What exactly is soft grunge...?

♦

Not sure why, but I get this question a lot. I guess because I have purple hair, I'm some sort of authority on soft grunge? I mean, okay. Not really, but whatever. Anyhow, I just want to give y'all a little explanation of the trend and some examples of things that are and aren't true soft grunge. It's a term that's thrown around pretty recklessly on the internet these days, and I just want some clarification. Hope you enjoy! Plus... there just may be a pic of a kitten at the end for a little bonus.

Here's the Urban Dictionary definition of Soft Grunge that I don't like. This is the annoying stereotype that grinds my gears.

A term generally used to describe modern-day teenagers, typically girls between the ages of 14-18, who like create a "hardcore" persona on Tumblr by reblogging pictures of inverted crosses, dip-dyed hair, ying-yang symbols and toilets. They like to pretend that they listen to grunge music by wearing stylish Nirvana tees that match their $200 pair of Doc Martens. If you were ask them who the Misfits were, they'd probably say anyone who isn't sporting spikes this season.

Noun: That purple haired girl over smoking a cigarette in the rain is sooo soft grunge.

Adjective: Check out this soft grunge blog for pictures of girls that look like zombies, cats, and zombie cats!

And here's the real story:

Grunge was a movement that originated in the 80's and 90's in the Northwest. It began with musicians such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and The Melvins. The grunge style originally was unintentional; artists would wear the same sets of clothing day in and day out, resulting in a torn and worn out look. With the help of websites like Tumblr, grunge has evolved into something new. While some people view this style as a bit of a sellout, I just view it as an aesthetically pleasing look, regardless. Some common recurring themes I've noticed in modern soft grunge are:

Upside down crosses:

Mermaids:

Cat themed accessories:

Studs and spikes:

Vintage-y photos:

Creepers (the shoes):

Exotic, pastel hair colors with flower crowns:

Doc Martens

Random photos like these:

This picture is basically the epitome of Tumblr Soft Grunge:

Special episode of pastel grunge coming soon!!

Disclaimer: This is my view of soft grunge. You can have your own view, that's fine. I'm by no means an expert. But you probably aren't either... Just sayin'

♦