Style Archives: Blink-182

Take off your pants

Blink-182 are often credited with leading the pop-punk resurgence of the early 2000s. For a few short years, pop-punk was a legitimate force on Top 40 radio, MTV, and in malls across America. Not only did skateboarders and inline skaters listen to it, but so did jocks, theater kids, gamers, and old normal people. For a moment, our country was united around power chords and lyrics about adolescent angst. It was a beautiful time.

The boys of Blink-182–Mark, Tom, and Travis–are arguably the most influential style icons of the late ‘90s/early ‘00s. And that’s across all forms of entertainment: music, movies, television, fashion. Nobody has been brave enough (or dumb enough) to make this claim until now.

Feast your eyes upon our fresh-faced heroes. This is the mid ‘90s, of course: t-shirts, long ass shorts, and skateboarding shoes. Tom’s look is easily the highlight here. Cropped Dickies? Check. Tips? Frosted. He wears One Stars, the Converse silhouette that Tyler the Creator brought back into the spotlight. Mark’s wearing Vans Old Skools, another shoe that’s currently on fire. The man on the left is Scott Raynor, Blink’s first drummer.

Mark and Tom are giving off very different energies in this photo. Mark looks kind. You want to hug him and let him tutor you in math. I love a pair of Oakleys. Are they knockoffs? Who knows? Tom won’t be tutoring you in anything but spiking your hair. Poor Scott doesn’t have badass shades like his bandmates, and in 1998, he was fired from Blink.

I’d never seen this Dude Ranch promo until conducting research for my story. I love it, of course. Matching straight-leg khakis, black t-shirts, more Billabong, a powder blue crusher hat, and a golf ball for some reason. They went all out. Is Dude Ranch your favorite Blink album? It’s mine, like, 30% of the time.

The year is 1997, and Mark’s the king. He wrote “Dammit,” and he’s wearing a shirt that could’ve easily come from Kohl’s, but probably didn’t. Tube socks are a must, and Mark went there. From waist down, this look would absolutely fly in 2020. This picture was taken before Mark got his Fender sponsorship.

Who’s that tattooed punk rocker? It’s Travis, obviously, Blink’s not-so-secret weapon. Blink really took off when Travis joined the band, but what did he contribute style-wise? Let’s find out.

Here we have the gang posing at some third-tier awards show. Travis’s look is rough, man. You could sail a boat with those shorts. I do not fuck with Texas-sized belt buckles, either. About the tank top: Porn Star was the name of a skate and clothing company. Their stuff still fetches money on the resale market, but it shouldn’t because it’s wack. Please note that Tom’s been photographed wearing the same Hurley shirt in two consecutive pictures. Celebs don’t let that happen anymore. He’s also way ahead of the curve in terms of painting his nails. Mark’s look sucks. Ouch, it hurts my eyes.

Entrepreneur alert! The guys have launched their respective clothing companies. Travis’s brand, Famous Stars & Straps, took off in 1999. FS&S was everywhere back in the day. I never bought anything from them, though. It was just not for me. Mark and Tom’s company, Atticus, was another story. Hell yes, I wore Atticus. Loved it. That upside-down bird? Couldn’t get enough. The Dragging the Lake compilation that Atticus put out is one of the best documents of that era in mall punk. Tom’s footwear and clothing company, Macbeth, wouldn’t debut until 2002. After that, it was all Macbeth, all the time for our style god. That being said, his outfit here is a rare misstep. Put the Hurley back on, Tom.

This photo comes from the same shoot, I think. Mark’s wearing an Adio tee. That company was huge. They sponsored Shaun White, Bam Margera, and Tony Hawk. The video they put out in 2001, One Step Beyond, is fire – check it out. Tom is making love to the camera. This is the Take Off Your Pants and Jacket era. Blink was on top of the world.

At the start of this story, I called Blink style icons. I called them influential. Here’s why. They introduced countless young men like myself to the clothes of skateboarding and surfing. For many years, I wanted to dress like Mark Hoppus. I couldn’t articulate it, but when I bought a shirt by Volcom or Quiksilver, that’s what was going through my mind. I wouldn’t shop at the Gap anymore. I wouldn’t shop at Old Navy. PacSun (back then it was called Pacific Sunwear) was the shopping destination for adolescent Pat. In time, Kohl’s started carrying many of these brands, and the infiltration was complete. Your dad could buy a Hurley shirt.

In 2003, Blink released their “mature” self-titled album. Some people love it. I think it’s okay. “I Miss You” is undeniable, everybody knows that.

All three members of Blink became fathers around this time, and what happens to you when you become a dad? You start wearing solid tees (except for Travis, who loves the sleeveless look). Solid promo photo here, but the boys look wary. In less than two years, Blink-182 would be no more.

Blink regrouped in 2011 for Neighborhoods. I put it on the other day. I always assumed it sucked, but it’s got tracks. At this point in my life, I can find merit in almost anything. Favorite music: everything but country.

Look at the disconnect between Tom and his bandmates in this picture. He won’t be in Blink-182 for long.

This is Blink now. Tom’s out; Matt Skiba (of Alkaline Trio) is in. If you’d have told me in 2002 that Matt Fuggin’ Skiba would one day be in Blink-182, I think my 16 year old head would’ve exploded. And he’s a sharp dresser, okay. I’ll do a whole post on Alkaline Trio some other time. What I love about this picture is the fact that he’s wearing Hurley. He gets it. And the backwards snapback? A torch has been passed.

These days, Mark wears t-shirts with octopuses on them. Like, all the time. Take a look at his webstore. I don’t love it, don’t hate it, don’t feel much of anything. It exists. I hope it brings people joy. I’ll save my money and put it toward something dumb like my mortgage. I guess this is growing up. (I had to say that. It is a law.)

Tom’s post-Blink career is the stuff of legend at this point. He’s writing books and music about space exploration and extraterrestrial life. He was profiled in the Times. What I love about his style is that it reflects his passions. He’s got this off-duty astronaut look going on. Tracksuits, bomber jackets, retro trainers, and oxfords (in case he has a meeting at NASA).

So the next time you find yourself putting on a graphic tee or Dickies or skate shoes or a backwards snapback, remember how you got there. Blink-182 are style icons. My thesis passes, I’m now have a PhD. Academia rocks.