On his birthday, we look back at fashion's favorite rock star, the late Kurt Cobain, and his influence on '90s grunge.

Everyone knows&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/90s-outfits-celebrity-fashion-making-comeback" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kurt Cobain</a>. He was the frontman of the ultra-famous <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/rock-star-supermodel-couples-david-bowie-iman-jerry-hall-mick-jagger" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rock band</a>&nbsp;Nirvana. Cobain transformed America&rsquo;s youth with his unique approach to music and distaste for stringent social rules. His rise to stardom was rapid and unexpected, but he quickly became the face of <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/fashion/words-and-images-generation-x-by-chuck-reyes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Generation X</a>. Cobain's&nbsp;anti-establishment approach to fame was celebrated by loyal fans who viewed him as the embodiment of the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/rock-star-hair-evolution-joan-jett-miley-cyrus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rock genre</a>. His angst-filled melodies and mysterious aura secured his position as one of the most idolized musicians of all time. Moreover, Cobain&rsquo;s rough around the&nbsp;edges appearance immediately informed the birth of grunge within the&nbsp;fashion world. In honor of what would have been his 56th birthday, we go down memory lane of the rockstar's influence in fashion.&nbsp;

Kurt Cobain.

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/gen-z-y2k-millennial-90s-fashion-nostalgia" target="_blank">Grunge</a> as a stylistic category was created in response to Nirvanna&rsquo;s idiosyncratic&nbsp;identity and unforeseen fashion choices. The looks that <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/music/most-memorable-outfits-vma-history" target="_blank">Cobain</a> rocked on the cover of magazines or at sold-out performances were incredibly sought after and eagerly recreated. His signature Christian Roth sunglasses and oversized sweaters became the pinnacle of grunge styling. Additionally, Cobain&rsquo;s affinity towards distressed jeans, silk pajama shirts,&nbsp;layered flannels, and painted nails became impetuses for pervasive <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/teen-fashion-trends-decades-90s-y2k-tiktok" target="_blank">trends</a> among the world&rsquo;s youth.&nbsp;

Cobain was fearless when it came to dressing. He would often take to the stage in floral gowns or leopard jackets to emphasize the fact that he&nbsp;was unconcerned with the limitations of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/shopping/gender-neutral-accessories-shopping-survey-dior-bottega-veneta-celine" target="_blank">gender</a>&nbsp;(no doubt paving the way for a certain floppy-haired, <a href="http://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/harry-styles-gender-fluid-fashion-stylist" target="_blank">gown-sporting&nbsp;musician</a> today). His stylistic freedom encouraged others to adapt a sense of fluidity&nbsp;within their wardrobes and embrace the blurred lines of sexuality.

The advent of grunge as a product of Cobain&rsquo;s eccentric style fundamentally changed high fashion. Since the &#39;90s, established&nbsp;designers have included&nbsp;aspects of grunge in&nbsp;their runway collections. In <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/marc-jacobs-brings-back-his-infamous-grunge-collection" target="_blank">Marc Jacobs&#39; Spring/Summer 1993</a> collection for Perry Ellis, the young designer created an iconic tribute to Nirvana. Models <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/naomi-campbell-young-model-90s" target="_blank">Naomi Campbell</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/christy-turlington-age-young-fashion-moments" target="_blank">Christy Turlington</a>, and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/young-kate-moss-style-90s-to-today" target="_blank">Kate Moss</a> dominated the catwalk in Doc&nbsp;Martens, statement pinstripes, and baggy&nbsp;beanies. <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/marc-jacobs-runway-show-spring-2020" target="_blank">Jacobs</a> recreated the same collection under his own label&nbsp;with a modern-day twist in 2018.&nbsp;The explicit homage to Cobain and his bandmates went on to inspire a number of grunge-infused fashion&nbsp;moments, on and off the runway.

Perry Ellis Spring/Summer 1993.

Cobain's legacy in fashion is evidently unyielding.&nbsp;His style was&nbsp;not&nbsp;only representative of the emergence of the&nbsp;grunge culture,&nbsp;but continues to be&nbsp;symbolic of his&nbsp;boundless way of life. His tragic death has not deterred Cobain's&nbsp;memory from gracing some of the most influential fashion runways. From <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/saint-laurent-summer-2021-anthony-vaccarello" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saint Laurent</a> to <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/gucci-epilogue-collection" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gucci</a>, every notable house has honored the star's groundbreaking life and rule-breaking&nbsp;contributions to the fashion world.&nbsp;

An Accidental Icon: How Kurt Cobain's Style Brought Grunge to Life

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