Grunge & Alt Rock
If you think about it, the energy of this decade really began when Nirvana came out with the song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991). Suddenly, the posh, feminine, and emotional synthesizers of the 80s were out, only to be replaced by a filthy lassitude that captured a feeling of ennui and disinterest in the status quo.
Style trends followed suit, and Seattle-born Kurt Cobain unintentionally made scruffy, unwashed hairstyles and a carefree flannel shirt the look of the moment. Rebel child Drew Barrymore donned a choker as her main statement jewelry, then box dyed her hair bleach blonde and let her dark roots grow out. Courtney Love, lead singer of “Hole,” wore an ironic tutu and tiara, but what made her look inherently grunge was that she didn’t care if her mascara was smudged or if lipstick was on her teeth. The grunge era of the 90s came when no one expected it, making “messy” and “grimy” a choice rather than a concern.