Anarchy in the U.K.

Probably the least punk rock thing I ever did was ask my dad to drive me to the Warped Tour. I was 12 and didn’t have a license yet, but I did have NOFX lyrics memorized, spike bracelets and half-pink hair.

My greatest act of rebellion that day was wearing a black Misfits sweatshirt despite the 90-degree temperature and oppressive humidity. Anarchy is tricky when it’s that hot. It was so hot, in fact, that item one on my punk rock agenda — Drop Dad Off at Air-Conditioned Parent’s Tent — was easier than I’d planned. He went quietly and gave me $20 for lunch.

With Eric Diamond ditched, my best friend, her brother and I stormed the stages. We skanked to ska bands and moshed to metal and jumped up and down like hyper beans in front of skate rock. At that age, it was freedom. I felt cool and independent, part of this community of self-proclaimed punks — a title regardless of the malls in which we shopped.

Then I ran into my dad.

“Running into” your dad between pre-Broadway Green Day and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones is even more mortifying than one might imagine. Arms cradling a pile of stickers and pins and patches sporting the names of various bands, my dad shouted loud enough for everyone to hear, “Hey Bug! Look over here! Look at all the free stuff I got!”

Super, super un-punk.

Though I lived it down, my punk-PTSD has once again been triggered by the looming onset of London Fashion Week. Similar to the Warped Tour, it’s essentially a giant venue where mass quantities of people with similar interests dress up and rush around and try to not be late to things. Ironically enough, my dad has even been known to drive me to certain shows.  Man Repeller partnered with SunglassHut to punk up London fashion week (brace yourself), and because I already failed in my attempt as an anarchist, we were kind of hoping you could help.

So. What Fashion Week rules would you break? (Besides guitars!) What would you change for the better? (Leandra wants to be allowed on the runway, naked, without getting yelled at, for once.) How would you punk up LFW? Comment your ideas with #punkitup — not only will the top 5 submissions be reenacted on Instagram, the spiked heads behind the winning submissions will receive the official VIP LFW / Sunglass Hut tote bag designed by British designer Gareth Pugh.

Are you listening, dad? FREE MERCH.

CBGB Photographed by David Godlis.

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