Grunge aesthetic
Grunge is a loose, thrifted style with roots in the Seattle music scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Flannel shirts, band tees, ripped jeans, oversized knits and boots, worn as if you did not think about it at all.
- Washed black#1c1c1c
- Flannel red#7a1f1f
- Army green#4b5320
- Faded denim#5d6d7e
- Dirty taupe#8c7b6b
Key pieces
- Flannel shirt
- Band tee
- Ripped jeans
- Combat boots
- Oversized knit
- Beanie
What is the grunge aesthetic?
Grunge began as the clothing of musicians and fans in Seattle in the mid to late 1980s. It was not a designed look. It was cheap, warm and practical: thrift-store flannel, old jeans and sturdy boots for a rainy city.
When grunge music went global in the early 1990s, the clothes followed. In 1993 Marc Jacobs showed a grunge collection for Perry Ellis, with flannel shirts, granny dresses and Dr. Martens boots. Critics hated it, and he lost his job soon after. The look itself outlived the backlash and has come back many times since, including as "soft grunge" on Tumblr in the early 2010s.
The grunge color palette
Washed black, flannel red, army green, faded denim blue and a dirty taupe. Colors look worn and a little muddy, never fresh. If something looks too new, wash it a few more times.
How to dress grunge
- Tops: flannel shirts, band and graphic tees, oversized or holey knits, thermal long sleeves.
- Bottoms: ripped or faded jeans, plaid skirts with ripped tights, slip dresses over tees.
- Shoes: combat boots, worn canvas high-tops, chunky boots.
- Outerwear: a flannel tied at the waist, a denim or leather jacket, a cardigan two sizes too big.
- Details: a beanie, chokers, silver rings, safety pins, smudged eyeliner.
Three easy outfits: a band tee under an open flannel with ripped jeans and boots; a slip dress over a white tee with a big cardigan and boots; an oversized knit with a plaid mini, tights and canvas high-tops.
Layering is the core of grunge. Most outfits have at least three layers, and none of them match perfectly.
Grunge room ideas
A grunge room feels lived in. Band posters and gig flyers on the walls, records stacked on the floor, a thrifted sofa or beanbag, dark bedding and string lights. A guitar in the corner fits, even if you do not play it much. Nothing should look like it came from the same store.
Grunge vs soft grunge vs goth
Soft grunge is a gentler, more styled version with pastel hair, chokers and skater skirts. Goth is a separate subculture with its own music and a more formal, dramatic look in black lace and velvet. Grunge is the most relaxed of the three. It looks like you rolled out of bed and into a gig, and that is the point.
Grunge also overlaps with streetwear, since both love tees and boots. The difference is that streetwear is clean and fresh, while grunge is worn and thrifted.
Is grunge your aesthetic?
If most of your clothes came from a thrift store and you play 90s rock loud, it might be. Take the aesthetic quiz to see if grunge is your top match.
Sources
- Grunge fashion, Wikipedia: Seattle origins, key garments and the 1993 Perry Ellis collection.
Not sure which style is yours? Twelve picture questions will tell you.
Take the aesthetic quiz