So you used to be a scene kid? Well I’m glad that you’ve made the healthy recovery from what for many was a painful reflection of rebellious adolescence. And while we can all be thankful that you’ve dug your way out of the mounds of Hot Topic apparel, there are a few things that all former scene kids can remember.
1. That everyone wanted to be or be with Audrey Kitching.
Audrey was the poster child for the scene queen community, with her larger than life hair and doll-like appearance. She rocked Manic Panic hair like nobodies business and was kawaii before it was cool. Not to mention she used to date Brendon Urie. *swoons*
2. That coontails or leopard extensions were a must.
It wasn’t enough just to rim your eyes in the blackest eye liner that you could get your hands on or tease your hair beyond it’s limits, coontail or leopard hair elevated your look to make you queen of the mall kids. And while you may now look back on your hair choices with embarrassment, in that moment you were pretty proud to rock your locks.
3. That being Myspace Famous meant that you had made it.
Myspace was for scene queens as Instagram is for the basic bitches of today. It was a way for you to flaunt your style and connect with other scene kids around the country. Being on top meant that you had to do scene better than anyone else in the game and girls like Kiki Kannibal, Hannah Beth, and Dakota Rose. It was all about the selfie, and the scene queens were the first to perfect this form of photography.
4. That it was Hot Topic or Bust.
As the main retailer for the emo and scene crowd, Hot Topic was the hub for all of your clothing needs. Whether it be a Pierce the Veil hoodie, Hello Kitty barrettes, or a Kingdom Hearts t-shirt, Hot Topic provided the looks for those who embraced a dedication to black or a toxic neon color palette. Teens flocked to this store because of its stock of band, TV, movie, anime, video game, and pop culture referenced apparel and they stayed for the supply of body jewelry and studded belts that their parents would never in their right minds consent to purchasing.
5. That you were slaves to your bands.
Being apart of the scene community meant that you had a passion for the bands that fueled the trend; from pop punk groups to metal core ensembles. Scene kids were obsessed with bands that strayed away from mainstream pop and you would do whatever it took to show your dedication to their sound. If you were to look onto the Ipod Nano of any scene kid, you were likely to find an abundance of Pierce the Veil, Panic at the Disco, La Dispute, Black Veil Brides, Green Day, Of Mice and Men, All Time Low, Blink 182, Paramore, My Chemical Romance, A Day to Remember, Bring Me to the Horizon, and Asking Alexandria albums.