Grunge Aesthetic: How Celebrities Wear the 90s Look Now
From Kate Moss and Courtney Love to Olivia Rodrigo, see how celebrities wear the grunge aesthetic, plus the key pieces for easy grunge outfits.
Ripped jeans, a flannel tied around your waist, scuffed boots and hair that looks like you just rolled out of bed. Grunge was never supposed to be a fashion trend. That's kind of the whole point, and it's exactly why it keeps coming back.
What Is the Grunge Aesthetic?
Grunge started in Seattle in the late 80s and early 90s, with bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam who dressed in whatever was cheap, warm and secondhand. Think thrifted flannels, oversized sweaters, band tees and worn-out denim. When Nirvana's Nevermind blew up in 1991, that look went mainstream almost overnight.
Fashion took notice fast. In 1992, a young Marc Jacobs sent a grunge-inspired collection down the runway for Perry Ellis, and it was so controversial at the time that it reportedly cost him his job. Today that same collection is considered iconic.
The grunge aesthetic is all about looking undone on purpose: layers, dark colors, texture and a slightly messy, couldn't-care-less attitude. Here's how celebrities made it famous and how they're still wearing it now.
The 90s Grunge Icons
Kate Moss
Kate Moss basically became the face of 90s grunge fashion. Slip dresses, worn-in leather jackets, skinny jeans and messy hair were her uniform, and she made them look completely effortless. She's still one of the original icons on our supermodels list, and her off-duty style still gets copied decades later.
Courtney Love
Courtney Love, frontwoman of the band Hole, gave grunge its girliest, messiest side. Baby-doll dresses, smudged red lipstick, ripped tights and bleached hair became her signature, a look that's been referenced on runways ever since.
Winona Ryder
Winona Ryder was the ultimate 90s cool girl, and her style in Reality Bites (1994) is still a grunge mood board staple. Oversized cardigans, band tees, combat boots and that slightly messy short hair made her look effortlessly unbothered.
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore brought a softer, flower-child twist to grunge in the 90s. Think floral slip dresses worn with chunky boots, tattoo chokers and oversized cardigans, a mix of sweet and tough that feels very current again.
Celebrities Keeping Grunge Alive Today
Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo's music has a lot of 90s angst in it, and her style matches. Plaid mini skirts, combat boots, chunky platforms, baby tees and dark lipstick have all become part of her look, especially on tour and on stage.
Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart has always had a bit of a grunge streak, even on the red carpet. She's famous for kicking off her heels at Cannes, pairing couture with sneakers, and wearing messy hair and smudged eyeliner like it's nothing. Off duty, it's leather jackets, ripped jeans and boots.
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish made oversized, baggy dressing a whole movement. Her early style mixed huge band tees, chunky sneakers and layered chains, a modern, softer spin on the slouchy, anti-fashion attitude grunge started.
Bella Hadid
Bella Hadid is one of the biggest fans of 90s vintage today. Her off-duty outfits often include leather jackets, low-rise baggy jeans, tiny tank tops and chunky boots, basically grunge filtered through a Y2K lens.
How to Get the Grunge Look
The good news? Grunge is probably the easiest aesthetic to pull off, because it's supposed to look a little imperfect. Start with a few key pieces:
- Flannel shirts: wear one open over a band tee, or tie it around your waist.
- Ripped or baggy jeans: straight-leg or loose fits, ideally a bit worn in.
- Band tees and baby tees: vintage or thrifted ones look the most authentic.
- Slip dresses: the Kate Moss way, layered over a T-shirt or under a cardigan.
- Oversized cardigans and knits: chunky, slouchy and a little lived-in.
- Combat boots or chunky boots: the backbone of almost every grunge outfit.
- Ripped tights and plaid skirts: for the Courtney Love and Olivia Rodrigo vibe.
- Leather jackets: instantly adds edge to anything.
For beauty, keep it messy on purpose: smudged eyeliner, a dark berry or brown lip, and hair that's tousled rather than polished.
Easy Grunge Outfit Ideas
- Slip dress, oversized cardigan and combat boots.
- Band tee, flannel shirt, ripped jeans and chunky boots.
- Plaid mini skirt, ripped tights, baby tee and platforms.
- Baggy jeans, tank top and a worn leather jacket.
- Floral dress, knit cardigan and a choker, the Drew Barrymore way.
The trick is to mix one or two grunge pieces with what you already own. You don't need to wear everything at once to get the vibe.
Final Thoughts
From Kate Moss's slip dresses to Olivia Rodrigo's plaid skirts and combat boots, the grunge aesthetic has outlived pretty much every trend that tried to replace it. It works because it was never about being perfect. It's about looking like yourself, just a little messier.
Want more throwback inspiration? Our look back at 90s fashion trends covers everything from slip dresses and chokers to the minimalism that ran alongside grunge.
