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Photo: P.B. Rage

New York and London’s Fashion Weeks recently saw a return of the grungy look first popular in the early nineties, but the good news is that it doesn’t look quite like it did then: it’s still messy and rebellious, but there’s no need to look unwashed! One of the most important feature of grungy looks is layering – jackets, over vests, with some scarves and hats thrown in, and this sounds like great news for winter. Chunky knits are a key element of grunge, and the workwear look is an important influence: that’s where plaid, and oversized jackets come in, but don’t forget the leather jacket, a wardrobe staple and a trend that’s just set to get bigger.

Get the look

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Looking grungy isn’t difficult this season. There’s no need to wear old band t-shirts and dirty jeans; instead, look out for baggier cuts that have something of an androgynous look. Wearing grunge used to be all about thrift store purchases, so look out for great grungy vintage pieces and incorporate them into outfits that include this season’s latest items. Greens, browns, and reds feature as prominently as ever, although the latest grunge fashion looks are even darker than before, with more black.

Hair

The grunge look means bedhead hair – it’s wavy and cuts don’t have sharp edges. Men’s hair sees the longer lengths that have been making a comeback with recent preppy looks. The longer length works well for both styles, but the texture’s changed – it should look messy and unkempt, but you can get that Kurt Cobain look with hair products rather than genuine grease.

Make-up

Grunge fashion extends to the make-up looks seen recently on the runways. Eyeshadow is brown or rust-coloured and slicking some Vaseline over the top of it helps to achieve that slick look seen in so many shows recently.

Grunge beats prep

Photo: Stock.Xchng

Some see the grunge fashion look as a backlash against the clean-cut, preppy styles of this summer and seasons past, but there can be no mistaking the fact that some preppy elements remain in the looks seen at this season’s fashion week: plaid is still there, as are baggy cardigans and chunky styles combined with pieces in lighter fabrics for both men and women. The original grunge look of the nineties was seen as a backlash against the excesses of eighties fashion, and the element of rebellion remains.

Here we are now

The grunge fashion trend is one to which many people hoped the fashion world would never return, and a number of the reviews of the collections shown this year at fashion week were scathing, but the fact of the matter is that it’s back to stay, at least for a while. Those who try the style and avoid taking it too far will learn to love the boldness of the look, and enjoy the challenges of dressing in a style that many would describe as anti-fashion.