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This article was co-authored by Melynda Choothesa. Melynda Choothesa is a Costume Designer, Wardrobe Stylist, and Art Director with over 10 years of fashion consulting experience. She has worked on creative direction for fashion shows, costume design, and personal wardrobe styling, both in Los Angeles, California and internationally for clients such as Akon, Kathy Ireland, and Aisha Tyler. She has an Associate of Arts in Fashion Design from Santa Monica College.
There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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In the 1990s, the word “grunge” took the world by storm because of the punk rock musicians coming out of Seattle, Washington.[1] While “grunge” describes the sound of the music that came from that era, it is making a comeback both in fashion and in attitude. You can present yourself as a lover of the genre by wearing tattered, layered clothing and embracing the individualistic spirit of grunge.
Steps
Part 1
Part 1 of 2:
Looking Grunge
Shop at thrift stores for practical clothing. Look for items that are comfortable and inexpensive. People who consider themselves grunge value thrift and utility, rather than style or high-fashion labels. Anything second-hand, torn, or rundown is automatically better.
Wear large plaid flannel shirts. These are typically available at thrift stores for just a few dollars each, or you can buy new ones from sporting goods stores or your favorite clothing retailers. You can roll up the sleeves, wear a band T-shirt underneath, or top it with a worn-down leather or jean jacket.[2]Advertisement
Get some torn jeans. Jeans that are already distressed can get pretty expensive, so buy an old pair at a thrift store and distress them yourself using scissors or a razor. Go for pairs that are slightly too large and have straight legs.[3]
Expand your wardrobe with oversized cardigan sweaters, long shorts, and denim overalls. For girls, maxi skirts and tights with vintage patterns, like large flowers or paisley, are a great look. Layer your clothes for the ultimate grunge style.- Opposing items of clothing are a hallmark style of grunge. You could wear a used babydoll-style dress with thick, chunky work boots. If you love that pair of bright shorts, mix it with a wool blazer-style jacket and boots for a grunge look.[4]
Wear clunky shoes, such as combat boots or lace-up sneakers. Dr. Martens has a wide variety of boots and thick-soled sneakers to capture the look. High-top Converse or loafers are great options if you don’t want to wear heavy boots all day.[5]
Accessorize with sunglasses, tall socks, berets, and buttons. Buttons with pictures of album covers from your favorite bands can signal that you’re a grunge lover, so attach them to your backpack or hat. Wear vintage jewelry like chain earrings and chokers.[6]
Throw your hair up in a loose bun or ponytail, or leave it down with its natural kinks. Messy hairstyles are a feature of the grunge look, but keep it clean with regular washing. You could also color a section of your hair with clip-in extensions, colored hairspray, or dye. Don't worry about frizz or matting.- Messy hair that is at least shoulder-length and ungroomed facial hair (for men) look great. You can also keep your hair short, as long as you don’t style it too carefully.
Wear makeup, but don’t spend too much time or money on it. Use some bright red lipstick without any skin or eye makeup, or do up your eyes with dark shades and leave your lips bare.[7] Both men and women can wear any sort of makeup that you choose, so don’t be afraid to try it out!Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 2:
Acting the Part
Listen to the essential music. Since the grunge movement started out of the punk rock music culture of the 1990s, the best place to start is with the three studio albums of Nirvana (Bleach, Nevermind, and In Utero). Follow those up with Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger and Superunknown, the albums Ten and Vs. by Pearl Jam, Superfuzz Bigmuff by Mudhoney, and Dirt by Alice in Chains.[8]- Tad, Screaming Trees, The Afghan Whigs, Hole, Babes In Toyland, L7, Stone Temple Pilots, and Mother Love Bone are other grunge bands worth checking out.
Be yourself. People in grunge culture live by the idea of nonconformity, or not really caring about what others think. It can be hard to do this if you’re surrounded by people who are judging you for being different. Find friends that you genuinely like spending time with, and who don’t label you as “uncool” if you do something differently from them.- It’s okay to change. Don’t worry about looking uncool if you want to start a new activity, bring your grades up, or start listening to other music besides punk rock. Grunge is about doing what is true to your interests, and not worrying about what other people think of it.
