Reckless Style Guide: 5 Elements of Punk and Grunge Fashion

Reckless Style Guide:

This style rocks. It’s fit for spontaneous individuals with free, rebellious souls and determined spirits.

The rock-stars-at-heart who like to stomp out their own path and embrace their truest selves–imperfections, messy emotions, and all!

Those who thrive on living by the beat of their own drum. Those who abhor the idea of conforming to society’s standards.

Does that sound like you? Learn how to create a wardrobe that is as reckless as your soul! Dare to be your most authentic self as these edgy looks inspire a boldly unrestrained life.

Punk and grunge are two different but related styles, both inspired by rock music genres of the same names. Reckless style combines elements of both as they’ve meshed together a lot over the years.

You’ve come to the right place if you need help defining your personal style. In this reckless style guide, you’ll learn in 5 steps how to style an outfit with grunge and/or punk elements. These 5 elements of reckless style can be built upon and modified to fit your tastes, giving you a style all your own!

Keep reading for all the tips you’ll need to get started, plus a large selection of products you’ll love.

*This post contains affiliate links. This means i’ll make a small commission if you find something you love and click to purchase it. This allows me to keep creating content at no extra cost to you. Thank you for being one of my amazing readers, regardless of whether you are here to shop or browse!

How to Create Your Own Reckless Style:

https://www.pinterest.com/BehindTheCloth/reckless-style/

Be Wild and Free, Wearing Your Strongest Emotions on Your Sleeve.

Priority number one: Reckless style should give you the freedom to feel deeply. All those raw, painful, and angsty emotions that society often tells us to hide behind a smile? Wear them with reckless abandon! Like an emotionally tortured rock star, set yourself free by letting your sorrows become art.

From the strong and dramatic but weary choices of color… To the lazed silhouettes…
To the rebellious accessories… This casual but bold, mischievous, moody aesthetic is everything to reckless style. Does it make you feel like a washed-out rock star? A little bit of an odd feeling, right? But if so, you’ve nailed the style.

Whether or not you write your heart out in your own music, rock out in a band, or party your feelings away all night… This style is perfect for getting wild and saying “f*** you” to societal pressure. Wearing your emotions on your sleeve will actually make you feel strong, determined, and free… Which will inspire you to be your truest self, and love that crazy person, no matter how you currently feel.

•Spendy (Clothes $300-$800, Accessories $300-$500)
•Extravagant ($800-$2,000, Accessories $500-$800)
•Premium ($2,000-$5,000, Accessories $800-$2,000)
•Luxurious ($5,000-$10,000, Accessories $2,000-$5,000)
•Exorbitant ($10,000-$25,000, Accessories $5,000-$8,000)
•Wait…Who ARE You? (Over $25,000, Accessories over $8,000)

5 Elements of Reckless Style:

1. Roll Out in Baggy Layers.

Grunge style outfits often look like they were recklessly thrown onto your body. There’s a carefree feeling to it, and a lot of attitude… One way to achieve that feeling is with oversized clothes.

You can absolutely pretend that an oversized tee shirt is a dress, for example.

Baggy clothing actually gained popularity in the 1990s when rock bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Red Hot Chili Peppers wore them.

The majority of your outfit may fit perfectly, but the trick is in layering… Add a baggy flannel or larger jacket and it will immediately look grungy.

A fun way to juxtapose the bagginess and make your look even more reckless: wear a slim-fitting crop top and high-waisted pants or skirt. The contrast between the slim-fitting clothes and the baggier pieces will be emphasized.

Also reach for chunky accessories, which give off the same feeling: Dr. Marten style boots, thick belts, slouchy beanies…

2. Rock Minimal But Bold Colors.

Black and grey are necessities in either a grunge or punk closet. Moody and dramatic, they represent so much of the tension we hold inside, and wearing them is a form of release.

Adding a pop of red is classic in punk fashion… It’s a bold and passionate color that doesn’t care what people think. Perfect for a reckless look!

3. Wear Your Clothes to Death.

Don’t throw out your old clothes…they have more character when they’ve been worn to death! Does it have rips, holes, or stains?…even better!

Grunge and punk styles embrace brokenness and chaos and makes them cool. Nothing needs to be perfect–imperfections only make it more real. What’s cooler than brutally raw authenticity?

Patches are a fun way to embellish something, whether it’s ripped or not. And fishnets add immediate edginess.

4. Throw on the Classics.

Classic prints like stripes and plaid are common in grunge and punk looks and a great way to add extra depth and texture. Don’t be afraid to mix prints!

Be sure to include classic fabrics, too! Denim, leather, flannel, and cotton should make up the majority of your wardrobe.

5. Wear Your Favorite Music.

Band Tees are Your Not-So-Secret Weapon.

There’s nothing more emotionally charged and powerful than good music.

Band tees rock, and wearing one will make a basic look become grunge or punk before you can count off your favorite song.

Wear your favorite bands loud and proud! Being that these styles come from the music scene, there’s no better way to dress recklessly than to rep the artists you dance your heart out to most.

Other Must-Have Reckless Pieces:

Vintage Slip Dresses:

(Shoppable examples coming soon).
Vintage slip dresses may seem extremely girly, but with the right pieces they can transform into something very edgy, somewhat ironically. The soft, gentleness of the slip dress in contrast with fishnets and heavy boots, for example, makes the look even stronger than if it were all edgy.

Dr. Marten’s:

(Shoppable examples coming soon).

Sneakers:

(Shoppable examples coming soon).

Beanies:

(Shoppable examples coming soon).

Edgy Belts:

(Shoppable examples coming soon).

Chain Jewelry and Accessories:

(Shoppable examples coming soon).

Fishnet Anything:

(Shoppable examples coming soon).

Vintage Sunglasses:

(Shoppable examples coming soon).

Symbolic Accessories:

(Band logos, album art, music notes, guitars, drums, keyboards, records, cassette tapes, CDs, safety pins, patches, skulls, crosses, wild animal prints, etc…)
(Shoppable examples coming soon).

Remember: Style is Personal.

The most reckless thing you can do is rebelliously be yourself. Adding to or changing any of the above “rules” to best suit you, your tastes, your personality, your story–That’s the only way to go if you want true recklessness!

Style isn’t “one-size-fits-all” and none of us fit into a perfect little box–We all have wonderful variations that make us unique, and they can be reflected in what we choose to wear! That’s the beauty of personal style.

When you discover what your version of “Reckless Style” looks like, i’d love to share it to inspire other reckless people that stop by!

Just snap a picture, tag me @StoryBehindTheCloth on Instagram or @BehindTheCloth on Twitter with my new hashtags: #MyStoryBehindTheCloth and #RecklessBehindTheCloth, or email me at StoryBehindTheCloth@gmail.com and i’ll post your picture and link in a new blog post!

Also, feel free to ask me any questions you might have about defining your personal style! The comment section, my email, and social media accounts will always be an open door to you. 

Like below if your style is Reckless so i know to keep creating blog posts about this style!:

Is “Reckless” not your style?

Stick around for more Style Guides in the near future, and take a look at what’s to come on my Pinterest!

•Spendy (Clothes $300-$800, Accessories $300-$500)
•Extravagant ($800-$2,000, Accessories $500-$800)
•Premium ($2,000-$5,000, Accessories $800-$2,000)
•Luxurious ($5,000-$10,000, Accessories $2,000-$5,000)
•Exorbitant ($10,000-$25,000, Accessories $5,000-$8,000)
•Wait…Who ARE You? (Over $25,000, Accessories over $8,000)

Read More Reckless Blog Posts: