I'd be interested to hear people's thoughts on dressing in a 'metal' way. We all know what I'm talking about. Do people find it an important element in their identity? Has anyone dressed in band t-shirts etc in the past and grown out of it? Do people feel excluded/empowered /embarrassed by it? Just wondering.

I think you'll find that MA has an interesting pool of thoughts.

I very rarely dress metal outside of the occasional t-shirt - but even then only if I really enjoy the band and love the design. I' not too big on t-shirts to begin with so I can't say metal bands make too much clothing I would wear.

I look like a fairly normal/hipster/20-something with a normal career, so I love surprising dudes wearing vests and patches with tattoos - as we immediately bond over some weirdo black metal release. It's pretty awesome. I very rarely believe in expressing my views through clothing and would much rather dress how I like (an asshole) and let my immense knowledge speak for me.

I admit I'm a stickler for the unabashedly metal attire-- spiked leather jacket, ripped jeans, boots, bullet belts, the works. It's less out of a desire to 'fit in', so to speak, with the metal mould so much as simply an admiration for the general aesthetic of it.

Except for the occasional bandshirt, I don't think anyone could guess my music taste judged on the way I dress. I like it that way. Cutting my hair short years ago was one of the best decisions I made in my life, so far.

I wear a band shirt just about every day but I don't do it to 'look metal'; I do it to support the bands I love so much. It's actually a good conversation starter for some folks. They see me wearing a band shirt, ask me what kind of music it is and come away from the discussion with some newfound knowledge. It also helps when I run into other metalheads but that doesn't happen as often as I'd like. Sometimes it can get dicey though...I was in a Burger King once with a buddy of mine on Lent and there was this crotchety old fuck that took such offense to my 'Anointed In Servitude' shirt he shouted,

"You HEATHENS, this is good Friday!"

I just smirked and sat down. He and his grandkids kept staring at me though. Pious jerk-off.

Overall though, my band shirts are all regularly worn but not to fulfill some aesthetic obligation. I love all the bands I have shirts of, they're comfortable and they keep the imbeciles at bay. I think that's more than enough reason to wear 'em.

I don't currently own bandshirts, but when I have in the past I've always been choosy about those I wear. I move more towards shirts that use more artistic, or less obviously band shirty stuff. Of course, everybody likes Iron Maiden shirts those.

I prefer Caesar dressing personally.

It's just like everything else, you can be comfortable if you're truly feel like yourself. I like the patched vest even though I don't wear my old vest much but I'm doing a new one soon. I have the long hair + beard since I like it, I think it's a nice look and even though it's not only a coincidence, it also fits my love for metal. I don't hide the fact that I like metal, why would I? I probably should do it once I'm a teacher but I'm a guy who's too frank about his beliefs to do it and a parent give a damn, that's his freaking conservative problem.

Fight the establishment but don't forget that by dressing "metal" you're only part of a new code that has rules as well.

I'm a real pratical dresser, so I pretty much exclusively wear jeans and a t-shirt. I have two pair of jeans (yes indeed) and four shirts. two of them are bands shirts, the others are regular black shirts. I also have two hoodies and one blazer. I also have only one pair of shoes. I also don't have any accessories like wristbands, sun glasses, etc. Call me a bum, I call myself thrifty. So yeah, I don't see clothes as a way to express my love for music. Talking about music, listening to music, and possibly making music myself in the future seem like better ways of expressing myself.

Don't worry, I do own a good collection of underwear.

I wear a lot of band shirts, but they tend to be all over the place, I have shirts for Modest Mouse, Tyler, The Creator, La Dispute and Altar of Plagues.
I have one patch shirt that people can usually guess my music taste, but I don't dress too over the top.

Same here, except I wouldn't go as far as call cutting my hair one of the best decisions I've ever made.

I don't want to prance around like satanic christmas tree, I don't want to talk through my clothes, I don't want people to start conversation with me on the street because of my shirt(or because of anything else, but that's another matter)

From when I was 14 to like 19 I did dress 'metal'. As in everything black, band shirts, long hair etc. These days people don't know I listen to metal unless I tell them. Even when I do dress more metal people don't even seem to realize. I think because of the short hair. The only times I still dress metal is when I play live. I don't see it as that I grew out of it. It's more like as I got older I started caring less about looking the part.

Back then the reason I cut my hair was mostly just to see how people would react. Although everybody (including myself) thought it looked alot better the biggest reason I keep it short is just because it's easier and it's alot less time consuming.

For actual clothing I used to wear only black jeans. Now it's just jeans in any color that fit right and look good. I do still wear band shirts, but it has always been that I only bought shirt of bands I really liked and even then only if I also liked the design. That hasn't really changed, but now I also have lighter colors and same with the jeans I just buy what I like and looks good, band shirt or normal shirt.

Don't really dress metal at all, aside from the rare band shirt. To be honest, I'm not that into the style. I do wear motorcycle boots in the winter, but that doesn't really have anything to do with metal, just like them. I guess I dress fairly "normal" but it's not like I wear American Eagle. I have short hair, used to have it long but honestly it was a pain in the ass and I don't think it actually looked that good.

This. I love how some metalheads will brag about how anti-conformist they are and how metal is all about individuality while they're all dressed exactly the same.

I typically wear all black with a band shirt (not always metal though). I'm not trying to fit in or "look the part" or whatever, it's just what I like to wear.

I love the metal look.

That being said, I like to be confortable in what I wear, that's why I don't go around like a Sarcofago band member (?), not because I don't like it. And I don't have a patch-vest because I'm to lazy haha.

I like to wear jeans and t-shirts, not because I want to look metal, but because I like the logos and the album covers and all. Right now I'm a wearing a Judas Priest one with the old logo on it and the trident on the back. Awesome.
And I wear black (and blue, the jeans) because I like strong and dark colors. I hate light colors. I have some non-band shirts, a deep red one and a deep blue one, and that's it.

What I really like is (and maybe it's not that metal) is jewelry. I love wearing rings, neckchains, wristchains, necklaces, maaan, I feel naked if I don't have something in my wrist. However, I have the "less is more" mentality, and I don't wear a lot a la Chuck Billy, I think that just one ring stands out more than say, three of them.

Another thing, for me at least, being a high school senior near a college town, is that you get a lot better reception for band shirts if they are for older bands. If you have a Sabbath, Maiden, Saxon, or Dio shirt its the shit, but otherwise you get weird looks. I'm starting to think that wearing band shirts might be something to avoid in the future, as I don't want to be associated with many of the types that pull that shit.

First of all; what is a metal dress?
If it's like the early Swedish DM scene dressed - ie jeans and (black) band shirt - then yes, I do dress metal. But not because I want to look metal, but because I'm genuinely uninterested in clothes and in my general appearance. I just want to put on whatever's at the top of the pile in my wardrobe without putting any thought into it.

I work as an Actuary in a business environment, so i can't dress "metal" the majority of my day. Aside from that, i do alot of outdoor activities so metal wear just isn't that practical for doing a hike or biking or something like that.

When i go to a show i'll wear a band shirt and I'll buy them to support bands, but its definitely not part of my everyday identity

I've never put too much weight on the clothes I wear in terms of how I appear to other people, so most of the time when I wear clothes I'd like them to reflect my interests and passions. So I mostly wear band t-shirts. I don't really feel obligated to do so (I mean, I live in a small town in the middle of Buttfuck Nowhere, who would I be trying to impress?), but if clothing builds a person's perception of who you are, why not let them perceive you as how you would most realistically be perceived were they to get to know you?

I never bought into the whole studded belt/leather vest infatuation, though. Maybe I'm just too young to get it, but I don't intentionally try to dress in a way that attracts attention to myself, and I feel like taking it more overboard than a band shirt (and maybe a hat) would certainly draw that sort of attention.

I pretty much adhere to the same attire as Scott Conner of Xasthur in that I don't want to draw attention to myself, especially in my early 30s, of wearing your typical overpriced band tees, hoods, everything else just to say to the world that "i'm a metalhead." Personally i'd rather people get to know me and my personality before judging me on my branded music tastes, these days I tend to leave people alone and don't get the usual "oh you like 1349, Enslaved, Satyricon etc too" conversation because when I go out shopping the last thing i'm thinking of is music.

Mostly for those reasons, and the fact I hate paying to be a walking advertising board with no 'royalties' coming back from anyone for the privilege of doing so.

Only reason I don't wear my band shirts much anymore is because I can't wear them at work and I don't get out and about all that much.

that's more stereotypically "Punk" than anything, but okay.

BTW, I dress like someone who's too depressed to care what he looks like. Sometimes I put a patchy vest on over that.
I also wear boots sometimes. I just think they look "cool", to be honest.

I dress for comfort. Metal shirts/t-shirts from XC invitationals + athletic shorts + nice running shoes = comfort.

Outside of work or formal affairs, my typical dress code is a pair of shorts, a random shirt, and flip flops. I try not to get too picky about wearing any of my metal shirts unless I'm going to a show or having some kind of band-related photo op.

Aside the long hair, which I started growing even before I knew of metal, I pretty much look like your aveage plebian. I wouldn't want it any other way.

