Clockwise from top left: Brett Smiley; David Bowie; Marc Bolan; New York Dolls's Sylvain Sylvain and David Johansen


L-R: David Bowie; Johnny Thunders

Glam rock, the music made wildly popular in the early ’70s by bands like Roxy Music, T. Rex, and David Bowie, was a mix of straightforward rock & roll with bubblegum melodies and outrageous, gender-bending lyrics. But glam was an attitude as much as a sound&#8212to be glam, you had to be wry, brash, and above all, a star. The look took the era’s hot-pants-and-glitter and dressed it up with campy theatricality and sci-fi futurism. The result was a sort of androgynous junk shop glamour the world had never seen before: boys in glittery makeup and corkscrew hair, candy-colored furs and smudged lipstick, all teetering atop a pair of six-inch platform boots. Here, a guide to becoming a Dandy in the Underworld:

Clockwise from top left: Givenchy Mascara, $29 via Sephora; Stila Smudge Pot, $8 via All Cosmetics; Fuschia Nail Polish, $3 via Forever 21; Henry Holland sunglasses, $127 via Asos; Sea NY sweater, $250 via Oxygen Boutique; Mother Flared Jeans, $230 via StyleBop; Glitter shoes, $97 via Topshop; Bowler bag, $70 via Asos.

Clockwise from top left: Faux fur jacket, $100 via Modekungen; Shu Uemura False Eyelashes, $25 via Liberty London; Jumpsuit, $50 via Oasis; Christian Dior Lipstick in Blazing Red, $30 via Sephora; Stone Ring, $18 via Asos; Stila Sparkle Liquid Eyeliner, $20 via Zappos; Pink clutch, $29 via Zara; Gold platforms, $100 via Topshop

Clockwise from top left: False Eyelashes, $9 via Warehouse; Dior Nail Polish in Massai Red, $22 via Nordstrom; Heart stickers, $3 via Mulberry Bush; Star bracelet, $40 via Topshop; Suede satchel, $120 via Asos; Jeffrey Campbell Cuffed Shoes, $175 via Solestruck; Velvet dress, $100 via Topshop

All That Glitters from RookieMag on 8tracks.

Illustration by Minna