Find them at vintage car shows, drive in movies, or burlesque clubs. Who is this interesting subculture with an abnormal interest in the 1950’s? Rockabilly. Urban Dictionary says that “Rockabilly is not a style it's a way of life.” This is a subculture comprised of men in women ranging in all ages that strive to remember and recreate the 1950’s, including music, dress, and cars.

           

            Rockabilly has its roots much deeper than just modern day. The word itself is a portmanteau of “rock” and “hillbilly”. Rock and roll was birthed in the early 1950s, and had its roots in bluegrass, country, rhythm and blues, gospel, and soul. Memphis, Tennessee was home to many young rockabilly stars, including the ultimate icon, Elvis Presley. Other influential artists in the movement include Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Eventually the craze died down, and in the late 1970’s people began to be interested in the genre again. It has been garnering interest and a following to this day.

 

            As I mentioned, this subculture is all about living the 1950’s lifestyle and it’s more popular than I imagined. How many people out there are dressing like pin up girls and Danny Zucko? Apparently quite a lot. Some are all about the music, some about the fashion, and some about both. The female members sporting the rockabilly style look like a “bizarre hybrid of Betty Crocker and Bettie Page, trying to be part 50's housewife and part pinup model” (yourscenesucks.com). They love full dresses, pencil skirts, pedal pushers, short shorts, high waist jeans, a pin up hairstyle, and lots of makeup. True to the 50’s style, they love polka dots, stripes, and a palette of red, black, and white. They desire the sensuous looks of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Jayne Mansfield. Younger men and women usually have body ink, sometimes including the ubiquitous sailor tattoo. Men show off their style through jeans with massive turn ups, white t-shirts, leather jackets, vintage western, bowling, or American football shirts, and boots, brogues or creepers on their feet. And we can’t forget the greaser hair, styled to pompadour perfection.

           

            Where can you find these stuck in the past fanatics? Really any cool town with a decent music scene, including Nashville, Memphis, Austin, and Chicago is home to the Rockabilly crowd. They are far and wide throughout the US, but stay close through weekend shows and gatherings.

 

            The 1950’s was literally the time of all things American classic, so of course the style is still influential in mainstream fashion. Design houses such as DSquared, Betsey Johnson, Balmain, and Burberry have all been influenced by the rock chic look. How can you look like a modern day pin up girl? I’m so glad you asked. Your wardrobe should include these key elements: leather jacket, tight pants, cheetah print, polka dots, a red bandana, lipstick, and heels. For the cherry on top, fix your hair with a pouf or curls, and voila – modern day rockabilly sex kitten.