Resurrected by the emergence of 80s and 90s fashion styles on social media, the grunge aesthetic is back in 2023.
At its peak popularity in the 1990s, grunge aesthetics was the heart of the counterculture movement against mainstream fashion.
In those days, the grunge aesthetic was comprised of baggy jeans, thrifty shirts, chunky boots, plaid skirts, and flannels in dark colors and with chain details.
Over time and under the influence of several subcultures, the grunge aesthetic embraced touches of punk, emo, and, more recently, fairy vibes.
From fairy grunge to dark grunge, in this article, I’ll introduce you to the most popular 30 grunge aesthetic outfits you can wear right now.
Time to explore the most popular grunge aesthetic outfit ideas you can put together in 2023.
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Classic 90s Grunge Aesthetic
Oversized Fennel Shirts & Ripped Jeans (With Combat Boots or Converse)
The classic grunge style remains the ultimate look in the overall stylistic genre, be it in a soft or dark grunge aesthetic.
Worn by musicians such as Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl, the classic grunge outfit of the 90s fashion opened the door to future messy chic styles.
When styling classic 90s grunge outfits, opt for oversized dark shirts, grunge-style plaid skirts or ripped jeans, grunge accessories, and army boots.
Moreover, considering that grunge is a word that translates as ‘dirty,’ the more used and faded the clothes, the better.
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Dark Grunge Aesthetic
Tight Black Crop Top, Dark Flannel Shirts, Dark Pants (With Leather Platform Shoes, Double Grommet Belt & Chain Chokers)
With sweet influences of nothing aesthetic, the dark grunge aesthetic is far more sensual and feminine than the new variations of purple and pink grunge aesthetics.
Part of dark aesthetics such as Dark Academia, both dark and black grunge aesthetics look fantastic with black lace detail tops, velvet touches, and extra bows.
While you can choose from several variations and twists of the dark grunge aesthetic, the most popular style is all-black, worn-out clothes.
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Soft Grunge Aesthetic
Pastel Check Mini Skirts, Crop Tops, & Oversized Denim Jacket (With Mary Jane Style Shoes)
Worn by Millenials and Gen Z alike, soft girl grunge is one of the most popular grunge aesthetics right now.
The soft grunge aesthetic has taken over OOTDs on TikTok and Instagram.
Most popular soft grunge aesthetics are built from women’s casual clothing in pastel colors mixed with feminine pieces in traditional details.
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Fairy Grunge Aesthetic
Long Skirts, Corset Tops, & Gloves (With Small Natural Details in the Accessories)
What I love about the fairy grunge aesthetic is the romance and fantasy twist added to the classic style.
Similar to fairy-core or goblin-core, fairy grunge aesthetic centers around the beauty of the wild, with a blend of comfortable vintage and earthen twist to what you wear.
The overall aesthetic is dark at the core, and the unique corseting and antique-style jewelry highlight the fairy look.
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Grunge Anime Aesthetic
Anime Tees, Checkered Shirts (With Choker & Round Glasses)
Brought to light by the emergence of the 90s anime genre, the anime grunge aesthetic is a more recent and unique variation of the classic grunge cut.
The style is an excellent way to showcase your favorite anime without saying a word.
Many anime lovers wearing grunge aesthetics have quotes from favorite shows hidden in jewelry and grunge accessories.
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Cute Grunge Aesthetic
Plaid Skirt, Sheer Sweaters, Stockings (With Leather Boots)
With an overall preppier take, cute grunge aesthetic clothes combine the classics of plaid with the WASP-y look of crew necks and straight-leg pants.
While Kurt Cobain might be rolling over in his grave at the idea of calling this aesthetic grunge, the cute grunge clothes remind us of the generation raised on Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars.
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Grunge Pink Aesthetic
Pink Plaid Pants or Pink Leather Skirt, Grunge Tops (With Leather Boots)
Pink and black will always be among the best color combinations for sexy grunge aesthetics and styles.
While grunge outfits often veer toward dark neutrals, the pink grunge aesthetic brings freshness with bright pops of pink.
