Perfecting girly grunge

Finding your unique style is something that can take quite a long time. A person's style is something that develops over many years, and the route we go down can depend on a lot of different factors. For example, you may find that your personal interests and the kind of environment you are brought up in are what shapes your taste in fashion. Of course, we've all had fashion faux pas in the past - but this is all part of shaping your personal style. But what do you do if you like more than one style at once? This is something that's not uncommon in the fashion world.

Every new season brings with it new collections from the top designers in the world, and with those collections come a brand new set of trends. Once the work has been showcased at major fashion events such as New York Fashion Week, these catwalk styles start to filter down into the high street stores and the shopping malls - which is where the majority of us pick them up. In any given season, you can expect to find three or four major trends that dominate most of the stores. Therefore, there is quite a high possibility that you will take a shine to at least a couple of these trends. The problem starts when we try to follow a trend to the letter, and we end up having to mostly buy two different closets to accommodate all these clothes that won't mix and match. But this can be expensive and time-consuming - and we haven't even taken into account the fact that these trends get easily replaced at the turn of a new season.

If you find yourself being drawn to a pair of juxtaposing trends, you may think that you simply have to resign yourself to wearing just one of them at a time. However, this is not necessarily the case. One example of how you can mix different trends together is the 'girly-grunge' look. For those of us who are a little bit tomboy but who don't want to lose all our femininity, this is a great hybrid-style that is surprisingly easy to re-create yourself. Read on to find out how to master it.

Getting creative with new materials

A typically feminine look usually consists of delicate, floaty materials. Think sheer blouses, ruffled cotton, and beautiful lace. By contrast, a more grungy look is commonly made up of more harsh-looking materials, such as leather and denim. You may not think that throwing all these materials together would work, but providing you do it correctly, you can end up with a great look. For example, why not try layering a distressed leather jacket over a sweet floral blouse? The leather (or faux leather) jacket will give you that sought-after rock and roll vibe, while the floral shirt will mean you still maintain an air of femininity about you. You could even wear typically 'girly' clothes in materials you may have never even considered before - such as trying out a denim dress. Accessorize with silver jewelry, a red lip and dark eyes for a gothic-inspired look.

It's all in the shoes

The kind of shoes most commonly associated with femininity are a chic pair of heels. But remember, nailing girly grunge is all about perfecting a hybrid of two otherwise opposing styles. Heels can still work if you are going somewhere that requires you to dress up, but you will need to be very particular about them. For example, if you have a girly dress that you want to add a bit of an edge to, why not slip on a pair of killer studded heels for that 70's glam rock vibe? Otherwise, an easy way to switch up your daytime look is by adding a pair of grungy shoes to an otherwise feminine outfit. One great way to do this is to pair a short day dress or oversized t-shirt dress with a pair of Doc Martens. Docs are the ultimate grunge shoe and easily add an air of coolness to just about any outfit. Be warned, though: they do take a long time to wear in, and you will probably have your feet rubbed raw with blisters during the first few weeks of wearing them! Wear thick socks and persist - once they are worn in, they will be the comfiest shoes you have ever put on your feet in your life. If black Docs are a little bit too much for you at this stage, remember they also come in a huge range of different colours and styles, from floral printed to bright pink. Another must-have pair of shoes to grunge up an outfit with is a pair of Converse sneakers or a pair of Vans. These shoes are timeless and are perfect for everyday wear.

Band shirts

You wouldn't be doing the grunge look any favours if you weren't seen sporting at least a couple of band shirts from time to time. Grunge is a style that emerged out predominantly in the late 80s and early 90s, when punk was ending and giving birth to a range of pioneering bands like Nirvana. So, expect to see many of their t-shirts still on sale, helping people achieve that grunge look even long after many of these bands have disbanded. If you want to go for a authentic look, try and find some real vintage shirts - you can look on places like eBay and Etsy, or visit local thrift shops and clothing sales. You never know, you might just come across an absolute gem! To avoid looking too masculine when wearing your band shirt, try pairing it with a skirt instead, and accessorizing with lots of pretty jewelry. Or, you could even get snap happy, if you think you're a dab hand with a pair of scissors! It is relatively easy to make a regular t-shirt into a tank top, which can often look more girly than an oversized shirt. There are plenty of guides online that tell you how to do this.

Follow on:

facebook | twitter | bloglovin'