Fashion is relatively cyclical, and while it’s hard to predict when exactly an old trend will come back into style, it’s safe to say that the 90’s grunge look is always a fun one to play around with.
If it’s something that you’ve considered embracing, then you’ll likely be wondering how exactly you should go about curating your look.
From the central role of distressed denim to the importance of embracing your own unique take, here’s how you can explore this unique style.
Distressed denim
Distressed denim basically sits at the heart of a lot of 90s grunge looks. You can look for these kinds of pieces new, but it’s also worth taking a look in vintage shops and in charity shops.
With jeans, pretty much anything that’s not skin tight will work. You can go quite baggy, or just with a more toned-down straight leg.
Likewise, the distress doesn’t have to be totally extreme – shredded knees and thighs are the norm with these kinds of looks, but you don’t have to wear trousers with actual holes in them if that’s too much.
Plaid
Another really fun common component in 90s grunge outfits can be an oversized flannel shirt.
With a mellow but slightly colourful plaid pattern, these kinds of shirts rose to prominence in the 90s with Seattle bands.
You should be able to find rows and rows of them in most decent vintage shops, often for quite a low price.
Embrace colours
Regardless of what you choose to wear, you should try to embrace some colour in your fit.
Common shades tend to include olives, mustard yellows and burgundy, but the point of the style is to be anti-style, so you can really do whatever you want.
Leather boots
What ties a 90s grunge look together tends to be an old pair of black leather shoes or boots.
If you buy these new, you’ll likely have to suffer a little (or a lot) while they wear in. Again, it’s a good idea to look in second-hand stores – don’t just look for Doc Martens, also look at old military boots and Timberlands.
Thick soles are normally the way to go, but again, if you don’t like the weight, you can go with something a bit thinner.
Just be different
The heart of grunge was ultimately all about rejecting fashion norms and clean aesthetics.
As a result, if you’re trying to embrace not just the traditional aesthetic but also the spirit of grunge, you’ll want to make the style your own.
Embrace some staples (like denim and boots), but then make other parts your own and have a bit of fun! That could be personalised t-shirts from somewhere like Screen Textiles, or something you made at home with a sewing machine.
Grunge can be a fun, expressive fashion trend to play around with, and the nice thing about it is that it’s ultimately up to you to decide how you do it. Pick and choose the elements that are outlined above, and then add your own personal grunginess to the mix.
