Over time, the grunge look has spawned numerous manifestations: soft grunge, glam grunge, glam goth grunge, lumberjack grunge, grunge fairycore, indie sleaze grunge, indie punk sleaze grunge, and more. Trendsetters like Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, and Gigi Hadid are frequent wearers of ’90s grunge. But more recently, post-millennials like Jenna Ortega, Willow Smith, and Lily-Rose Depp (like father, like daughter) have added their takes to the mix.
Gigi Hadid is seen walking in Soho on October 18, 2023 in New York City.Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images
Bella Hadid is seen in the East Village on October 18, 2022 in New York City.Gotham/GC Images
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: Lily-Rose Depp attends The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue )Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Olivia Rodrigo attends the premiere of “Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2 U (A Sour Film)” at Regency Village Theatre on March 24, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.Photo by Tommaso Boddi/FilmMagic
“Gen Z has this incredible knack for taking favorite elements of subcultures and aesthetics, then they fuse them together to create something entirely new that feels nostalgic for millennials,” says Sinclair. “It brings a new flavor to the parts of our past that we cherish as our wonder years.”
The current grunge aesthetic is also faintly fetishistic, romantic yet melancholic: mismatching flowy georgette dresses, billowing blouses, and maxi skirts with ruffled trims, hook-and-eye fastenings, and lingerie-inspired inserts. Distressed fabrics that resemble scorched surfaces, aggressive stitching, and seemingly thoughtless cutouts visually paint the youth’s sentiments of frustration and outrage towards lawmakers. “We’re seeing new iterations of horrendous dressing, but it feels much sexier,” adds Sinclair. “But it’s not about sex. It’s about having ownership of one’s body.”
We’re also leaning towards colors that reflect our bond with nature and our gratitude for the imperfect beauty that we all embody. Picture muddy watercolor pastels: misted mauve, faded fennel, sulking room pink, and “puddle.” A few brands that have mastered the apocalyptic teen angst trend include Blumarine, No/Faith Studios, and Red September.
A model walks the runway of the Blumarine Fashion Show during the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2023 on September 22, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Estrop/Getty Images)Estrop/Getty Images
A model walks the runway of the Blumarine Fashion Show during the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2023 on September 22, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Estrop/Getty Images)Estrop/Getty Images
A model walks the runway of the Blumarine Fashion Show during the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2023 on September 22, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Estrop/Getty Images)Estrop/Getty Images
Grunge is here to stay, at least for now: “We’re seeing a huge creative explosion coming from AI where we’re going to see grunge take on a more fantastical look that draws on otherworldly inspirations,” says Sinclair. “We’re starting to see this animalistic approach to it, and a return to witchy styling.”
As fashion trends ebb and flow, grunge remains timeless, organically adapting to the times while preserving its core essence–proving that, much like its wearers, it flourishes in the craft of reinvention.