The era of the ‘90s brought us a new kind of rock music from bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana and the rise of the corresponding fashion trend heavily defined by its comfortability. Plaid, flannel, rocker t-shirts and distressed denim were must-have closet staples and men fled toward the curtained haircut. Grunge celebrity couple, Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, were favored by the masses, who emulated them at every turn.
Since then, aspects of grunge fashion have resurfaced in the fashion world. This year, local designer Tyne Hall debuted her Denver Fashion Week (DFW) Fall 2018 collection in celebration of the genre, proving that Denver grunge has a softer side. In addition, Marc Jacobs recently recut the designs from his Spring 1993 Perry Ellis show — a career-defining collection that celebrated the grunge scene and made him a star. Together, designers such as these are paving ways to keep grunge alive in the fashion world and reinvent some of pop culture’s most impactful trends.
The Lowdown: Hall’s feminine grunge collection displayed at DFW ’18 amazed audiences of many. There, she exhibited how stylish, cool and modern grunge can be and how it continues to be relevant in fashion. Utilized in Hall’s designs were pops of plaids, hunter greens, blacks, plastic flowers — perfectly conjuring up images of Drew Barrymore’s ’90s flowery style — leather, pops of metal studs and paper clips woven throughout the designs. In addition to the intricate details in Hall’s work, she also softened the grunge aesthetic with feminine cuts, waist-hugging silhouettes, sweetheart necklines and spaghetti straps. For her, this collection was a celebration for not only grunge but a musician special to millions.
“This collection began as a tribute to Chris Cornell,” Hall said. “He had this amazing voice that evoked so much emotion and he was truly one of my favorite singers. As we approached the one year anniversary of his death, I really felt that the best way for me to process it was through creating a collection as a nod to this musician and music that I loved so much. Grunge was this rebellion against excess and the status quo so I wanted to design a collection that celebrated the attitude of the music that Chris and others created.”
To style this timeless, yet updated softer side of grunge Denver is flocking to, combine grunge staples like form-fitting flannel and leather with feminine silhouettes, bright color, floral designs and contemporary accessories. Focus on structured dresses, tight-fitting pants, glam accessories and high heels for a modernized feminine styling approach instead of concentrating on the slouchy aspect of grunge to completely revolutionize the look. Hall did this seamlessly as she turned billowing flannels into beautiful dresses, unshapely leather into gorgeous jumpsuits and dresses and basic paperclips into exquisite accessories. Take the look a step further with a leather jacket and metal detailed handbag. Another option is to pair distressed denim or leather pants with a dainty button-up blouse with feminine details — such as ruffles, pearls or a high neckline. This idea of a softer side of grunge is all about the incorporation of feminine and grunge styling together as one.
In addition to grunge fashion, grunge beauty continued to dominate fashion runways of late. Black lipstick and heavy black eyeliner popped up in numerous editorial campaigns and collections. For this shoot, the 303 team completed each look with deep black smokey eyes and the perfect pop — a ‘90s inspired brown lip. To achieve the complete look, we strategically placed metal studs in the hair and opted for a sleek low ponytail. For a more feminine approach, a candy apple red lip pairs perfectly with any grunge outfit as it exhibits major juxtaposition and attitude.
Photography by Rebecca Grant.
Model Kayla Raine Armstrong.
Model provided by Goldie Mae Productions.
Hair by Vanessa Whitmarsh.
Makeup by Lark Mervine.
Clothing provided by Tyne Hall, Zara and John Fluevog.
Jewelry provided by Balefire Goods.
Styled by Cheyenne Dickerson.
Love, love, love! Keep up the good work Cheyenne!
Thank you so much, Sherry! Glad you enjoyed reading it!