Bringing back 2014 and hot messes
Oh, 2014. The year of Tumblr, Arctic Monkeys, the Neighbourhood, and Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence. A year that will forever be ingrained in my brain–even though I was only 11. But what made a permanent imprint in my brain was the indie sleaze fashion: take a look at my Pinterest boards and you will see a trace of it in every board. In the year 2024, a decade after this aesthetic originally emerged, we can see this trend coming back on the likes of Addison Rae and with the “mob wife” aesthetic (which in my opinion is just a repackaged version of indie sleaze mixed with the whole “old money” trend).
So, what is indie sleaze? Indie sleaze is known by many names, such as the “messy girl aesthetic” or the “Tumblr aesthetic,” which is how I grew up knowing it. It consists of cheetah fur coats, babydoll dresses, sheer black tights, a cigarette tucked between your lips, and most importantly, the eye makeup from the night before you did not take off. The whole point is to look like you are always ready for the next club or that you just got out of one. As Madeline Pendleton, the owner of Tunnel Vision, says, “Indie Sleaze is a romanticization of ‘80s trashy Hollywood culture,” which is the complete opposite of the “clean girl” aesthetic. Another way to look for indie sleaze inspo is to look at big icons such as the Olsen Twins, Alexa Chung, and Sky Ferreira, not to mention the countless Tumblr bloggers who ruled people’s aesthetic boards.
I also want to acknowledge the downsides of the indie sleaze wave that should not be brought back. Indie sleaze had heavy connotations of eating disorders which I do not condone. Everyone, no matter what their body shape, can partake in indie sleaze and look hot. Another negative feature semi-linked to indie sleaze is the overconsumption of alcohol and sometimes hard drugs. This glamorization of addiction is also something we should not bring back in the revival of indie sleaze.
Other than the negative parts we should leave behind, indie sleaze is coming back! So here is your lookbook on how to achieve the perfect look:
BLACK CLOTHES!
To achieve the perfect look, you must have black everything. Start off with a simple black base which could be a black dress, or black pants (leather or skin-tight preferably) and any black shirt. Your base needs to be the most basic monochrome outfit you can make!
Fur coats
A fur coat is the staple piece to complement your all-black-outfit! Personally, I got my faux fur coat from my mom’s closet and I am also scouring all my local thrifts to find another coat.
Doc Martens
No true 2014 aesthetic would be complete without a pair of Doc Marten boots. It does not necessarily have to be Docs but anything similar enough will do the job!
Over-the-top necklaces
Layer long necklaces, the more the better. If you stop and think: Is this too much? No, it is not and in fact, add another long-beaded necklace just in case. Match it with a pair of dangly earrings and you’re golden.
Leather jackets!
You can never go wrong with a leather jacket, and if it is a color other than black, that is even better! I personally own a pink leather one that belonged to my mom. Crazy leather jackets are the perfect match if you are not feeling fur that day.
Tights
Tights are your best friend when wearing a dress or a skirt! May that be bright red or sheer black tights. It does not matter if they have holes or not, anything will add to the look.
Over-the shoulder-tops
In true indie sleaze fashion, you would cut the neckline off but any over-the-shoulder top is your best friend. Bonus points if they have a band graphic or a phrase.
Mini skirts
A low-waisted denim skirt is perfect and the smaller, the better. Paired with the tights, the skirt will look amazing.
Big banged-up bags
I love, love, LOVE big purses especially the ones that look used! Personally, I have a Jane Birkin fiedbag and it adds more personality, plus it is quite “sleazy” to do so.
Cheetah Prints
Leopard print can elevate an outfit from meh to mwah! It adds more complexity to the outfit and adds that extra je ne sais quoi that you look for in an indie sleaze outfit.
There you have it: the top 10 pieces one must own to achieve the perfect indie sleaze closet! Now, do not worry about how to properly match pieces since the whole point is being effortless but being very, very extra. There is no such thing as too much when trying to achieve the perfect indie sleaze outfit: find what works for you and as long as you feel confident, it will look good.
Just remember this equation to achieve the perfect indie sleaze harmony: over-the-top outfit + feeling hot = THE perfect outfit. May 2024 be your 2014! XOXO
Inés Arroyo is a blog writer for Revolution. This article was edited by Meliha Ural.
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