The 16 '90s Grunge Fashion Trends That Deserve To Make A Comeback

What's The Vibe: Flannel shirts aren't only for lumberjacks, as they complete every grunge look. Often thrown over a T-shirt but left unbuttoned, the flannel adds a distinct character to the wearer's appearance. In addition, they're ideal for all weather conditions. Too hot? Roll up the sleeves. Too cold? Roll down the sleeves.

Celebrities Who Rocked It: If a grunge band's members didn't wear flannel shirts, were they even grunge? Everyone from Nirvana's Kurt Cobain to Scott Weiland of the Stone Temple Pilots wore flannel back in the day. In terms of modern celebrities, the likes of Ryan Reynolds, Charlie Hunnam, and Megan Fox have all been seen rocking flannel shirts on a day/night out. Even a new-ish punk band like Neck Deep loves the look.

Is This Trending? Much like an Alice in Chains playlist, flannel never goes out of fashion. It continues to find an audience because it's easy on the eyes and not too outlandish. There's simply nothing gauche about those lumberjack patterns. 

What's The Vibe: In rock and heavy metal, a leather jacket isn't optional - it's the entry ticket to headbanging. Expectedly, nothing changed in the grunge era, as rockers continued to show off this type of jacket. Many feel like it's the ultimate symbol of rebellion.

Celebrities Who Rocked It: From Dave Grohl to Chris Cornell, many '90s rockers had leather jackets stashed away in their wardrobes for special occasions. Fast-forward the decades and there are still numerous bands, including My Chemical Romance, Black Veil Brides, and Avenged Sevenfold, whose members swear by black and leather.

Is This Trending? Leather jackets continue to be timeless fashion pieces. The cuts and styles evolve from era to era, but the look fits into any period. Paired with jeans, it's nearly impossible to go wrong with a leather jacket.

What's The Vibe: Nothing screams metal, rock, or grunge more than album covers or band pictures as large graphics on T-shirts. Fans wear these as symbols of loyalty, showing to the world the artists they support. Effectively, they're equivalent to wearing posters as fashion items.

Celebrities Who Rocked It: It wasn't unusual in the '90s (or now) to see band members wearing shirts of other bands they like. (Remember, it's a major fashion faux pas to wear your own band shirt on stage - only pro wrestlers are allowed to do that.) Celebrities like Justin Bieber have also worn and released their own line of graphic tees, featuring bands and other musicians as the focal points of these designs.

Is This Trending? Whether it's music, movies, comics, or anything else in pop culture, graphic tees have never gone out of style. People continue to buy these items to show their loyalty to brands and artists, as well as a way to showcase their interests to the world.

What's The Vibe: To stomp around in rock clubs and mosh pits, feet require proper attire - in this case, a tough and durable pair of combat boots. Most grunge rockers gravitate toward the classic black Dr. Martens (AKA Doc Martens), considered a must-have footwear brand of the decade.

Celebrities Who Rocked It: Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder could have been the poster child for Doc Martens in the early '90s. Nowadays, musician Halsey incorporated the look into their grungy punk aesthetic. Other celebrities who have kicked about in combat boots from time to time include Kylie Jenner, Halle Berry, and Willow Smith. 

Is This Trending? The trend fleets in and out of popularity. However, combat boots always make seasonal comebacks, especially in the colder months. Not only do they complement a variety of outfits; they also keep the tootsies warm.

What's The Vibe: As a musical genre, grunge loves to utilize multiple influences to create an original sound. The same holds true as a fashion trend, as grunge is all about combining different items for unique looks. It could be anything from putting a T-shirt over a long-sleeve shirt to an oversized flannel shirt on a crop top.

Celebrities Who Rocked It: The late Kurt Cobain shows off the art of layering in Nirvana's music video for "Smells Like Teen Spirit" with a T-shirt over a long-sleeve shirt. In terms of modern celebrities, the Kardashians have shown off layered looks on occasion, as they have been known to wear flannel over other items.

Is This Trending? There's always an element of layering and pairing of items present in fashion. However, the grunge-esque influences seem to have died down in recent years. Much like Superman has started to wear his red underwear under his blue pants, most people are wearing T-shirts under long sleeves nowadays.

What's The Vibe: Choker necklaces come in all forms and shapes. While predominantly associated with the punk and grunge era of the ‘90s, they were also popular in the Victorian era, when women wore them to complete their appearance. Chokers aren’t exclusive to women, however, as many male artists have also used them to challenge and defy gender norms.

Celebrities Who Rocked it: As one of the queens of grunge, Courtney Love has been known to rock a choker both in the past and current day. Similarly, Taylor Momsen has also turned to the trend for her stage shows and music videos with her band, The Pretty Reckless. Other notable choker-wearing celebrities include Kylie Jenner, Rihanna, and Taylor Swift. 

Is This Trending? Not really. The fashion fad experienced a comeback in the mid-2010s, but chokers have fallen to the wayside since then. But who knows? Maybe they will rise from the dead once again in the near future.