It’s Sweater Weather
Image courtesy of Vogue
Written By: Regan Daley
How much would you pay for a slouchy, olive green button-down cardigan that is a blend of acrylic, mohair, and Lycra – and looks like something Dorothy from The Golden Girls would wear? Before you decide, you also need to know it is missing a button, has a burn hole, and is discolored near both of the front pockets.
Not a dime? $5? $10?
How about $334,000?
That was the amount of the check one bidder wrote for the olive green cardigan Kurt Cobain wore for Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged concert – making Cobain’s sweater the most expensive sweater ever sold at auction.
The lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Nirvana, Cobain skyrocketed to stardom in the 90s. In addition to unveiling his musical talent, Cobain also introduced his unique fashion sense, which gave return and rise to the fashion style known as grunge.
A key fashion element to grunge is the oversized sweater, which was also part of Cobain’s fashion sense. The grunge style came to life in the 1980s-1990s and consisted of clothing that looked, well...grungy. The grunge movement gained popularity when rock or pop icons and groups, like Nirvana, began wearing clothes that looked more like they were ready to be turned into rags rather than be those donned by megastars performing on Saturday Night Live. Garbed in sweaters and jeans that don’t resemble the common, clean-cut clothing you’d find at Madewell or J. Crew, “grungers” typically gravitated to over-sized clothing and rips. Much like other trends in the ‘90s, grunge is making a comeback, and this fall season, those ripped jeans are being paired with oversized sweaters that would make Cobain proud.
So, if you’re thinking the grunge look might be for you, you might need to add some fashion items to your tiny dorm-room closet or economy-sized dresser. Some tips:
Go BIG with oversized sweaters and t-shirts. A must-have for any respectable grunger. Two steps in the door to most KOP mall stores and you will bump into a table piled high with over-sized sweaters. Pick one (or two) up. You will also want to add some oversized t-shirts to your grunge shopping list. These are ideal for layering. Check out consignment shops (or the depths of your parents’ closet) and try to lay your mitts on an over-sized classic rock band t-shirt or any over-sized t-shirt.
Respect the plaid. For some us who spent their primary and high school years adorned in plaid, the idea of wearing plaid again may be a big, fat “no.” But, if you’re truly committed to grunge style, an unbuttoned plaid button-up – over-sized of course – layered on top of that classic rock t-shirt will surely help seal the deal on your grunge look.
Tear it up with ripped jeans. Again, swing by any mall store and you will most likely find more ripped jeans than those that come with all the fabric still intact. Nothing says, “I found these at a thrift shop and am ready to go listen to alternative rock” like a pair of low-rise or wide-legged ripped jeans.
Give the Sperry’s and Uggs a boot and go with high-top sneakers or Doc Martens. A classic grunge look includes a punky pair of Converse Chuck Taylors or a bold black pair of Doc Martens.
Overall, a solid thrift-shop-inspired look will start you on your way to embodying the grunge fashion trend, and doesn’t need to break the bank. You can put together a presentable grunge look without shelling out $334,000 – and you might get lucky and find some items that come with the burn holes and stains. Achieving your fashion “Nirvana” and going grunge is just an oversized sweater away.
Photo courtesy of: Vogue: Kurt Cobain turns 50: revisit his best grunge fashion moments