The Denver Spring Flea took place this past weekend in RiNo at the Exdo Event Center. The two-day event drew in a stylish crowd of both locals and out of town visitors. But one trend that kept popping up came in the form of punk and rock inspired ensembles. This didn’t mean vintage band tees and all black looks roamed the streets, but an air of authenticity was front and center. DIY aesthetics were strong alongside accessories that really amped up each look.

303 Street Style – Rock Revival at Denver Spring Flea

 

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A patch work denim jacket 16 years in the making.

The Denver Flea provided a great platform for local artist and business owners to showcase their work first hand. An emphasis on hand made products was very prevalent with both vendors and event goers. The jean patchwork jacket and vest seemed to come alive at Flea, inspired both by DIY looks and rock vibes. Each item had a unique story that was personalized to the owners life and style. More often than not, these jackets were broken in going through years and years of reworking. Many had been pre-owned and passed down through their family, with more and more patches being added as time goes on.

 

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All types of influences were put into individual jackets from musical icons to cultural traditions. All photos by Meg O’Neill

In the spirit of punk rock, each jacket came with a personal story that took it from utilitarian to sentimental. One event goer (pictured above) still wears hers daily, despite having it for almost 15 years. She’s gained her patches through the years collecting them at vintage shops and a few from her father. Another gentleman’s jacket was full of patches and pins, with little to no room left. His jacket has also been around for multiple years, with each patch hand sewn on by his grandmother.

 

A 90's club kid inspired ensemble wouldn't be complete without jewelry.

A 90’s club kid inspired ensemble wouldn’t be complete without jewelry and bright colors.

Another punk inspired look we noticed came in very colorful look of the ’90s club kid. Infamous for their extreme personalities and even extremer wardrobes, 90’s club kids were always easy to spot. They had a formula of mixing colorful prints and fabrics with goth-like features. In fact, this event goer cited the glittery dress and pink lipstick as a way to capture club kid style. Usually dressed in all black, she decided to go all out from head to toe. But what really finished off the ensemble was the use of accessories. Mismatching earrings added cool visual interest and worked well with the two-tone hair. The bone earring, in particular, gave off a spooky aspect while the necklace was cited as a true, vintage club kid piece.

 

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Two flea attendees utilized black and flannel in very different ways.

Flannel and black was another iconic example of punk rock inspired looks making their way into mainstream culture. While both looks used flannel as a layering piece, the outcome couldn’t be more different. One event goer used a black overall dress as her base. The full-length zipper added texture against a DIY printed tee. Grunge seemed to play heavily into this look with platform ankle boots a mustard colored beanie to finish off the look. The look on the right took flannel in a different direction pairing it with a leather jacket and white converse. The approach is much more trendy and reminiscent of fashion bloggers on Instagram.

 

A rock inspired look complete with turquoise, round shades, and a scorpion belt buckle.

A rock inspired look complete with turquoise, round shades, and a scorpion belt buckle.

One of our favorite looks during Denver flea really put an emphasis on the rock in punk rock. Going all out with jewelry and accessories, this event goer really stood out for her unique appearance. Turquoise jewelry added a New Mexican flare to look and some much needed color. A knit top heavily inspired by hippie era of the ’70s contrasted well with distressed black denim. A suede fringe leather gave some texture and flow to the overall ensemble while a scorpion belt buckle added a sense of danger and excitement.

 

It was all about denim looks tailored to fit personal styles.

It was all about denim looks tailored to fit personal styles.

Couples came out in full force showcasing punk and grunge inspired looks.

Couples came out in full force showcasing punk and grunge inspired looks.