea of black leather clothes and studs are hot but the music is largely secondary? Sure, our favorite Glam bands have enjoyed a renaissance the last few years thanks to nonstop touring by Bon Jovi, Motley Crue and Def Leppard. But most new bands are having a hard time gaining a massive following and I highly doubt if random people on the street know anything about Opeth or Soilwork let alone a band as niche as Hardcore Superstar. So what gives? Are designers really showing their love of metal through their clothes - or is metal more trendy than I thought? While I'd rather see 50,000 people at a Sevendust show versus Celine Dion I'm realistic to the popularity of certain genres of music. That said, I've never seen a random person in a Celine Dion T-shirt. I see people in metal band tees every day. Odd.

Maybe music and fashion really do coexist and metal just happens to rule when it comes to the hot style of the day? I still refuse to pay a hundred bucks for a T-shirt - even if a skull is involved.  

Comments

[skwint]

I have to admit to getting rather annoyed when i see the young 'trendies' wearing a glittery AC/DC t shirt or wearing an Iron maiden shirt just because it looks good.

Unfortunately it doesnt cross to the music as most of them still listen to chart rubbish and would have no idea who or what Hanoi Rocks was let alone name an AC/DC track or 2.

[Shadow]

Agreed Maiden shirts are the in thing if you think your hard core. If they knew that Maiden today is more like Rush they probably wouldn't be so rampant.

That's why I wear Ozzy shirts you have to dig for those!

[Vixyn]

Its tru, half the people wearing the shirts r clueless. I have hope that the mainstream aspect w/ the clothing will draw the deserved attention to the metal bands out there today. Metal & the harder, less mailstream, artist out there today r the hardest working people I know! Its true about the nonstop touring! Some are on the road for a yr, home long enuf to record a new album & then off they go again. So I say GO METAL! P.s. so gr8 to see A7X #1 on Bilboard ^0^

~Vixyn~

[Bryon]

A7X being #1 on Billboard sure helps with metal's popularity.

But I think it's more about fashion and less about the music.

[Gary]

Seems that a lot of Musicians are starting their own clothing lines, like Nikki Sixx, Rob Zombie's wife Sheri,and a host of others. Maybe that also has a minimal effect on things?

[crüe düde]

i get my clothes at the goodwill and other thrift stores and make them my own(partly because i cant afford anything else) thats the only real metal way to do it.

[britt harlow aka GB Dyamond]

Yes, metal fashion IS hot right now but, that's becuz the 80's are hot right now and metal and particulary metal fashion was HOT in the 80's. It's the whole retro thing...all the AC DC and G n R shirts are hot but in an "ironic" way. You're 100% right about people wearing the shirtz & not knowin the music!! Case in point: Lindsay Lohan in a NY Dolls shirt ?!

[Devin]

Well im a teenager in todays world, and i am not trendy at all. if you see me wear a new york dolls or iron maiden t shirt its because im a fan. i just dont know "run to the hills" my favorite stuff is acually from paul with the self titled and killers. for some its just retro, but for me, i dig for my shirts and love the bands