50 years of Dr Martens

Pete Townshend of The Who at the Omni Coliseum in Atlanta, Georgia, 1975 Photograph: Tom Hill/WireImage

Teenagers in the ruins of Smithfield Market in Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1974 Photograph: Frank Tewkesbury/Getty Images

Elton John sporting a vertiginous pair of Dr Martens in the 1975 rock opera Tommy Photograph: Rex Features/Rex Features

The Specials performing in 1979 Photograph: Ray Stevenson /Rex Features

A skinhead sitting cross-legged during a British Movement rally in Notting Hill in 1980 Photograph: Stuart Nicol/Getty Images

Tony Benn in 1981 Photograph: Neville Marriner/Rex Features

British punks, 1981 Photograph: Peter Price/Rex Features

Police surrounding skinheads At Southend-on-Sea In 1982. Dr Martens are the footwear of choice for both sides in this dispute Photograph: David Stevens/Rex Features

Skinheads in London in 1983 Photograph: Virginia Turbett/Redferns

Young skinheads on the Dunstan Estate in Newcastle, 1985 Photograph: Brian Harris/Rex Features

Punks celebrating new years eve in Trafalgar Square, 1989 Photograph: Rex Features/Rex Features

Suggs from Madness in 1985 Photograph: Sheila Rock/Rex Features

Punk rockers in Covent garden, London in 2005, still sporting DMs but of a decidely more commercial bent Photograph: Sonny Meddle/Rex Features

Agyness Deyn, Pixie Geldof and Chloë Sevigny bring the look into the 21st century Photograph: Rex Features