Bushwick Chic: ‘Chicks Are Beautiful’
Ben the punk in front of Life Café on Flushing. — Photo by Elizabeth Rabb. Click to see full version.This guy was talking on his cell phone outside Life Café on Flushing, and right before he hung up he said, “Love you too, Mom.”
Ben, 27, Delivery guy / musician
Real punks are kind of a dying breed. So, when you see one wearing homemade pegged jeans, a custom leather jacket with coins sewn into the sleeves so it can double as a weapon, and a Dead Milkman hat worn backwards, it’s kind of refreshing. But when said punk is ALSO smiling and telling him mom he loves her, you have to walk up and get a closer look. It’s like seeing a unicorn walking down the street, cursing loudly and littering.
Why did you choose your outfit?
My Fubu sweat suit was at the cleaners.
Did you always dress like this or are there photos of you in middle school wearing raver gear or dressed as Tupac?
There are probably some embarrassing photos laying around. I used to wear big fuzzy bright sweaters, like Johnny Rotten.
What’s your favorite outfit on a chick?
Chicks are beautiful, they can be wearing anything and we still think you’re beautiful.
Really? What about her? (We point to old woman sitting on a lawn chair outside her apartment wearing a mumu.)
She looks like my grandmother. She’s great.
I love the Dead Milkmen.
Home made clothes like his jeans, and his custom leather jacket, are key elements to the punk clothing subculture. Someone with talent (from Bushwick, I hope) is going to see this photo and add a few other features like reversed crosses or patches or maybe have the shirt include a mild profanity or the image of Mussolini and mass produce the “stylish” result to make a fortune.
Not really liking the Bushwick fashion posts so far…
Punks are a dying breed because they are OLD. They live in rent controlled apartments in Tribeca or Soho – or they moved to New Jersey. A 27 year old is NOT a punk, no matter what he is wearing.
Haha, right on McG.
I was part of the punk scene in the early 80s. There was an exciting sense of limitless possibility. Um, but now it’s a little bit of a cliche.
Good point chillin. Anyone else notice the number of ghetto kids wearing ramones and misfits t-shirts recently? Odd how those bands have become a fashion statement for kids who have probably never heard their music.
“It’s like seeing a unicorn walking down the street, cursing loudly and littering.”
Haha. I’d like to see that.
the photography is pretty damn good.