Get the Grunge Aesthetic Like Kylie Jenner, Willow Smith and More With These Tips and Outfit Ideas

While fashion trends churn faster and faster these days, certain styles like the grunge aesthetic will never really be considered “out.” They’ve transcended the trend cycle and have become timeless, regardless of how prevalent they were at first. 

Born out of a burgeoning music scene that changed the sonic landscape forever, grunge was more than just a sound. It was a reaction to the ever-changing political and social climate, and like similar movements, it also influenced the fashion world. The grunge aesthetic has become one of the most enduring. 

What is Grunge?

To get to the root of grunge style, you need to travel to the West Coast — specifically Seattle, the birthplace of the ‘90s grunge music scene. The aesthetic began in the late ‘80s but peaked in the early-to mid-’90s alongside bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, and its most famous faces are, of course, the late Kurt Cobain and his wife, Hole front woman Courtney Love. 

The look matched the revolutionary new sound emanating from the West Coast: too casual to be punk with its gelled mohawks and fishnets, and a huge departure from the hair metal era of makeup and skin tight leather pants. 

“Like so many of the fashion trends prior to the internet, the grunge aesthetic was influenced by the coolest looking musicians and creatives of the time who were influenced by the coolest musicians and creatives of the time before that,” explains Molli Slade, owner of Glam Diggers Vintage in St. Paul, Minnesota; Slade lived in Seattle from 1989 to 1991, just as the grunge movement began. “We got the vibe from MTV, magazines, cool record and clothing stores and live music and art shows.” The grunge look was also directly influenced by the weather in Seattle, where it’s often rainy and overcast — perfect for flannels and waffle weave long underwear shirts layered under a cardigan.

What Defines Grunge Style?

Grunge style can be defined in a few ways, but it’s about so much more than plaid and flannel. Cobain, of course, is the definitive grunge figurehead in his baggy jeans and grandpa cardigans and probably what you think about when you hear the words “grunge style.” However, there were facets to the trend informed by the changing attitudes of the early ‘90s.

“[At the time,] we rejected mall and ‘mainstream’ culture, and were influenced by the punk, glam, goth, metal and new wave folks before us,” explains Slade. Thrift store hauls were key to the grunge look, drawing from different eras to create something new, including lace-up granny boots, vintage slips and yes, lots of flannel. “There were still pearls to be found then. And since the Pacific Northwest has a big logging industry, the thrift stores had a lot of flannel and heavy duty workwear,” she says. 

The grunge scene incorporated elements of punk and mod fashion and the way you dressed could help you attract like-minded people in the pre-Internet world. “All of these looks and styles were badges of identity for your clan,” explains Slade. “It's how we were able to ‘find’ each other. If you saw someone wearing these items, you had an idea of their politics, their tastes in music, their outlook on life.”

Marc Jacobs brought the grunge aesthetic to the runway with his infamous 1992 collection for Perry Ellis, which actually led to him being fired from the label — it was that divisive. It felt shocking to the old guard and the actual grunge musicians thought it was a total sellout; Cobain and Love even burned some of it! (Jacobs did, however, win the 1992 CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year Award and later reissued some items from the collection as part of his own line.)  

Grunge Subcultures

Like any major decade-defining trend, there are facets to the grunge look and different ways to make the aesthetic work for your personal style and any occasion.

Fuzzy sweaters, ‘30s-style satin slip dresses in neutral or jewel tones, velvet, faded floral prints and babydoll dresses are a more romantic, traditionally feminine way to go grunge.

Oversized wool sweaters, combat boots or Doc Martens and long skirts unite grunge and the dark academia trend. 

Think work boots, L.L. Bean-esque flannels and worn-in oversized chore coats.

Chain belts, baggy jeans, plaid prints and oversized biker jackets blend punk and grunge; this is Kourtney Kardashian’s sweet spot. 

