Kurt Cobain's Feminine Fashion Rebellion
Original photography above by Stéphane Sednaoui. Kurt Cobain in a Dries Van Noten sweater, Dave Grohl in a Todd Oldham sweater, Krist Novoselic in a Joan Vass sweater, scarves (worn as skirts) by Gene Meyer.
–––
In 1993, Nirvana's photoshoot for Mademoiselle Magazine featured everyone in skirts and women's sweaters. The band, especially Cobain, used their massive platform to push gender boundaries and challenge society's rigid idea of masculinity.
Kurt Cobain, known in part for his androgynous style, occasionally wore dresses and skirts, stating:
"I like to wear dresses because they're comfortable. Men wearing dresses isn't controversial."
He often donned stereotypically feminine accessories as well, like large white oval sunglasses, makeup, and nail polish.
Kurt Cobain wearing Christian Roth sunglasses and worn nail polish, 1990's
Cobain in blue dress and eye makeup, on cover of The Face magazine, 1993
Cobain's fashion allowed him to vividly express himself and his views, and would go on to inspire generations of individuals and designers.
See more of the photoshoot here, and for a deeper look at how Cobain's style connects to an evolving culture, read What Kurt Cobain Means To Those Who Don't Fit The Mold.
Kurt Cobain performs in a floral print dress, Amherst, 1990. Image: Malibu PR Gal.
2 comments
@Faldaguy thanks for sharing this – what a great story, especially considering you didn’t realize who you were with until later.
I bet you’re glad you went to this random little fabric showing :)
Here is a post I made last year on SC — apropos to Corbain’s skirt source!
Nirvana, Curt Cobain and skirts made me flash back to a recent outing. We were housesitting on Puget Island in the middle of the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington last Christmas season when a Fabric Show was being held in the hall of a church in the little village of Naselle, WA, which seemed like a pleasant excursion in getting acquainted with the region. We arrived at a fantastic display of grand fabric hangings done by a woman named Darbury wearing a ‘delightful’ skirt that she told me she made while giving mine the kind of look that she could do better by me; and me thinking as I was observing her skirt, “maybe I should ask her to make me one”?
It was a small gathering and we chatted with the few attendees and the family entourage with Darbury. We picked up a small booklet she had assembled of some of her work, had her sign it, and in the process met her husband Krist and learned of his interest in flying, including owning three planes, and the price of organic potatoes he had raised. Nothing dramatic or special, just a very pleasant afternoon with some nice folks, one of whom said she had been fascinated with fabrics for years and had a space where she had worked on these for several years, but not shown them before.
I had heard of Curt Cobain and the band Nirvana, but their genre did not appeal to me, and neither my wife or I had followed them. Only upon returning ‘home’ to the Island did we learn we had been in the company of some local celebrities! The Krist we had met was Cobain’s co-founder of the band! He has quite an extensive track record in the music industry, and in local politics — latest notes, say he actually qualified to have his name added to the ballot for the 2024 Presidential race — and then dropped out after achieving the 1000 signatures — smart man!
But we learned after returning home it was Darbury and her fabric fascination who was responsible for some of the band’s attire and MIS seen around the Cobain presentations. We learned she had a national reputation for high end design work and outlets in several major cities for custom-made clothing. I rue my ignorance in not having given her the challenge of ‘fixing’ my skirt, but no doubt my pocket book is better off.
The picture below is one I took while we chatted with her in front of one of the large pieces on display — sadly it does not display how well she wore the skirt of her making.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/sGm6V64PZyu7opiW7