student fashion blog

Regardless of it being February, remember dear children that the world of fashion is always about four steps ahead of the game when it comes to styles and trends. This means that SS12 pastel colours and summer patterns are simply everywhere.  Turquoise, mint green, lilacs and light pinks are all new additions to designers and shops new collections of clothing. Therefore it seems only au naturale that we are counting down the miserable days till we too can wear that mint cream tea dress, slip on some rose ballet pumps and derive pleasure in the affectionate (and sometimes unpredictable.. .) sunshine, wearing  of course, our  top of the range sunglasses.

Pastel colours always heavily influence summer trends. This is a given. It may be because they are perhaps the epitome of a little summer feminine relationship one has with ones wardrobe.  The colours just ooze that girly “Polly-Anna having a luncheon” territory so to speak. However if you like my old cynical self think pastel colours are not for you,  you want to perhaps transgress the system and stick to your darling dark androgynous roots and be more “Premadonna” than “Polly Anna” you’ll be happy to hear that 90’s grunge is officially slicking back its backcombed hair and making a steadfast comeback.

Being a little ragamuffin myself I am a massive fan of this trend.  I mean what lazy girl wouldn’t love a trend that meant bed head hair, your array of 483776 pairs of jeans and your patched up and scruffy denim jacket was actually deemed stylish?! Imagine all the time you would save in the morning, devouring your wardrobe angrily, throwing useless items on the floor and proclaiming to the high heavens that you have absolutely nothing to wear. Oh alas then what I wouldn’t give to be a teenager in the 90’s. Instead of growing up and listening to The Spice Girls, Steps and Bewitched like a Barbie girl on steroids, in hindsight I would have rather been listening to Nirvana, attending Woodstock and working cargo, denim and Dr Martens like no other girl has worked it before.

However renowned fashion designers on the catwalk are being…dare I say it… somewhat neglectful of grunge, concentrating themselves more on the pretty polly pastel scene I’m afraid. “Pale being interesting” and “Going crazy for paisely” and “Darling Buds” is all very well and good if we all lived on The Little House on the Prairie.  Nonetheless androgynous birds of the night sky, never fear. For if the designers fail in your grunge expectations it is comfort to know that your fashion allegiances can always lie with Topshop and Urban Outfitters.  These two shops effortlessly cater for the grunge look all year round and their particular new selection of items certainly does not disappoint.  And the blessed beauty about working grunge is that usually the cheaper the item, the usually the more authentic the appeal it has. So with the addition of  charity shops, vintage shops and of course the high street all vouching to be your own fashionable little Kurt Cobain so to speak…it begs the question…which shop is going to make you “Smell Like Teen Spirit” the most?

So I present to you fair reader.. a grunge selection of delightful and must have rock-a-delic treats from the two messiah websites of grunge. This can be a casual advert for the everyday or an outfit to play ‘safe’ in before you explore more ‘experimental’ regions shall we say….

Moto Sleeveless Denim Jacket, £38, available at www.topshop.com

Acid Denim Jumper, £5, available at www.topshop.com

Vintage Renewal Levi's, £45, available at www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

Dr. Martens Black 1460 Vintage 8 Eyelet Boots, £95, available at www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

Black Skinny Stud Belt, £22, available at www.topshop.com

Sliver Cross Earrings, £10, available at www.topshop.com

Flat Top Plastic Sunglasses, £16, available at www.topshop.com

Written by Gemma E Jones

LJMU English Student, Opinions Editor of The Looprevil Press and Assistant Editor of the American Studies Today. 

Twitter: GemmaSatire | Blog: GemmaSatire