Grunge Fashion: A Revolution in Clothing
Jd Institute
Understanding Grunge Fashion and its Origins
Nicknamed Seattle Sound, the music is distinct because of its distorted electric guitaring and the grinding, sludgy sound of Seattle. Due to paucity of funds and time required to get recording sound clean, these local North-western bands let the sound quality remain ‘as is’ or sound ‘dirty’. All they did was turn up the volume. This dirty sound may have been the genesis of the term Grunge. The lyrics of their songs reflected the introspective ethos and subculture that emerged during the mid-1980s. With that, and the fusion of elements from punk rock and heavy metal; Grunge aesthetics and its darker, edgier style of guitar playing, glitches, vinyl records, cigarettes, neon lights, and the colour black- all seemed to resonate with vast swathes of that generation.
Grunge was commercially successful as the most popular form of alternate rock music due to several hit releases and the huge popularity of these bands amongst fans. Buoyed by the wide acceptances by their followers, their influence extended beyond music. Thus, the Grunge culture unleashed unwittingly by the band members, more importantly their iconic band Leaders, influenced the dress sense of that generation. Grunge Fashion was a culmination of this. Landing squarely on the catwalk, it changed the outlook on fashion, thereafter.
Elements of Grunge Fashion
Grunge ‘chic’ as it were, was influenced by the clothes band members wore on and off stage. These were the regular Seattle styles sported at that time, albeit a little ‘off’ or off beat. The long baggy T-shirts and long johns caught the fancy of the fashion-conscious. Grunge fashion stood for an American society ready to discard glamorous ideals of the 1980s that painted an unrealistic picture.
What caught the fancy of the fans was the first public performance of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain—the iconic poster boy of Grunge belting out songs of Smells Like Teen Spirit, attired in an ordinary flannel shirt over an ordinary T-Shirt.
Grunge Fashion and its Influence on Modern Fashion
Effortlessly cool, this Grunge style of the 90s made a comeback, with plaid shirts and ripped jeans dominating the streets and runways alike. An overall edgy look, with baggy shapes, metallic jackets, and clashing designs. Embrace the imperfect was the perfect Grunge style of the ‘90s.
