Punk Rock Girl Costume Ideas

• There are many ways to dress punk--just choose a decade. Orbon Alija/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Punk rock has been with us since the '70s and in that time, there have been many different looks. From the rock and roll look of the early New York scene through Oi!, Crusty, Emo and several other scenes, there are countless ways to dress up "punk." Before you put on the Mohawk wig and the fake tattoos, consider some of the other fashion styles in punk.

DIY Punk Look

• Give your punk rock costume a ragged edge and save money with the DIY look. Take black ripped jeans or a torn skirt and jacket and hold the rip together with a long row of safety pins. Put clean safety pins through your ear piercing holes and wear them as earrings. Alternately, sew patches on your pants, jacket and other clothing using brightly colored thread. You can use band patches or just squares of fabric in whatever colors you happen to have around. Write slogans or band names on a white T-shirt or your patches using a permanent marker. Wear your hair short and messy.

Old School Look

• Put on some original punk style with your old school costume. Old school punk rock is all about the rock. Put on low slung, tight black jeans or even leather pants, big black boots, a black T-shirt and a leather jacket. Accessorize with thick belts with rhinestones, studded bracelets and collars and anything else black and shiny. Put on a lot of eye shadow, both above and below your eyes and heavy, messy makeup. Practice looking jaded and impassive--it will sell the costume.

Extravegantly Mismatched

• If you don't want to spend money on your costume, dig deep in your closet for the I don't care what I'm wearing look as practiced by such underground punk heroes as the X-Ray Specs Poly Styrene. Put on granny sweaters, polka dotted skirts, costume jewelry, military surplus helmets or odd hats, vests--it doesn't really matter much as long as it clashes in a way that shows attitude.

  Use bright, garish colors or patterns that don't go together. Put your hair in an odd and striking style such as spiked up or in an over the top perm. Either wear no makeup or wear messy, overdone makeup.