Grunge (fashion)

Origins

The term grunge was adopted by the music industry for a style of music that had become wildly popular in the American Northwest during the early 1990s. The term first appeared in 1972, but it did not become a popular term in widespread media until the late 1980s, influenced by the surge and decline of punk. This view made its mark on the youth of the time and translated into their choice of fashion.

In 1992, The New York Times wrote: "This stuff is cheap, it's durable, and it's kind of timeless. It also runs against the grain of the whole flashy aesthetic that existed in the 80's."

In a 1998 article for the Journal of Cultural Geography, Thomas Bell said "Flannel shirts and Doc Martens boots were worn as an anti-fashion statement that is undoubtedly related to the unassuming and unvarnished nature of the music itself".

Pop-culture influence on 1990s grunge

One of the biggest influences on grunge fashion was rock star Kurt Cobain, the lead singer of the band Nirvana. It is widely believed that Cobain represented the core of the grunge movement and the phenomenon of the grunge scene's influence. Cobain's style was a combination from both male and female fashion, and "his Seattle thrift-store look ran the gamut of masculine lumberjack workwear and 40s-by-way-of-70s feminine dresses." Cobain's wife, Courtney Love, was mostly known for her "kinderwhore" sense of style used by many female grunge bands. The look consisted of barrettes, tiaras, ripped tights, Mary Janes, slips and Peter Pan collared dresses. Love claims that she drew the inspiration for her kinderwhore look from Christina Amphlett of Divinyls. Pearl Jam made their mark on the grunge fashion scene with leather jackets, corduroy jackets, kilts, shorts-over-leggings, ripped jeans and snapbacks. They were best known for inspiring the Doc Martens trend.

Men's fashion

Grunge fashion/style was influenced by disheveled and androgynous thrift-store clothing, defined by a looseness, de-emphasizing the body's silhouette. Men wear second-hand or shabby T-shirts with slogans, band logos, etc. A tartan shirt might accompany the T-shirt, along with ripped or faded jeans. Black combat-style boots, such as Doc Martens, completes the ensemble.

Women's fashion

Designer

When grunge started to be a popular trend in the early 1990s, fashion designer Marc Jacobs was the first designer who brought grunge to the luxury platform. In 1993, Jacobs as the creative director of women's design at Perry Ellis, debuted a spring collection inspired by grunge. The collection included some iconic grunge items such as flannel shirts, printed granny dresses, Dr. Martens boots, and knitted skullcaps. Fashion critic Suzy Menkes declared "Grunge is ghastly." New York magazine said, "Grunge: 1992–1993, R.I.P." A few years later, Jacobs and his business partner would join the French luxury brand Louis Vuitton.

Grunge in the 2010s and 2020s

According to a 2013 Today article, the 1990s made a comeback after New York Fashion Week (NYFW) when designers shared their interpretations of Seattle's early 1990s boho-chic. This led to grunge fashion appearing in shopping malls and grunge-inspired back-to-school looks.

In 2013, Yves Saint Laurent and Dries van Noten successfully attempted to re-introduce grunge to the runway, bringing it back into the fashion zeitgeist.

In 2022, Nylon magazine wrote that 1990s Grunge "is one of Fall 2022's biggest fashion trends", with brands and designers such as Marc Jacobs, Molly Goddard, Dsquared2, and Givenchy having collections inspired by grunge fashion.

In June 2025, GQ wrote that grunge style was trending again thanks to TikTok, British singer Charli XCX, and Italian fashion house Magliano's fall-winter 2025 collection inspired by grunge fashion.

Gallery

File:Me in 2001.jpg|Photo of bassist in grunge attire, 2001 File:Nirvana around 1992.jpg|Nirvana are known for popularizing the style. Cobain pictured . File:Bone Cellar 01.jpg|Dawn Henschen of grunge band Bone Cellar in 1992 File:Kat Bjelland 1992 (crop).jpg|Kat Bjelland of popular grunge band Babes in Toyland in 1992

References

References

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2. (February 11, 2021). "Mastering the Art of Grunge Style Now".
3. "12 Edgy Grunge Outfits That Are So Cool It Hurts".
4. (January 28, 2020). "The "Controversial" Fashion Aesthetic That's Making a Comeback".
5. (March 18, 2022). "Grunge Outfits That Grown-Ups Can Wear".
6. Ramzi, Lilah. (May 31, 2024). "A 1990s Fashion History Lesson: Supermodels, Grunge, and the Dawn of the Digital Age".
7. Sangster, Ella. (November 3, 2022). "The '90s are back: How grunge got a glamorous makeover".
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11. (1998). "Why Seattle? An Examination of an Alternative Rock Culture Hearth". Journal of Cultural Geography.
12. (8 April 2014). "Why Kurt Cobain Was One of the Most Influential Style Icons of Our Times".
13. (9 July 2014). "The Evolution of Courtney Love".
14. "11 Ways '90s Grunge Influenced StreetwearPearl Jam vs. A$AP Mob".
15. "Grunge Fashion: The History Of Grunge & 90s Fashion". RebelsMarket Blog.
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17. "The 1990s Fashion History Part 1".
18. (31 March 2016). "The 90s Fashion Trend That is Making a Comeback".
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20. (March 1993). "Grunge: 1992–1993".
21. Phelps, Nicole. "Perry Ellis Spring 1993 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show". Vogue.
22. Vivinetto, Gina. (23 August 2013). "Return of 'Teen Spirit'? Grunge Is Back in Fashion (and That's Not a Bad Thing)". [[Today (American TV program).
23. Blanks, Tim. "Saint Laurent Fall 2013 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show". Vogue.
24. Blanks, Tim. "Dries Van Noten Spring 2013 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show". Vogue.
25. (August 19, 2022). "22 Fashion Items To Channel ‘90s Grunge For Fall".
26. Felepchuk, Lisa. (June 4, 2025). "The Ultimate Guide to Grunge Style—And Why It’s Trending Again in 2025".