Lean in to your inner 2010s Lana Del Rey. Soft grunge is a mishmash of trends and eras, including the 2010s, the ‘90s and elements of emo style. Soft grunge feels very Tumblr, blending Vans with pastels and oversized flannel shirts with flower crowns.

How to Dress Grunge

Adding a grunge element to your look can be as simple as tossing on an oversized flannel or pairing a slip dress with a pair of beat-up Converse sneakers or combat boots. Ripped, light wash jeans, worn-in band tees and oversized leather jackets all have a grunge vibe, and accessories like beanies and fingerless gloves have a grunge vibe.

Nothing should be too fitted or too perfect; you want to resist looking “done” and instead like you just threw on the stuff you found on your floor. “It is important that what you choose is something that you can put on and forget,” advises Slade. “You want to wear it and not have it wear you. Part of the whole vibe was ‘Oh this? I just pulled it off the floor next to my futon on my way out the door, whoops, is that a coffee stain on it?’” 

When in doubt, think dark colors or neutrals; grunge is about gray thermal shirts and velvet maxi skirts with engineer or moto boots, not hot pink Barbiecore minidresses.

Another way to channel the grunge look without resorting to plaid and flannel is with a babydoll dress, ripped tights and boots, whether you prefer platforms, cowboy boots, granny boots or your trusty classic black Docs. Olivia Rodrigo would approve.

A grunge look isn’t complete without the makeup to match. Typically, ‘90s-era grunge beauty meant matte skin finished with powder and a dark wine lip color, like Clinique’s ever-popular viral favorite Black Honey Almost Lipstick or Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry. Don’t forget the matching nail polish! 

Easy ways to dress grunge:

• Tie a sweater around your waist.
• Swap your sneakers for broken-in engineer or motorcycle boots.
• Incorporate soft, cozy textures into your looks, like a velvet maxi skirt, a fuzzy mohair cardigan or a silk or satin slip dress. 
• Layers! Wear a baby tee or spaghetti strap dress over a thermal shirt or a cardigan over a T-shirt.
• Opt for loose-fitting jackets, sweaters or jeans, or play with proportions and balance a tighter fitting T-shirt with an oversized cardigan.
• Add accessories like beanies, fingerless gloves, velvet ribbon chokers and silver jewelry.

How to Style Grunge Outfits

Grunge never really goes away, and celebrities like Bella Hadid, Kylie Jenner and Miley Cyrus often channel the ‘90s aesthetic in their red carpet and street style fashion. Find styling inspiration in some of these grunge-lite looks.

Olivia’s shrunken knitted sweater with extra-long sleeves paired with a camo print skirt is a fresh way to make grunge feel modern.

Bella’s loose, low-rise plaid skirt, chain belt, white tank and black boots feels very Vivienne Westwood-does-grunge.

While Little J’s style was more punk and goth than full on grunge, Taylor Momsen as Jenny Humphrey did incorporate some grunge trends into her looks, like this slouchy gray mohair coat paired with an oversized gray sweater.

Soobin from TXT combined grunge and punk with this 2020 look of a safety-pinned black sweater and a half-kilt skirt over pants.

Rico Nasty’s hoodie and oversized biker jacket gave her crop top and shorts a grunge edge.

With its layered textures, and gray and plaid palette, this Vivienne Westwood look from the Fall/Winter 2023-2024 show is the fashion world’s take on grunge.

For a more traditionally feminine take on grunge, look to this outfit from the notorious Perry Ellis show: granny boots, mixed prints, lots of layering and the perfect choker necklace.

Saint Laurent and rock ‘n roll style go hand-in-hand, and this 2013 Fall/Winter look perfectly blends grunge’s undone silhouette with punk leather skinny pants.

For a more structured take on grunge and ‘90s trends, look to HoYeon Jung in an oversized blouse layered over a mesh shirt, trousers and boots.

Willow’s cutoff plaids feel very punk, but her fuzzy hat, white tank and beaded necklaces are all grunge glam.

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