The pink grunge aesthetic stands out thanks to the unexpected softness and cuteness.
Moreover, given that Barbiecore is a trend taking over the internet and the hearts of IRL fashion lovers right now, diving into pink grunge clothes is a good bet on your fashion sense.
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Grunge Purple Aesthetic
Purple Pants, Jacket, or Accessories (With Your Favourite Grunge Outfit!)
Hailed as a color of luxury and royalty in the past – because the dye was hard to obtain – purple is slowly making its way into grunge aesthetic styles.
Moreover, the purple grunge aesthetic goes beyond clothes and translates into dyed purple hair, patterns, details, and accessories.
The purple grunge aesthetic is the best way to add color to your personality for an extra ‘wowing’ effect.
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Grunge Green Aesthetic
Green Details Combined With Dark Grunge Aesthetic (& Chunky Chains)
Earthy, humble, and very underrated, the green grunge aesthetic is highly suitable for a perfect mix of ‘70s fashion silhouettes and modern fabrics.
Add a dash of gold jewelry to your green grunge clothes, and you’ve got a killer outfit.
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Grunge Black Aesthetic
Knee Ripped Jeans or Black Plaid Skirt, Black Top, Black Denim Jacket (With Leather Platform Boots)
Similar to the classic ’90s grunge aesthetic, the black grunge look focuses on dark colors, oversized tops, army boots, and subtle layers of gothic-style jewelry.
Going hand-in-hand with any grunge aesthetic clothes, this look is a great jumping-off point for those new to the grunge style.
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Grunge Blue Aesthetic
Ripped Blue Jeans or Blue Plaid Mini Skirt Combined With Other Grunge Aesthetic Outfits (& Blue Hair)
Blue hair has been a part of grunge culture and style since the late ’90s and early 2000s fashion.
In recent years, the color has seeped into grunge clothing, aesthetics, and styles.
The quickest way to add a bit of blue grunge-ness to your style is via blue hair dye or blue accessories to the overall look.
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Grunge White Aesthetic
Mini White Skirts or Straight Leg Jeans, Grunge Tops & Accessories (With Black Leather Belts & Boots)
On the opposite stylistic spectrum of the dark and black grunge aesthetics, white grunge clothes are trendy now.
White is a clean and neutral color that can be blended into any grunge and look quite well.
However, you want to make sure you don’t go all white and that the clothes you’re going to wear are a bit worn out.
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Red Grunge Aesthetic
Red Plaid Skirt or Red Jeans, Black Grunge Top With Red Details (Black Accessories & Leather Boots)
When it comes to grunge aesthetics, red and black are colors cut from the same cloth.
Pair them together; the result is a fiery, red grunge aesthetic style you can’t ignore.
Since red symbolizes passion, adding this color to your grunge outfits will draw attention and create memorable moments.
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Grunge Yellow Aesthetic
Yellow Oversized Flannels, Yellow Plaid Mini Skirt, Black Grunge Tees (With Converse or Doc Martens Boots)
If you worry about looking like a bumble bee, I do not recommend adding black to your grunge outfit when creating a yellow grunge aesthetic.
Unless, of course, that’s the aim, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
To pull the yellow grunge look, start with some older yellow clothes, and pair them with similar color accessories and shoes, verging towards an indie/grunge appearance.
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Grunge Neon Aesthetic
Neon Pants, Shirts, or Other Eye-catching Accessories With Dark Garments Mixed-in
In recent years, I’ve seen lots of unique grunge styles emerging.
Neon grunge aesthetic is one of them, a look that pairs well with skeletons patterns since many companies create neon skeletons.
Unlike rave outfits, the grunge neon aesthetic unique look is built on brighter clothes with dark basics to confer a stylish pop-rock grunge overall vibe.
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Grey Grunge Aesthetic
Grey Straight Leg Fitted Jeans or a Grey Oversized Shacket (With Grunge Tees & Boots)
A layer up (chromatically) from black and dark grunge aesthetics, grey grunge is seen as a terrific aesthetic suitable for those into minimalist-style clothes.