I like some stuff out there, but there are a lot of pretty fucking shitty shirts/jumpers/designs circling out there. Because I work in construction I prefer to rock a sick Black Witchery hoody, Bathory Mercyful Fate shirts and that kind of stuff. I'm trying to find a few shirts of these bands, and I need a Bathory s/t shirt to work in as well. Nothing like keeping warm in this shit winter weather with some sick clothes, but like I said, there is a lot of shit out there, like those fucking Nunslaughter shirts.

Pm me if anyone wants to deal.

This. Though I've been wanting a denim jacket and fill up with patches because, fuck, I always thought that it looked great!

I dress based on how I feel I suppose. Some days I'll wear a Gojira or Skeletonwitch shirt, other days I'll wear dress pants and a dress shirt. Some days I'll even wear suits just because. Most of the time I wear the dress clothes or a dress shirt with jeans. My shoes are always dress shoes no matter what I'm wearing because 1.) I hate sneakers, 2.) For the purpose of this post, I only own dress shoes and sandals, the latter of which I wear around my house.

I tend to dress up because I like to look how most people view a "nice" dresser to look. And yes, I'll say it, I dress that way partially to impress other people. But I also dress that way simply because I like it. If I had band shirts that were in better condition and better represented my current tastes I'd probably wear them more often. Most of the one's I own are faded black band shirts from mainstream bands that I enjoyed in high school (several years ago). The only shirts I own that really reflect my tastes anymore are the Lair of the Minotaur shirt (which I can't find), my Skeletonwitch shirt, my Gojira shirt, and my Amon Amarth shirt (which is too small for me).

What does that have to do with working in construction?

lol.

EDIT: sorry, I am just way too jaded to find this normal/not hilarious.

YEAH, BRO. I RLY NEED A BATHORY SHIRT I CAN WEAR TO WORK TO FEEL LIKE A BADASS. BJ <--- that's a smirking man with sunglasses, BTW, not an abbreviation for blowjob.

Just put a Bathory logo in the middle.

PS: Sorry, I'm feeling really [insert non-sexist adjective for "bitchy"] today.

If I'm working in this shit weather, I want to wear something warm that I like.

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Good on ya smart arse. It's about listening to the music you have a passion for and supporting it by buying good merch, if you feel bitchy get off your comp and take it up with someone

Got a point-- especially true since I cut my hair short, which I don't regret at all. Either way, whatever you call it, I fucking love the aesthetic of it :v

Worried about your image = fashion poof.

The last non metal shirt i bought was in 2009, a pure black large t shirt. Since then only metal shirts and a couple dress shirts. So if im not wearing one of my two plain shirts im stuck with a metal shirt, and ive gotta say i keep i try to keep it fresh. Work in a warehouse, listen to metal all day and i suppose i do enjoy wearing the graphics to go with the music.

I wear nothing but the blood of my enemies.

Anything else and your just a poser and should probably leave the hall.

Ha I've said it before. I wear label clothes, my hair is short back and sides, and I'm always smiling at people.

So the looks of disbelief I get when blaring Cannibal Corpse or Death out of my car window, are priceless

Band shirt, jeans and zippered black hoodie. Shaved head because I can't be fucked having to worry about doing something with it. The ultimate in laziness.

It's rare that I go to shows without buying a shirt now, since the reality of the music industry right now is that bands get more money through merchandise than through album sales. I like to support the bands I really enjoy, which means that the majority of my wardrobe consists of band shirts.

How "metal" I actually look depends on the weather, though. The only band hoodie I own is a Cormorant one that I don't wear often because it's too big, and I tend to favor long sleeves and flannel in colder weather (never really liked the long-sleeve band shirts I've seen). So if I have to wear extra layers, it's not as obvious (though I'd like to do a patch jacket someday). And I keep my hair on the shorter side as well.

Also, I have a few non-metal band shirts - The Black Angels, Tool, The Builders and the Butchers (though this one could pass for a black metal shirt), etc.

Back in high school I used to wear a lot of band shirts and all that stuff, but nowadays I tend to stay away from most band merch. Not that I have anything against it, I just don't feel like it anymore. But I do like having designs on my jacket, and other more customizable things.

I wear band shirts occasionally. I got one by Morningstar, one by Pentagram and one by Musta Surma. Most of my band shirts are long gone, because when I was in sanitarium, my father made them into paint rags. Maybe he thought I should wear regular clothes. There was some 15 of them, hah. Now I wear mostly flanel and jeans, and I got Finnish army jacket as my summer jacket. I got long hair though, but I've thought about cutting it. It's just a pain in the ass really. But no bald either, because I would look like a monkey. Something in between.