How to Dress in Simple Alternative Fashion

Co-authored by Ira Lysa

Last Updated: June 12, 2025

If you love the idea of dressing in a simple alternative style, the first thing you need to do is decide what that term means to you. Wearing simple, alternative clothes can be fun and is a good way to express yourself. Some styles are complex, and you might not feel they are for you. How you dress might be restricted by school or work policies, your parents, time limits, and budget - a simple alternative look is very adaptable. This article will help you simplify the alternative look. Let's get started!

1

Picture your ideal simple alternative look.

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Make sure you have a pretty good idea of the style you want to achieve. Print out pictures from the Internet and cut out images from magazines of looks you like, and use these images as a starting point. Paste them to your wall, or create a little fashion notebook and put them in there.

2

Go through your closet.

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You may be able to pair some of your current clothes with a few new items. Get rid of anything that you don't feel flatters you, that you dislike, that you find uncomfortable, or that doesn't fit with the new look you're going for. Keep an eye out for things that could be altered to fit your new style, and hang onto these items.

3

Get some new clothing items that fit with your new style.

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Make sure you have enough outfits for all seasons and occasions. An alternative style often includes long-sleeved, plaid flannel shirts, T-shirts of classic bands, black tights, dark or acid wash jeans or shorts, vintage button-down shirts, and cardigans. For shoes, you can opt for Converse, classic boots, combat boots, or any other footwear you like. Keep an eye out for studded clothing and accessories, and make sure to pick up a few dressy outfits for any formal events you may need to attend.

EXPERT TIP

Alena Le Blanc
Personal Stylist
Alena Le Blanc is the Personal Stylist and the Founder of Le Blanc Label. Based in San Francisco, California, Le Blanc Label is the leading personal stylist brand for sustainable style transformations. Alena and her team specialize in seasonal wardrobe refreshes, closet edits, styling for special events, travel, photoshoots, and general personal needs. Alena has been featured in podcasts including EMPOWERED BY WMN, I Am Fearless, and Mind Power Meets Mystic. Alena received her BFA in Fashion and Apparel Design from the Academy of Art University.

Alena Le Blanc
Personal Stylist

Audit your wardrobe to make it fit your desired image. Curate outfits that reflect the image you want to project to the world. Focus on elegant pieces over fleeting trends. Build a style that is uniquely you and boosts your confidence. Clothes are the way you introduce yourself visually to the world.

4

Check out several stores to find pieces you like.

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There are lots of places you can shop to find clothes that fit your style. You can check out mainstream stores such as Kohl's, Gap, JCPenney, and even Macy's to see if you can find anything that catches your eye. These are good places to get the basics. Next, try some stores that fit a more "alternative" type of aesthetic. Hot Topic, for example, is known for having good band tees and accessories, but be warned: many alternative people shop there, so you might not get a "one-of-a-kind" look unless it is very unpopular in your area. Zumiez, Journey's, and even Claire's are all good places to shop, as well.
- Shop at thrift stores for old-fashioned, vintage, or cheaper clothing. Don't be afraid to shop in unusual places or places that don't look like they'd have any potential; it's easy to miss a needle in a haystack.

5

Try shopping online.

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There are a lot of great websites that sell alternative accessories and clothing. Many of these sites also have fairly low prices. Good options include bluebanana.com, shanalogic.com, restyle.pl/, and shopplasticland.com. Be careful when shopping online; since you can't try on clothes, you'll have to pay extra special attention to sizing charts and customer reviews. One brand's size large may fit like a medium in another brand.

6

Try altering your clothes.

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Cut up your tees, rip up your jeans, and add embellishments. If you can sew, try attaching buttons and different fabrics to customize your old clothes and make them look brand new!

7

Find different ways to style your hair.

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There are lots of hairstyles that work with an alternative aesthetic. You can have short and punkish hair, long and flowing hair, cute and wavy hair; whatever you want. Learn how to dye your hair, or go to a friend or hairdresser, and maybe dye your hair different colors. You can make it all black, two-toned, rainbow, whatever floats your boat. Curl it, crimp it, iron it, scrunch it, braid it; do whatever you think looks best.

8

Try out different outfits to see if you like them.

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Be as creative and out-there as you want! Don't be afraid to wear something you would think would never match; it may look really good. Have a friend who wears similar styles help you decide whether they look good or not. Some good examples would include:
- a ripped up tee, skinny jeans, any shoes
- a long-sleeve shirt, skirt, Doc Martens
- a simple tee, long skirt, "goth boots"
- plain tee, ripped up jeans, any shoes
- alternative dress, Doc Martens (depending on the style of the dress)
- tee with a vest, shorts, any shoes
- layers upon layers of different clothing

9

Finish off the look with hair and makeup.

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These finishing touches can elevate your look. While there is no typical alternative hairstyle, many people opt for thick, sweeping bangs over one eye or a high ponytail with studded hair accessories. Alternative makeup usually includes heavy eyeliner, smoky or cat eyes, and red lipstick, but it's all about expressing yourself and feeling comfortable, so go with whatever you like best!

10

Be proud of your style.

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Don't let anyone put you down about your new fashion choices. It's your life, and you should be able to do what you want.

11

Show off your new look.

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Now that you have your new look, it's time to show your friends. Go out on the town, attend a party, or call up your friends and ask them to hang out.

How Can You Learn to Dress in Simple Alternative Style?

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Question

How can we be aesthetic in clothing being a teen? I am not allowed to wear makeup yet so any suggestions for clothing like we tie jacket on our waist for style?

Winter Lilly Daniels

Community Answer

It depends on the aesthetic. If you like alt/goth clothes you could probably shoot for dark/black colored clothes, but for a more preppy aesthetic, tans and light pinks look really good. You don't absolutely need makeup, so that is okay, and again. Depending on the aesthetic is how you would probably decide whether or not to have a jacket to tie around your waist. If it is an alt/goth aesthetic, that is pretty cute.

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Put thought into your outfit, but don't become too obsessive. Remember that there are thousands of other ways to express yourself.

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Keep your closet neat.

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Add buttons and pins with logos of your favorite sayings or bands to hats, bags, shirts, skirts, almost anything.

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Warnings

Don't get any tattoos or piercings (especially tattoos) that you aren't 100% sure that you want. Also, it's always better to pay more for these kinds of things.

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Don't damage your hair too much.

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Ease into the style, or else people will think you're a poser.

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