Modernizing the New Wave Indie Sleaze
Image Courtesy: Marie Claire
As we look to the past for inspiration, it’s no surprise that we have begun to adopt trends that preceded us. We have seen a recent movement in Y2K fashion with low-rise jeans and baby tees which we left behind only a decade ago. As the trend cycle grows shorter and shorter, we can see that the next step in the cycle is about to come back into full effect. Indie sleaze is often described as the hipster party scene that dominated the early 2010’s. The aesthetic can be boiled down to tacky, grungy, shiny apparel that subverted the norm at the time. The era was fueled by drugs, Tumblr, partying, and house music. The aesthetic, previously known as ‘hipster,’ has begun to influence our current fashion trends and is most apparent in the clear parallel between Skins and our new, recent sleazy teen drama, Euphoria.
Indie sleaze fashion can encompass a wide variety of fashion items, but some of the key aesthetics are chunky boots, knit cardigans, tight denim, and ripped tights. While many of these items have been circling the current trend sphere, it is the way that they are constructed and pieced together that embodies this indie sleaze movement.
Image Courtesy: Strike FSU
Current fashion trends aim to subvert some norm rather than entirely copy it, reminiscent of indie sleaze. So, while we see hipster influences, we can still see the other aesthetics and movements creeping through. Outfits worn by Jules from Euphoria show clear enmeshment of multiple aesthetics drawn together through an indie sleaze perspective of subverting the norm. She draws a lot of inspiration between the subversive basics trend that is popular right now as well as the layering that was apparent during the 2010s. Accessories such as headbands, frilly socks, leg warmers, and big collars are coming back full force. It adds to a tacky aesthetic that was popular during the 2010s and is only being fueled by more avant-garde looks that can be seen in popular media such as TikTok or Euphoria.
Image Courtesy: Uproxxy
Another critical difference between the current indie sleaze aesthetic and the original one seen throughout the 2010s is the aspect of nostalgia. While during that era it was normal to wear wired headphones as Bluetooth headphones were not popular at the time, wearing them now almost feels like a statement. We’ve seen celebrities such as Lily-Rose Depp donning the wired headphones in the streets of New York. Is it part of a purposeful aesthetic construction? Or did she just forget to charge her Airpods? Nonetheless, the yearning for old age media has made a resurgence, and it is being done with different media that we now deem as nostalgic. The longing for past electronic media could be seen in the 2010s with record players being sold in Urban Outfitters everywhere, a key sign of what is popular amongst the youth. While we can question whether it is a purposeful aesthetic choice, we cannot deny that it adds an air of mystery and nostalgia, we wish to freeze time.
Image courtesy: Footwear News
Indie sleaze is here, whether you like it or not. While defined by critical elements, it is the attitude and movement that are most apparent in the current trend cycle. We see a wave of new personal styles and bold looks that began with this indie sleaze look.
Strike Out,
Writer: Isabella Botero
Editor: Karina McCarthy
Graphic Designer: Katie Boucher
Tallahassee