Clean and simplistic, recreating the grey grunge aesthetic is easy, requiring contrasting jewelry and mix-matching clothes in grey shades.
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80s Grunge Aesthetic
More Tailored Jeans, Flannel Shirts Over Cropped Tops, & Dark Green or Red Details (With Leather Boots or Converse Shoes)
While grunge became a cultural phenomenon in the ’90s, the 80s fashion had its fair share of grunge looks.
A bit more tailored than the following oversized grunge, the ’80s grunge aesthetic is also a great entry point for those new to the style.
To dress like an ’80s grunge, blend in the eclectic glamour of the decade with grunge shirts in dark colors and used fabrics.
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Y2K Grunge Aesthetic
Low-rise Jeans or Baddie Pants With Pastel Shirts, Grunge Hoodies, or Corsets (With Mini Purses, Double Grommet Belt & Oversized Shoes)
Y2K aesthetic has been taking over the runways for the last two seasons, driving a surge in popularity for the Y2K grunge aesthetic.
To create a compelling Y2K grunge aesthetic outfit, mix in used clothes in bright pastels with glittering details and trademark accessories of the Y2K decade.
Often sported by Lana Del Rey, Miley Cyrus, and Billie Eilish, the Y2K grunge trend draws inspiration from the music scene of the 2000s.
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Post-Grunge Aesthetic
Loose Skirts, Band Shirts or Graphic Tees, & Leather Details (With Converse Shoes)
The post-grunge aesthetic has a similar vibe to the ’80s grunge but with more tailored pieces and neutral tones.
Compared to the darker grunge aesthetics described above, the post-grunge aesthetic has a softer edge and a more manageable touch.
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Grunge Rock Aesthetic
Thigh-highs, Leather Platform Boots, & Mini Skirts (or Shorts), With Cropped Top Over Long Sleeves
Considering that punk and rock are the most popular musical genres of this aesthetic, grunge rock styles come as no surprise.
The aesthetic is similar to the 90s classic grunge look but with a deeper touch of the trash rock style.
That is, ripped jeans, rock band shirts, army-style boots, and accessories, all well-used and fading out.
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Pastel Grunge Aesthetic
Pastel Skirt or Top With Black Grunge Outfit & Leather Boots (With Pastel Accessories)
If darker colors aren’t your thing, but a grunge aesthetic is something you want to try, leaning towards pastel looks is the way forward.
Playing with the same basics that make up the root of the grunge aesthetic, just in pastel shades, can be a bit more flirty and fun.
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Indie Grunge Aesthetic
Grunge Plaid Pants and Denim Jacket in Indie Colors & Details
The perfect option for spring and summer, the Indie grunge aesthetic is ideal for creating fashion looks that will get you lots of compliments.
With roots in the androgynous grunge style, the Indie Grune aesthetic mixes vintage details with floral patterns of indie aesthetic and accessories with intricate details.
23/30
Grunge Goth Aesthetic
Mini Skirts, Short Denim, or Mid-length Shirts, Tights & Boots (With Dark Makeup & Goth Silver Jewellery)
While the classic goth looks are inspired by the Victorian dressing style with laces, velvet, and corsets, the grunge goth aesthetic is a bit more random.
As such, the grunge goth aesthetic showcases a blend of tailored clothes, tights with dresses, skirts, and lots of rock band accessories.
24/30
Grunge Punk Aesthetic
Layered Jewellery, Shorts With Tights, Fitted Shirts, & Oversize Jackets (With Punk Makeup & Hairstyle)
Similar to the grunge-rock aesthetic, the grunge-punk style showcases many chains, jewelry, and plaid details.
Aiming for an eye-catching aesthetic, don’t be afraid of brighter colors when putting together your grunge punk look.
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Grunge Skater Aesthetic
Brand Shirts, Loose Jeans With a Wide Belt, & Flannels (With Converse or Vans)
With oversized and intentionally unfitted clothing, the skater grunge aesthetic is a dapper style to wear in 2023.
