Death Rock fashion is the distinctive style of dress associated with Death Rock music and the Death Rock music scene.

The playfully spooky Death Rock look was first popularized by Siouxsie Sioux of Siouxsie and the Banshees for females and and Robert Smith of the Cure for males. This look was most strongly shaped by musicians from the first generation of Gothic Rock bands in Europe the Virgin Prunes, Specimen, Alien Sex Fiend, etc.; the early Californian Death Rock bands Christian Death, 45 Grave, Voodoo Church, etc.; at least two Glam rockers David Bowie, and Alice Cooper; and to a lesser (and more monochromatic) extent the fashion conscious New Wave/New Romantic acts Adam Ant, Madonna (early in her career), Deborah Harry, Cindy Lauper, etc.

The Death Rock look has also been strongly influenced by non-musical sources which mainly consist of horror movies, especially the lower budget b-movies and Hammer Horror movies, TV horror movie hosts, gothic literature and gothic artwork. Some of the horror movie hosts who have influenced Death Rock fashion include Vampira in Los Angeles, John Zacherle in Philadelphia and New York, Elvira nationally, and Ghoulardi in Cleveland.

Modern Death Rock fashion occupies the middle ground between Punk fashion and Gothic fashion. Whereas a Punk would have a hard time blending in a Goth club, and a Goth would look out of place at a punk concert, a Death Rocker would have relatively little trouble blending in at either venue. However, Death Rock fashion incorporates a darker, more androgynous, and far sexier look than Punk fashion; and a more tattered, pieced together and DIY look than Gothic fashion. Also, the influence of horror movies as well as a lack of BDSM fashion elements helps to differentiate Death Rock fashion from Gothic fashion.

Death Rock fashion is characterized by layering black and white clothing. Occasionally, vibrant reds, greens, blues and purples will be used accent colors, especially when dying one's hair. Clothing items with black and white strips are also extremely common.

Common Death Rock clothing items include black jeans, tight black or colored plaid bondage pants, short black or colored plaid bondage mini-skirts, black lyrca mini-skirts, black or white lace skirts, etc.; black or white death rock band or horror movie t-shirts, black, white or colored corsets, black or white dress shirts or polo shirts (both normally worn with a narrow tie), black or white camisoles, black or white lace tops; black, white or red fishnet tops (normally worn under other band t-shirts or corsets); black or white sport coats with band patches sewn onto the back; black leather motorcycle jackets with death rock album covers painted onto their backs; black or white tights, black and white striped tights; black fishnet stockings; and near mandatory Dr. Martens boots.

Basic Death Rock accessories include Death Rock band patches sewn onto clothing; safety pins worn as jewelry; rosary beads; numerous Death Rock band or horror movies badges; silver toned jewelry (frequently with human skulls, skeletons, bats, etc.); multiple pyramid studded belts and/or bondage belts with chains dangling through the hoops; pyramid studded bracelets and chokers; lunch box or coffin purses; and a Death Rock patch - the initials "D" and "R" along with two initials indicating the wearer's geographic location, such as "C" and "A" for California, "N" and "Y" for New York, or “G” and “R” for Germany.

Death Rock fashion makeup (for both males and females) has strong horror movie influences, especially zombie movies. This makeup deliberately emphasizes unnaturally pale and death-like complexions (with some death rockers taking the look so far as to use "whiteface" make-up); either black or blood red lipstick; dark eyeshadow applied both over the upper eyelid and underneath to create a sunken or sickly look; and heavy black eyeliner. Fingernail polish is usually black though it may occasionally be white or red, green, blue, purple or a combination of these colors.

Death Rocker hairstyles have a decidedly '80s big hair or punk influence. Betty Page style bangs, oftentimes coming to a point in the middle of the forehead, are very popular for females, especially when combined with a shoulder length or chin length bob. Short and spikey hair (especially when bleached or dyed) is popular with both sexes. Death Rockers who do not keep their natural hair color either bleach their hair to platinum blonde or near white; or use Manic Panic or another semi-permanent hair color to produce vibrant reds, blues, greens, purples, etc. hair colors; while others prefer an unnatural black hair color.

One favorite Death Rock hairstyle for both males and females is the deathhawk, which is a wider version of the punk mohawk hairstyle. Deathhawks are teased or backcombed to produce a very full, soft and sexy look. Another variation of the mohawk is the bihawk, which is a double (split) mohawks. The bihawk was popularized by the band Specimen.

See also

Death rock

Gothic rock

External links

A portal on death rock and death rock fashion

A Livejournal community dedicated to DIY deathrock fashion