Saturday, January 4, 2014

Modern Grunge






Reason beanie (found at Pacsun), APC jacket, H&M flannel (worn underneath), crop top, necklace, socks, and shoes, American Apparel pants, Gap Body back pack that is seriously ancient.

I've always secretly wanted to be a grunge girl, especially since the whole 90's look is coming back in style. With the influence of style now, however, it's a little different. I put a more or less modern spin on a 90's grunge look to make it more current.

The flannel under the jacket was a common 90's look, but the modern thing here is the color. Plaids in earth tones like maroon, navy blue, and olive green are the new kind of plaid. You still get the boyish, punk vibe of the flannel, but the colors make it look a little classier. I've never seen anyone look like they aren't put together in earth tones. Plus, in this case, the maroon compliments the greens on the jacket, making the clash of the two patterns strangely soothing.

The pants are the next modern component. Leather or plain black jeans have been a look for quite some time, but these are different. Not only are they high waisted with smaller, higher placed pockets, but they're shiny! That's why they call them the disco pant (ironically, I'm saying again that this is a modern twist). The shine is like leather, but a little more upbeat and interesting to look at. In a color like black, you don't see these as being like their 70's nickname but as something that wouldn't look out of style now. I find them to be much more fun than plain black high waisted jeans, which are hard to make any kind of statement with.

You could argue that the makeup is nothing new, but it is a look that is used commonly on runways now: the strong brow and lip, but no eye makeup. It can be just as much of a statement as a smoky eye, but I think we all know that if we aren't particularly skilled in the art of makeup, that they're a pain in the ass to perfect and the eyeshadow just ends up getting all over your face. All this look requires is a brow pencil or brush with eyeshadow and some lipstick. Straighten your hair like I did, and you'll look like Cara Delevingne. Who doesn't want to look like her?

The backpack is my FAVORITE because it's really supposed to be a running backpack. I never go running with this. I just liked the way the astronaut silver looked with the dark colors. I would also never wear astronaut silver otherwise. When you pair an obnoxiously terrible color with subtly pretty colors, it somehow makes the obnoxiously terrible color okay to wear.

Lastly, add some jewelry or accessories that will add to the classier aspect of the look. Gold or silver accents both work. I liked the gold necklace look with it, although my choice, I must admit, was leaning a little more towards ratchet...
I also am really digging the Bindhi look right now. For the future, so you don't feel like a complete idiot when someone asks why you're wearing it, it was traditionally worn to enhance concentration and revive energy, as well as to keep bad spirits away. You don't have to be Hindu to wear it, so don't feel bad. It mainly serves a decorative purpose now. 

Hope you all liked this! Now you can go out and be some little modern grunge baddies.