Doing the 90s Right

This fabulous 90s revival is the word of the web and the current object of our affection. The whole point of this entry is to introduce you to these classic grunge staples for you to make them your own. To start off, here's a rule of thumb: be you, always. How you wear and style these classics should be to your own liking and comfort. So on that note, here are our nine steps to reviving the 1990s the right way, sans "soft grunge".

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1. Band t-shirts are a loaded component. Think outside of the box because Sublime and Nirvana have been done to death. Personal favorites from the era include: Built To Spill, Slowdive, Pavement, Dinosaur Jr., Cocteau Twins and Sonic Youth, to name a few. For my rap fiends: Lord Finesse, A Tribe Called Quest, N.W.A., etc. Don't take this lightly, this entire "movement" is built off the foundation of these artists. Check out 90s music before you decide to snag a t-shirt or continue on with this list.

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2. Flannel needs to be on your body. Not only will you be nice and toasty in it but it's so versatile. First, there are so many color combinations. There's the classic red flannel and the blue/green flannel. But the best flannels are the odd colors,  I'm talking brown/orange, purple/white and green/yellow. Pick whichever color combination speaks to your grungy heart because you'll have it on you 24/7. Wrapped around your waist, carried in you hand, or actually on your body, you will be one with your flannel.

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3. Jackets are most valuable to this trend when they are found in your dad's closet, or the family Goodwill bag downstairs that has been collecting dust over the years. Popular materials include but are not limited to denim, leather, and maybe even suede. They are to be paired with your flannel, your loose white tank top or your band t-shirt. They should be big, boxy and broken-in.

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4. Black tights are necessary if you want to pack some extra grunge punch. The tights shouldn't be too sheer but also not made of wool, they should be right in the middle. If your tights are ripped up and have holes in them they are still wearable, please don't throw them away. Extra grunge points if you layer black knee socks over them.

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5. High waisted bottoms, both flattering and easy to find, are the perfect time machine back to our beloved decade. If you're looking for shorts, cruise over to Goodwill's men's pants section, find a waist that fits, hike them up and cut them. For fall and winter, don't be afraid of thick men's jeans (also known as dad jeans). If you're looking for a decent fit, Urban Outfitters and American Apparel are options.

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6. Boots need to be the "shit kicker" chunky type. They will keep your feet warm while you're reviving the 90s but also make you look infinitely cool. When in doubt go black, the black boot will go with everything. But don't limit yourself because dark green, burgundy, or floral boots will give you grunge credibility.

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7. Hair in the 90s varied from the Rachel to Winona and there is certainly nothing wrong with the long, greasy blonde locks of Courtney Love and Kim Gordon.  However you want to execute it, doesn't matter. Just avoid shampoo and attempt a middle part. The messier the better and the long-instilled girl rules of roots and dead ends do not apply to the 90s. Let your hairstylist bitch at you. They just don't understand (angst is a subtle yet important aspect of this look).

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8. Dark lips will complete and tie together your grungy look. Most importantly dark lips are not just restricted to red. Do everyone a favor and rock some burgundy or plum lips, but not black. Unless you plan on attending a Lamb of God show please step away from the black lipstick. Matte lips or shiny lips, it doesn't matter just wear what you like. Make it dark and make it daily.

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9. Black eyeliner is essential to the grunge look. Pile it on. Layer it. You can even give it wings. Whatever you do just make sure that there is a lot. If your eyeliner falls through out the day, even better! Just make sure that you're not using your eyeliner as eye shadow. You're not channeling your inner scene girl; you're channeling you're inner grunge girl.





This is only the beginning of your journey. Don't forget your muted floral, your velvet, your scrunchies, your overalls, your backward hats. We're starting simply; grungy baby steps. Do not mimic the 1990s, allow it inspire you. For further effect, study the behaviors and values of our darling idols in Crippled Rejex:

Just a reminder: we're reviving and glorifying the 90s, not reliving it.

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By: Marley Scott and Sarah Weingarten