Grunge has been on its way back in ever since it first went out of style in the late ’90s. However, the latest fall 2016 ready-to-wear runway shows have taken a fresh new angle on grunge and added a feminine edge. Saint Laurent, previously Yves Saint Laurent, has been a leader in this reinvented trend and it showed in their fall 2016 ready-to-wear collection. They seamlessly mixed statement chokers, black leather, bright colors, along with feminine textiles and forms. Their collection draws inspiration from everything from popular ’80s trends to Sandra Dee’s big hot pant transformation at the end of Grease. Obviously it is impossible to recreate a true Saint Laurent look on a college student’s budget and out in the middle of nowhere in Georgia. However, it is easy to draw inspiration from the elements in the collection to create a look that’s all your own.
For my look, I started off by selecting my statement, and subsequently girly, piece that would mix well with the grungier aspects of the outfit. I wore a black and white floral bodysuit with three quarter length sleeves. The neutral colors balance out the more feminine pattern. I put high-waisted black jeans on top with subtle rips in both knees. I like these jeans because they have a worn-in look to them and aren’t solid black. I added a pleather jacket with a skull design on the back for another interesting detail. The jacket can be worn normally or around the shoulders for a different look. Even though this is a fall look, I wore black platform sandals to make my legs look longer and to keep the outfit from going too much on the grungy side. However, black combat boots could be swapped in if you wanted a darker look. Finally, I added a thick, maroon, ribbon choker to bring some color into the look.
My beauty look was fairly simple and only highlighted specific features. I did dark and defined brows, but with matte eyeshadow. I applied light plum lipstick to play off of the darker maroon color of the choker. I kept my hair natural and parted down the middle to emphasize the free-flowing aspects of the grunge look. The hair and makeup bring in elements of both girly and grunge to pull the entire outfit together.
To recreate this look all you will need is a leather jacket with an interesting design on the back, a floral bodysuit and a thick choker necklace.