The aim is to create stylistic chaos while retaining an overall sense of cohesion.
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Grunge Emo Aesthetic
Loose Pants & Shirts, Large Belts, Chunky Shoes, or Simple Trainers (With a Beanie)
The grunge-emo aesthetic is a sprout of the grunge goth style, where the style retains its dark roots but mixes in bits of bright colors such as pink, blue, and purple.
Silver hearts, locks, and traditional grunge accessories in silver are an ideal match for the grunge emo aesthetic.
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Vintage Grunge Aesthetic
Different Fabrics, Eccentric Fabric Patterns, and Large Amounts of Jewelry
The vintage clothing grunge aesthetic is a modern reinterpretation of the ‘60s fashion styles.
Marked by eclectics and plenty of details, the grunge part of this look comes into play thanks to the messiness and looseness of the overall style.
Wearing 60’s style garments is OK, as long as they are well-worn and a bit distressed.
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Grunge Skeleton Aesthetic
Bold Grunge Skeleton Tees Under Grunge Flannels or Jackets with Ripped Jeans (& Leather Boots)
If goth styles are linked to vampires, grunge outfits will forever be tied with skeletons.
Putting the look together is easy; mix classic grunge aesthetic clothes with oversized skeleton shirts or accessories.
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Grunge Heart Aesthetic
Traditional Grunge Outfits With Heart Details on the Clothes and Accessories
Filled with small heart details, this isn’t your traditional Valentine’s day look.
More suitable for a broken heart club, the grunge heart aesthetic will mentally and stylistically prepare you.
With hearts broken or malformed, the grunge heart aesthetic is the aesthetic of choice for dramatic lovers.
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Grunge Halloween Aesthetic
Peter Pan Collars, Rosaries, Tights, Combat Boots, and Dark Midi Dress or Wash Jeans
If Halloween is your favorite holiday, you might as well take it with you year around.
Creating an almost witchy take on grunge, this off-shoot of the grunge aesthetic is ideal for adding spookiness to your day.
And if you don’t know where to start, channel your inner Wednesday Adams.
Grunge Aesthetic FAQs
What is Grunge Aesthetics?
The grunge aesthetic is characterized by an intentional ‘untidy’ style that mirrors the looks of famous rock and punk musicians from the 80s and the 90s, like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden.
What Defines Grunge Style?
The grunge style is defined by worn-out, dark, brown, or grey flannel shirts, ripped jeans, and thrift clothing is worn in a loose, androgynous manner that de-emphasizes one’s silhouette.
What is a Soft Grunge Aesthetic?
The soft grunge aesthetic is a variation of the classic grunge style that embraces pastel colors, such as lighter pinks and blues. Soft grunge outfits include studs and spikes, Vans skate shoes, platform shoes, floral dresses, flower crowns, and pleated skirts.
What is Grunge Fairycore?
Fairycore, also called Faecore, Fairywave, or Fairy Grunge, is a contemporary variation of the grunge aesthetic that mixes the aesthetics of Fairycore and Grunge styles, defined by explorations of natural themes, butterflies, soft fluffy animals, flowers, and a bit of magic.
Conclusion
In a world where mainstream fashion is limiting and uninspiring, wearing a style based on the grunge aesthetic is a unique and exciting alternative.
Not only does grunge style offer a refreshing departure from the norm, but it also allows you to express yourself authentically and without reservation.
Through grunge aesthetic outfits, you’re making powerful statements showcasing your love for creativity, individuality, and a passion for the unconventional.
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Now it’s your turn…
Which one of these grunge aesthetic outfits is your favorite and why?
Which grunge aesthetic ideas do you think we’ve missed and should include in our next article update?
Please leave your comments below; we always appreciate them and use them to learn, improve, and update these articles.
A University of Oxford graduate in Design History, Katherine Saxon is researching arising TikTok cultures from a consumer psychology perspective while covering emerging aesthetics in fashion and beauty for TheVOU, Forbes, Business Insider, and more.
