Dedicated follower of fashion

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 | By Laura Snoad

From Punks to Mods, Goths to Emo kids, fashion movements have long been bound to the trends of music subcultures. Even if Mohicans or medallions didn’t get taken up by everyone at the time (thank god), these trends have often been diluted for the mainstream fashion industry and repeated year on year with almost nauseating cyclicality.

In his new limited edition book Teenage Kicks, illustrator Pete McKee has documented the highs, lows and very lows of music-inspired fashion right from when pop began.

McKee, who says that if he had to chose another persona he’d be American jazz trumpeter Chet Baker ‘without the falling out the window and losing your teeth bit’, is known for his distinctive and charming illustrations. Despite being drawn without eyes, his characters are charismatic and expressive, especially those penned with the cheeky spirit of his home county Yorkshire.

Nostalgically nodding to LP records, Teenage Kicks has been produced in an album sleeve and even includes an etched vinyl 12-inch. There are 22 images in the book covering important topics, such as the battle between Bolan or Bowie, rock music and the barnet and hang-outs of choice - waltzers for the teddy boys and Whitby Abbey for the goths.

The book, designed by Sheffield-based design consultancy Dust, is a culmination of a collaboration with fashion designer Paul Smith. McKee was invited by Smith to exhibit at his Tokyo flagship store and images from the exhibition were also used on a number of Paul Smith wares, including t-shirts and shopper bags. And just like the Alphaville song, Smith says McKee is now big in Japan.

Teenage Kicks is available from McKee’s gallery A Month of Sundays, Sharowvale Road, Sheffield S11 8ZG or online at www.therealmckee.co.uk for £120.

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