grunge pastiche

Another high fashion attempt at a revival of grunge is being portrayed in the fashion mags. Usually it is so laughable, the editorial title derived from a Nirvana song, and somehow the inclusion of flannel makes an outfit 'grunge'. Most modern interpretations are polluted by hipster mis-mash juxtaposition.
The original grunge movement of the 90s was associated with the Seattle music scene. Although it has been said that grunge was nothing new, but simply the way Art School Students have always dressed. In its original form, it was likely a fusion of punk and hippie styles. The quintessential grunge girl wore a hippie skirt with a black leather biker jacket, threadbare t-shirt, and doc martens or combat boots (ideally well worn and beat). Her hair was long with no bangs as was the hippie hair of the late 1960s-early 1970s. Guys wore long hair, flannel, long johns, and ratty sweaters and docs. There was a thrift store element, be it green-inspired hippie ethic or pennythrift poor college student necessity. It was also a beat look, that linked it with the 1960s hippie fashions. And as in that first youth culture revolution, it inspired fashion designers from the street up.

Although these are some beautiful images, the clothes are insipid and uninspiring (exceptions 2nd, 4th and last image). Antique patinaed car, very Kerouac. Chartreuse sweater, no thank you. And again the hipster hodgepodge of glam elements. Mostly it is over the top irony that expensive, high end designer fashions are contrived to be grunge.

W Magazine September 2013

Photo: Mert & Marcus

Stylist: Edward Enninful

Make-up: Yadim