Take an interest in social issues. A lot of grunge culture is about challenging “the system” and its flaws. Spending time reading up on feminism, racial issues, environmental responsibility, and LGBTQ rights can help you understand the nonconformist attitude. Stay informed! [9] You can also start watching the news and reading the newspaper to stay up-to-date on the issues that are impacting your community and the world at large.- Look for pieces that are written from both sides of the issue before you form an opinion. Being well-informed is not just about finding writers who agree with you.
Spend time on your hobbies. If you like to play sports, tinker with computers, or learn ballet in your spare time, keep doing those things. Grunge isn’t about doing one particular thing over another, it’s about being who you truly are!- Grunge culture is also closely linked with the do-it-yourself (DIY) philosophy. For example, you don't need to read a big magazine like Rolling Stone, a hand-stapled magazine your friend made will do just fine.
Avoid the negative parts of grunge culture. A lot of the lyrics in the music you listen to will be about feeling alienated, sad, or frustrated.[10] It’s okay to acknowledge these parts of life, since everyone will feel like that at some point. However, if you feel like your sadness is getting in the way of living your life, talk to someone, like a parent, close friend, or counselor. You can be grunge without feeling alone.Advertisement
Expert Q&A
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- QuestionHow do you get a grunge aesthetic?
Melynda ChoothesaMelynda Choothesa is a Costume Designer, Wardrobe Stylist, and Art Director with over 10 years of fashion consulting experience. She has worked on creative direction for fashion shows, costume design, and personal wardrobe styling, both in Los Angeles, California and internationally for clients such as Akon, Kathy Ireland, and Aisha Tyler. She has an Associate of Arts in Fashion Design from Santa Monica College.
Professional Stylist & Fashion DesignerGrunge can mean a lot of things, especially in big cities like New York and LA. You can have hipster-grunge, which you can create with high-end clothing, like a designer blouse. Then there's 90s grunge, which was dirty hair and a dress over a T-shirt with Doc Martens. For a modern take on iconic grunge, try wearing a slick dress with a flannel tied at your waist, a leather choker, ripped pantyhose and combat boots. - QuestionCan you be grunge and still have a sense of humor?
Community AnswerOf course! Being grunge is about being an individual, not being sad all the time. Embrace your sense of humor, personal interests, and goals. That's what makes you unique! - QuestionIs being friendly and open to other people part of grunge?Community AnswerCertainly. You can be nice, friendly, and open while still showing people that you're an individual with the way you dress and act.
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References
- ↑ https://www.theodysseyonline.com/what-is-grunge-anyway
- ↑ http://magazine.art21.org/2011/03/01/bedfellows-the-plaid-fad/
- ↑ http://www.elle.com/fashion/trend-reports/news/g8111/grunge-trend/?slide=18
- ↑ http://www.elle.com/fashion/trend-reports/news/g8111/grunge-trend/?slide=19
- ↑ http://www.elle.com/fashion/trend-reports/news/g8111/grunge-trend/?slide=24
- ↑ https://marketplace.asos.com/women/featured/womens-vintage-90s-clothing
- ↑ https://www.designtrends.com/fashion/makeup-designs/grunge-makeup.html
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/style/grunge-ma0000002626/albums
- ↑ http://www.artspace.com/magazine/art_101/art_market/the_art_world_in_the_90s-5912
About this article
Melynda Choothesa
Professional Stylist & Fashion Designer
This article was co-authored by Melynda Choothesa. Melynda Choothesa is a Costume Designer, Wardrobe Stylist, and Art Director with over 10 years of fashion consulting experience. She has worked on creative direction for fashion shows, costume design, and personal wardrobe styling, both in Los Angeles, California and internationally for clients such as Akon, Kathy Ireland, and Aisha Tyler. She has an Associate of Arts in Fashion Design from Santa Monica College. This article has been viewed 674,063 times.
Co-authors: 104
Updated: May 6, 2021
Views: 674,063
Article SummaryX
To be grunge, shop for clothes at thrift stores and look for things that are torn and worn-down. For example, you could get some torn jeans, a large plaid flannel shirt, and an old leather jacket. Also, get a couple pairs of large, clunky shoes, like combat boots or high-top sneakers. In addition to switching up your wardrobe, make an effort to listen to classic grunge music, like Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam, so you understand more about the culture. To learn how to act the part when you're trying to be grunge, scroll down!
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