Grunge and Glory

Some of us who witnessed the glorious '90s may have seen firsthand the way artists inspired fashion most tremendously. Black was the color du jour; every artist, musician, rockstar was rocking black leather jackets that can safely be regarded as the closet staple! It became the epitome of cool for the masses. George Michael was the poster boy of the era with the swingy tassels of his leather biker jacket, finger gloves and gold jewelry that gleamed like the sun!

Oversized flannel shirts and blazers coexisted with 'barely there' crop tops as a cheeky nod to the decade's minimalist sensibilities. The Supers, aka the supermodels such as Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and others rocked black turtlenecks, faded boyfriend jeans and slicked back hair, embodying the height of chic.

Gianni Versace, on the other hand, reveled in the opulence of his Italian heritage, sending models on the runway in black leather bursting with the iconic gold Medusa motifs and oversized gold buttons that commanded attention everywhere! It was grunge at its most glamorous, most celebrated.

This juxtaposed, coexisting trend was so phenomenal that designers today are drawing inspiration from this era heavily and we all are here for it!

In 2020 how does one incorporate the styles of years past in a very modern wardrobe? The solution lies within the question itself — by adding elements of this trend!

A leather jacket made from eco-friendly material that will stay in your wardrobe for years is the beginning. You can dress it up with a white crop top, leather leggings, some gold hoops and voila! It can also be thrown on top of a baby doll dress and sneakers for a low-key look.

A black slip dress with a flannel shirt tied around the waist worn with some silver bangles and ankle boots is casual grunge at its best. An oversized black blazer with flashy gold buttons worn with gold hoops and black stockings is luxe grunge done right a la Angelina Jolie. These are in one's wardrobe already that just needs clever styling. Keep makeup minimal with matte skin, muted, nude lips and hair tousled or slick and straight.

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed

Model: Manoshi

Makeup: Noyon Ahmad

Styling: Sonia Yeasmin Isha