Rock stars and celebrities like Neil Young and Kurt Cobain were known for their grunge looks. The worn-in style exudes rebelliousness and was influenced by punk culture.

Punk Rock

The inspiration for the trend stemmed from punk rock’s music culture. Dark clothing colors, hair and makeup were the basis of the look.

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Comfort

The idea was to wear clothing that you can breathe in, which helped to keep you relaxed throughout the day. Oversized shorts and jackets were paired with combat boots and scrunch socks.

Photography: Wan Mohammad Aliff

Nirvana

Nirvana was one of the rock bands that provided a platform for grunge fashion to be showcased to the masses. Their fans were not only fixated on their music but were heavily inspired to dress in graphic tees and loose-fitting jeans, as the musicians did.

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Movie Stars

Drew Barrymore was one of the most popular movie stars to wear the trend in the beginning. She would often pair oversized denim with t-shirts and leather jackets.

Photography: Jim Smeal

Torn Jeans

Distressed denim was a part of the grunge movement for both men and women. During this time, followers of the trend were encouraged to rip their jeans themselves, which fueled the focus of a rebellious attitude. In the following decades, pre-destroyed denim became a common sight at clothing retailers.

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Fish Nets

Ladies wore fishnets with jeans and T-shirts. The look was often styled with shorts, boots, and a sweater or flannel.

Photography: Pexels/Nicolas Postiglioni

Soft Grunge

Soft grunge was introduced as the trend moved through to the late 90s, which gave the aesthetic a more feminine approach. Women added color to their looks with accessories like circular framed sunglasses.

Photography: Flickr/Betül Yıldız

2000s and beyond

The trend continued to move through the early 2000s before fizzling out, with fashion icons such as Rihanna adorning the trend and redirecting the name to “edgy” instead of grunge. In the mid 2020s, markers from the trend are constantly returning to the forefront of fashion such as leather jackets, 90s style baggy jeans and oversized flannel shirts.

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