Girly Grunge

I have personally always been a fan of the grunge look, and as of late, it has been popping up all over.  Studded boots, camo, and slouchy beanies are part of the fall and winter 2013 look, but how do we manage to give this cool grunginess a feminine touch? How much grunge is too much? Let me help you with that.

1. Touch of camo: It took me a while to warm up to camo, given it just made me think back to my awkward stage in 5th grade when I wore camouflage zip-off pants for my school picture. Let me just say, it wasn’t cute.  However, styles come back around, and camo is back in. The key is to strictly limit yourself to the camo pieces you both buy and wear. I have found that a camouflage button-up, jacket or circle scarf can be the perfect touch to a more neutral outfit. If you’re feeling daring, you could rock camo pants with a plain sweater and leather boots.

Chimala® Camo Jacket (Image: Madewell.com)

NastyGal Fight Another Day Cardi (Image: Lyst.com)

2. Layers: Lately, I find myself layering almost every day. You can also alter your layers to add to or detract from the girliness. For example, throwing on a faded tee under a torn sweater pulls off a grungier, boyish look while layering a knit over a sheer blouse has a more feminine feel.

Free People In My Pocket Sweater layered over white blouse (image: Shopstyle.com)

Ecote Stardust Open-Stitch Sweater layered over sheer top (Image: UrbanOutfitters.com)

3. Ear-warmers: These are great for chilly days and they won’t mess up your hair! They have a casual, “Urban Outfitters” kind of look, but they come in a variety of colors, materials, and shapes, allowing you to pick the one that suits you best!

Monki Jeanette Chunky Knit Headband (Image: Asos.com)

Pieces Egir Earwarmers (Image: Asos.com)

ASOS Ears Headband (Image: Asos.com)

4. Sweatshirts: Wear them alone or layer hoodies/hooded jackets with coats for a boyish, more casual look. Also, it’s never a bad idea to have a hood in case it rains or snows!

Free People Embellished Classic Biker Jacket layered with hooded jean jacket (Image: FreePeople.com)

Casual and easy but with floral letters for a feminine touch- C’est la Vie Sweatshirt (Image: UrbanOutfitters.com)

5. Worker boots: Dr. Martens are my personal favorite. These clunky, lace-up boots come in a variety of colors and patterns that epitomize the perfect balance between girly and grungy. Pair them with jeans, leggings, a dress, or just about whatever you want. They’re also heavy-duty and have great traction for rain and snow. Just make sure you spray ‘em with a protectant first!

Dr. Martens 1460 Womens Boot in Navy/Yellow (Image: dmusastore.com)

• Camo
• girly
• grunge
• layering
• style
• sweatshirts