Styles · An idea under Archival

Indie sleaze for women

Late aughts club dressing built on worn leather jackets, slim denim, graphic tees and heavy silver jewellery for men and women.

Indie sleaze is an undone nightlife look defined by worn leather, slim distressed denim, graphic tees and heavy silver jewellery. Cropped jackets and relaxed tops balance against skinny jeans, grounding washed black cotton and indigo selvedge in scuffed dark boots. Heavy sterling silver hardware anchors the loose silhouette so every piece feels worn rather than neat.

This dressing grew out of the dance clubs and warehouse parties of New York and London in the middle and late two thousands. Ksubi, a denim label from Sydney, makes the slim, torn jeans here. Chrome Hearts carves heavy sterling silver jewellery with gothic cross motifs, while Serge DeNimes makes heavy silver rings and chains.

Essential pieces include cropped leather jackets, washed cotton graphic tees, slim selvedge jeans and sculptural sterling silver pendants. Wear them with scuffed black leather boots and dark eyewear to maintain an unpolished edge. Due West and Utopia in Toronto chose these pieces for their lived in cuts, dark indigo washes and substantial silver.

Chrome Hearts T-Bar Rib Cross Tank Top White at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
T-Bar Rib Cross Tank Top White
¥135,300
Utopia
Chrome Hearts T Bar Rib Tank White/Pink, back view, at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
T Bar Rib Tank White/Pink
¥135,300
Utopia
Emanuele Bicocchi Flourish Small Skull in Silver at Due West on within
Emanuele Bicocchi
Flourish Small Skull - Silver
¥53,600
Due West
Emanuele Bicocchi Flourish Medium Skull in Silver at Due West on within
Emanuele Bicocchi
Flourish Medium Skull - Silver
¥67,100
Due West
Chrome Hearts Matty Boy Sex Records Cross Patch Flannel, back view, at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Matty Boy Sex Records Cross Patch Flannel
¥901,900Pre-owned
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Horseshoe Logo Rib Tank Top White at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Horseshoe Logo Rib Tank Top White
¥135,300
Utopia
Stolen Girlfriends Club Claw Ring - Silver/Onyx at Due West on within
Stolen Girlfriends Club
Claw Ring - Silver/Onyx
¥39,500
Due West
Tom Wood Open Cushion Ring in Silver at WDLT117 on within
Tom Wood
Open Cushion Ring
¥49,000
WDLT117
OFF WHITE Red And Black Flannel, front view, at Utopia on within
Off-White
Red And Black Flannel
¥33,800Pre-owned
Utopia
Acne Studios Patchwork Oversized Flannel Green, front view, at Utopia on within
Acne Studios
Patchwork Oversized Flannel Green
¥33,800Lightly used
Utopia
Gallery Dept. Horrors Tee Washed Black, front view, at Utopia on within
Gallery Dept.
Horrors Tee Washed Black
¥39,500
Utopia
Gallery Dept. ATK Monster Tour Tee Washed Black, front view, at Utopia on within
Gallery Dept.
ATK Monster Tour Tee Washed Black
¥39,500
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Small Cross Pendant at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Small Cross Pendant
¥338,200Pre-owned
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Small Cross Pendant at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Small Cross Pendant
¥338,200Lightly used
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Forever Ring at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Forever Ring
¥135,300Lightly used
Utopia
Song for the Mute SFTM x Birkenstock "The Rebel" Distressed Tee Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within
Song for the Mute
SFTM x Birkenstock "The Rebel" Distressed Tee Black
¥34,000
WDLT117
Chrome Hearts Triple Cross Pendant at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Triple Cross Pendant
¥789,200
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Dagger Ring at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Dagger Ring
¥338,200
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Forever Ring at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Forever Ring
¥146,600Lightly used
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Hairy Cross Rib Tank Black, front view, at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Hairy Cross Rib Tank Black
¥135,300
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Forever Ring at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Forever Ring
¥169,100
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Neck Logo Rib Tank Top White, front view, at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Neck Logo Rib Tank Top White
¥135,300
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Forever Ring at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Forever Ring
¥135,300Lightly used
Utopia
Chrome Hearts x Deadly Doll Rib Art Basel Tank Top Pink, front view, at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
x Deadly Doll Rib Art Basel Tank Top Pink
¥338,200
Utopia

Common questions

What defines indie sleaze style?
Nightlife energy drives this unpolished way of dressing, centering on distressed slim jeans, worn leather outerwear, washed tees and sterling silver rings. Raw street clothes contrast against sculptural metal jewellery to give it a club mood.
Where did indie sleaze come from?
Musicians and clubgoers in the New York and London dance venues of the middle and late two thousands made it. Basement parties favoured scuffed leather boots and second hand graphic tops over polished fashion.
Which designers make indie sleaze clothes?
Distressed denim comes from Ksubi, known for skinny silhouettes and shredded knees. Silver jewellery from Chrome Hearts and Serge DeNimes provides the dark metallic weight.