A Brief history of 90's Grunge Fashion

The grunge fashion of the 1990s is often remembered as a time when people dressed in flannel shirts, ripped jeans, and combat boots among many other elements. However, grunge fashion was more than just about style choices. It was also a statement against the flashy and materialistic culture of the 1980s. In this blog post, we'll take a look at the origins of grunge fashion and how it became one of the most popular styles of the 1990s. 

Grunge fashion originated in the American Pacific Northwest in the 1980s. It was born out of a DIY ethic, and a desire to dress down, rather than dress up. Grunge fashion was popularized by Seattle-based bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden, who were spearheading the grunge music movement. These bands rejected the mainstream hair metal bands of the day, which were known for their flashy clothes and stage shows. Instead, they dressed in thrifted clothes and played stripped-down music. This DIY aesthetic soon caught on with young people across America, who began dressing like their favorite grunge bands. 

By the early 1990s, grunge fashion had gone mainstream. Designers like Marc Jacobs and Calvin Klein began incorporating elements of grunge into their collections. celebrities like Winona Ryder and Kurt Cobain helped to make plaid flannel shirts, ripped jeans, and combat boots fashionable. Grunge fashion peaked in 1993, when Nirvana's album "In Utero" topped the Billboard charts and Kurt Cobain married Hole front-woman Courtney Love. However, by 1994, grunge fashion had already begun to decline in popularity. By the end of the decade, it would be replaced by new trends like hip hop fashion and post-punk revival fashion. 

Our Fall ’22 collection at MAG takes many influences from the 90’s grunge fashion style.  We wanted to combine  elements of this style with an athleisher-wear fit to achieve a comfortable yet edgy look. Exploring the collection you will find call backs to 90’s grunge with the use of elements such as plaid and dark tones. These outfits can be perfectly accessorized with a pair of combat boots and jean jacket, giving you a cool, nostalgic style while keeping you warm.