1981–1991, periodic revivals

Hair Metal

1980s glam-metal scene fashion — leather, spandex, teased hair, animal prints and studded everything.

Palette: black white hot pink neon leather brown denim wash
Signature garments: leather pants ripped denim band tee studded leather belt motorcycle jacket snakeskin or python boots
Canonical brands: Schott NYC Levi's Manic Panic Vintage band merch (Mötley Crüe, GNR, Def Leppard) Tripp NYC

About

Hair Metal is the late-80s glam-metal scene aesthetic, soundtracked by Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Poison, Bon Jovi and Guns N' Roses. The look is built around stage-coded spectacle: leather pants, ripped denim, studded belts, leather jackets with chains, snakeskin and animal-print accents, and the genre's defining teased big hair. It's a heavier, harder, more sex-and-rock-and-roll counterpart to Glam Rock — where Glam Rock leans theatrical and androgynous (Bowie, T.Rex, New York Dolls), Hair Metal leans hyper-masculine, debauched and Sunset-Strip-coded. The vintage market for genuine 80s leather and band tees from the era is one of the strongest in music-merch resale.

Not Glam Rock — Hair Metal is heavier, harder and more sex-rock-and-roll; Glam Rock is more theatrical and androgynous in its Bowie/T.Rex lineage.

On platforms

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