An Accidental Icon: How Kurt Cobain's Style Brought Grunge to Life
L'Officiel recalls one of the fashion world's favorite rock stars: the late American singer and his influence on '90s grunge.
Everybody knows Kurt Cobain . He was the leader of the famous rock band Nirvana. Cobain transformed America's youth with his unique approach to music and his distaste for strict social rules. His rise to stardom was swift and unexpected, but he quickly became the face of Generation X. Cobain's anti-establishment approach to fame was celebrated by loyal fans who saw him as the embodiment of the rock genre. His angsty melodies and mysterious aura secured his position as one of the most revered musicians of all time. Furthermore, Cobain's rough appearance immediately informed the birth of the grunge style within the world of fashion.
Grunge, as a stylistic category, was created in response to Nirvana's idiosyncratic identity and unforeseen fashion choices. The looks Cobain wore on magazine covers or at shows were incredibly sought after and enthusiastically recreated. His sunglasses and oversized Christian Roth sweaters became the pinnacle of grunge style. In addition, Cobain's affinity for distressed jeans, silk pajama shirts, layered flannels and painted nails became mainstream trend impulses among the world's youth.
Cobain was not afraid when it came to dressing. She often took the stage in flowery dresses or leopard print jackets to emphasize that she wasn't concerned with the limitations of genre (certainly paving the way for a certain loose-haired, sporty-dressed musician of today). Her stylistic freedom encouraged others to adapt a sense of fluidity within their wardrobes and embrace the blurred lines of sexuality.
The emergence of grunge as a product of Cobain's eccentric style fundamentally changed high fashion. From the 1990s onwards, designers have included aspects of grunge in their runway collections. In Marc Jacobs' Spring/Summer 1993 collection for Perry Ellis, the young designer created an iconic tribute to Nirvana. Models Naomi Campbell , Christy Turlington , and Kate Moss dominated the runway in Dr. Martens , bold pinstripes, and slouchy beanies. Jacobs recreated the same collection under his own label with a modern twist in 2018. The explicit homage to Cobain, and his bandmates, inspired a number of grunge-infused fashion moments, on and off the runway.
Cobain's legacy in fashion is clearly unwavering. His style was not only representative of the rise of grunge culture, but remains a symbol of his no-holds-barred lifestyle. His tragic death has not prevented Cobain's memory from appearing on some of the most influential fashion runways. From Saint Laurent to Gucci , every notable fashion house has honored the star's innovative life and groundbreaking contributions to the world of fashion.
