Styles · An idea under Archival

Indie sleaze for men

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.

AMIRI Shotgun Jeans Deep Classic at Utopia, Toronto
Amiri
Shotgun Jeans Deep Classic
$530
Utopia
Amiri MX1 Shotgun Distressed Jeans Dark Indigo at Utopia, Toronto
Amiri
MX1 Shotgun Distressed Jeans Dark Indigo
$424Lightly used
Utopia
Chrome Hearts T-Bar Rib Cross Tank Top White at Utopia, Toronto
Chrome Hearts
T-Bar Rib Cross Tank Top White
$848
Utopia
Chrome Hearts T Bar Rib Tank White/Pink at Utopia, Toronto
Chrome Hearts
T Bar Rib Tank White/Pink
$848
Utopia
Maple Northern Class Ring - Silver at Due West, Toronto
Maple
Northern Class Ring - Silver
$682
Due West
Emanuele Bicocchi Flourish Small Skull - Silver at Due West, Toronto
Emanuele Bicocchi
Flourish Small Skull - Silver
$336
Due West
Amiri Boucle Thrash Jean Antique Indigo at Utopia, Toronto
Amiri
Boucle Thrash Jean Antique Indigo
$707
Utopia
Amiri Staggered Logo Distressed Skinny Jeans at Utopia, Toronto
Amiri
Staggered Logo Distressed Skinny Jeans
$707
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Horseshoe Logo Rib Tank Top White at Utopia, Toronto
Chrome Hearts
Horseshoe Logo Rib Tank Top White
$848
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Hairy Cross Rib Tank Black at Utopia, Toronto
Chrome Hearts
Hairy Cross Rib Tank Black
$848
Utopia
Gallery Dept. Indigo 5001 Vintage Reworked Selvage Denim at Utopia, Toronto
Gallery Dept.
Indigo 5001 Vintage Reworked Selvage Denim
$353Vintage
Utopia
Acne Studios 1996 Distressed Straight Jeans at Utopia, Toronto
Acne Studios
1996 Distressed Straight Jeans
$247Lightly used
Utopia
Emanuele Bicocchi Flourish Medium Skull - Silver at Due West, Toronto
Emanuele Bicocchi
Flourish Medium Skull - Silver
$420
Due West
Stolen Girlfriends Club Claw Ring - Silver/Onyx at Due West, Toronto
Stolen Girlfriends Club
Claw Ring - Silver/Onyx
$247
Due West
OFF WHITE Red And Black Flannel at Utopia, Toronto
Off-White
Red And Black Flannel
$212Pre-owned
Utopia
Song for the Mute SFTM x Birkenstock "The Rebel" Distressed Tee Black at WDLT117, Toronto
Song for the Mute
SFTM x Birkenstock "The Rebel" Distressed Tee Blk
$214
WDLT117
Purple Brand P005 Heavy Destroyed Jeans - Light Indigo at Due West, Toronto
Purple Brand
P005 Heavy Destroyed Jeans - Light Indigo
$271
Due West
Ksubi Chitch Powder Grey Praying Jeans - Black at Due West, Toronto
Ksubi
Chitch Powder Grey Praying Jeans - Black
$190$254
Due West
Tom Wood Open Cushion Ring at WDLT117, Toronto
Tom Wood
Open Cushion Ring
$308
WDLT117
Tom Wood Cushion Band Black Onyx at WDLT117, Toronto
Tom Wood
Cushion Band Black Onyx
$649
WDLT117
Dsquared2 Vintage Destroyed Cool Guy Jeans - Navy Blue at Due West, Toronto
Dsquared2
Vintage Destroyed Cool Guy Jeans - Navy Blue
$261$703Vintage
Due West
Purple Brand Distressed Repair Jeans Washed Indigo at Outlined, Etobicoke
Purple Brand
Distressed Repair Jeans Washed Indigo
$159$212
Outlined
Ksubi Chitch Grease Jeans - Black at Due West, Toronto
Ksubi
Chitch Grease Jeans - Black
$138$240
Due West
Purple Brand P004-VHDB Vintage Heavy Destroy Jeans - Black at Due West, Toronto
Purple Brand
P004-VHDB Vintage Heavy Destroy Jeans - Black
$253Vintage
Due West

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.