Looking back at your middle school years, it is no surprise how awkward and cringe worthy your music taste was, how you dressed, and the way you carried yourself. The dreaded “scene phase” is a natural thing and there is no shame in admitting it. From the teased hair to Myspace profiles and layered bracelets, you have to admit the emo lifestyle made you feel cool. This culture created a community of outcasts that shared a common bond of music, clothes, and some of the wackiest trends. It is only appropriate to reminisce about the good ol’ days when our only problem was whether we should dye our hair neon green or pink.
- The Hair
To achieve the ultimate “scene” look, the hair was one of the most essential elements. Like any other scene kid, cutting your hair into choppy layers and teasing it was the way to go. The layers, cut short in the back, framed your face while the ever so important fringe added that finishing touch. For those who wanted to stand out, dying your hair was a must, especially the bright, sickly neon colors. I even remember some kids clipping in faux extensions or feathers into their hair. However, many parents were totally against this but that’s what made it cool! The edgier, the better.
2. The Outfit
If you never owned a studded belt were you even a scene kid? The perfect outfit had to go with the perfect hair. Neon skinny jeans in every color were a must. It did not matter if it was a hundred degrees that day, skinny jeans was an essential. Shirts with cheesy graphics were another must-haves. They could have been band shirts, Invader Zim or Hello Kitty merchandise, or superhero logos you wanted them all.The accessories added a finishing touch to the perfect scene outfit. These accessories include the variety of colorful bracelets (i.e. “I Heart Boobies” bracelets), silly bands, and piercings (real or fake). Triple combo points if you wore and layered them.
In addition to the many bracelets or piercings, belts were part of the scene look. From the OG metal studded metal belts to the crazy colored checkered ones, belts made your outfit pop and you were even cooler if you layered them.
3. The Music
The music and the message it sent to these outcast kids is what the scene culture is all about. Bands like My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, All Time Low, and Panic! at the Disco were the leaders of this culture, inspiring kids to embrace themselves contrary to mainstream society. The long song titles and emotional lyrics were just a small part of the emo lifestyle. Songs like My Chemical Romance’s “Welcome to the Black Parade” bring back memories to jamming out in your bedroom not caring about the world. On the other hand, Panic’s “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” is an anthem to the rebellious child just because the lyrics have a bad word.
Therefore, the scene phase is an era of self expression. Many people still ridicule it for the weird outfits and cringy mannerisms but it allowed people to be a part of a community that respected each other. I do not take part in the scene life, but to those who are, do ya thang! I’m here for it.