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“I started getting involved with the style and music of the late
’70s/early ’80s punk at age 14, primarily through listening to
hardcore punk bands. Punk appealed as a space where
women could really express themselves, both musically and
physically. As performers and icons, punk women are uncom-
promisingly themselves.
I began customising my own clothes at school and wore
Dr. Martens every day. At uni, I put a lot of effort into styling
looks when I began playing shows with my band, Rort
Menace, and wearing dramatic make-up. Now I search for
vintage denim vests in second-hand shops – I hand bleach and
stud them. My motto is: minimise cost and maximise impact.
I teach high school students, and people have gotten
used to the fact I don’t have a conventional teacher look. I
started out wearing coloured eyeshadow, then I started rock-
ing up in my Dr. Martens, vintage kilt and leather jackets. I
used to want to separate my professional and personal life –
being a young teacher can already bring the unwanted atten-
tion of [appearing] inexperienced. But I’ve found my balance.
People who dress in a thought-provoking way owe a lot
to the punk scene, which was a catalyst for unique expression
- the clothing was used to make a statement. In my case, if
people are already looking at me, I may as well get them to
look harder and appreciate the power of pushing boundaries.”
MADELEINE MITCHELL, 23, MUSICIAN AND TEACHER“As performers and
icons, punk women
are uncompromisingly
themselves”EARLYPHOTOGRAPHY BY LIZ HAM; HUGH STEWART. HAIR BY TONY VACHER FROM STERLING ON BUCKINGHAM. MAKE-UP BY SAMANTHA POWELL/UNION MANAGEM
ENT.
’80s