“Indie Sleaze” is back – here’s how to style it

After the obsession with Y2K and the early aughts starts to fade, it’s only natural that the trend cycle moves to the 2010s next: welcome to the (re)rise of the Indie Sleaze.

Defined by British Vogue as “a messy amalgam of ’90s grunge and ’80s opulence with a slightly erotic undertone, topped off with an almost pretentious take on retro style”, the Indie Sleaze look had icons like Kate Moss, Alexa Chung, and Sky Ferreira as its biggest supporters. The term “Indie Sleaze”, on the other hand, was coined by trend forecaster Mandy Lee on TikTok, who predicted the return of the style back in 2021.

But what attracts us to Indie Sleaze? According to Harper’s Bazaar Isabel Slone, we’re drawn to its messy, raw, authentic appeal: “Its messy and chaotic countenance serves as a discernible rejection of the frictionless “millennial” aesthetic that dominated the previous decade, evinced by start-ups like Allbirds and Everlane whose utterly nondescript designs sanded down any indications of personal style into a smooth, uniform surface”.

If you’ve been anxiously waiting for the return of the hipster, this is for you: read on to discover our five Indie Sleaze must-haves and how to style them.

Leopard and cheetah prints are already rumoured to be one of the big trends of 2024, and nothing says Indie Sleaze like a leopard print fur coat, here modelled by Sky Ferreira shot by Mert and Marcus in 2013.

Ripped tights—especially when paired with shorts—are integral to every Indie Sleaze festival look. The raunchy and carefree appeal of the aesthetic is perfectly encapsulated by purposefully ripping and wrinkling parts of your outfit for a lived-in, rebellious look.

It wouldn’t be the late 2000s without skinny, cigarette jeans! The style has been rumoured to be on its way back into style for a while, and while baggy styles are still on top, skinny jeans are slowly creeping their way back into mainstream fashion.

Plaid is synonymous with ‘90s grunge, and a plaid shirt tied around your waist is a must-have layer for Indie Sleaze festival dressing. Plaid skirts and (skinny) pants are also welcome.

Smudged, “rockstar girlfriend” eye makeup is another grunge influence that can be found in Indie Sleaze. Who knew that sleeping in yesterday’s makeup could be so chic!