Guide to Street Style Trend: Grunge Meets Hip Hop

Grunge and hip hop might not be the two styles you would think were synonymous with each other – but that’s where you’re wrong. This unlikely duo has a lot more in common than you might think. From oversized jackets to wearing sneakers with literally everything, these two styles are the crossover you didn’t know you needed.

We’ve seen countless street-style royalty come through with this winning combo. But how do you define street style? Let’s go through a brief definition.

What is street style?

When it comes to street style, the clue is in the name. It’s the style we see in ordinary people walking the streets. We might think that all trends come from the runway, but that’s not strictly the case. A lot of designers get their inspiration from what’s happening around them, including looking at what normal people are wearing.

So, the trends we see on the runways were often seen on the streets first. There could be many reasons for this, but the main one is that a stylist isn’t dressing the vast majority of people on the street. Their outfits have a more organic feel, making them more stylish. Most people are working within some kind of budget, so they are more likely to come up with unique ways of styling.

The reinvention of grunge

Through a street style, we see the resurgence of trends, such as grunge. The grunge look has gone in and out of style since its fruition in the 90s. Think Kurt Cobain with his oversized cardigans and long hair.

We have recently seen a resurgence of grunge through Dr. Martens making a huge comeback as well as other accessories such as belly chains and giant hair scrunchies. Band tees are also seeing a revival – the more oversized and worn, the better.

There has also been an influx of oversized everything: blazers, sweaters, and jeans. We saw low-waisted, wide-leg jeans become a staple in the OG grunge faze. However, this time around, it’s been given a high-waisted upgrade. It’s out with the low-rise baggy jeans and in with the high-waisted wide leg or mom jeans.

If you’re going to do anything, make sure it’s distressed. This is great news for all those crafty people out there! Distressing your old jeans gives them a whole new look. And this goes for any denim item – give them the once over with a cheese grater or scissors to create the perfect distressed look.

Best celebrities’ grunge style

Look no further if you are looking for a celebrity with killer grunge style that you’d like to emulate.

• Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

The Olsen twins have lived and breathed grunge ever since their teen years. From all-black outfits to their kohl-rimmed eyes and messy enough to be cool hair, there are no better grunge icons than these two. Not only are their outfits a grunge dream, but they are always coordinated in one way or another. No one does grunge style like these two!

• Alexa Chung

Another woman at the forefront of the grunge revival is model Alexa Chung. Alexa has been a grunge queen for years because of her disheveled bob haircut and oversized everything. From over-the-knee socks to band tees and blazers, she’s got the grunge inspo you need.

• Rhianna

Is it possible to talk about fashion and not talk about Rhianna? She’s had many phases over the years but has recently found her own personal brand. Rhianna will never fit into any box, but her style has many grunge elements. Her hair is always the right amount of tousled, and she’s shown her love of all things oversized many times. The combination of oversized tailoring and lingerie is part of her personal branding, and she looks great every time.

Grunge isn’t going anywhere fast, so check out all our top grunge inspirations so you can jump on the trend too.