“Give me a pair of ripped tights and an old oversized Nirvana t-shirt and I’m ready to go,” says Akansha when I asked her what her signature outfit would be. 

A consistent dresser, her wardrobe is made up of black and a slight occasional splash of colour. “I tend to lean towards the more 70’s grunge; drawing inspiration from the likes of rock and pop culture whilst at the same time being quite flirty and girly,” she says. “I think that fashion should be a lot less about impressing others and more about impressing yourself. The idea of “rules” when it comes to something as subjective as fashion always makes me cringe. Fashion to me has always been about expression and a way of communicating a little bit of your personality.” 

Well, you can never go wrong with black so this week, we are going grunge with Akansha. 

LOOK 1 : Baggy White T-Shirt + Ripped Leggings + Olive Pumps 

This is an outfit of paradoxes and is one of my favourite things to wear on a night out or just when I’m casually hanging out with people. The baggy kitty t-shirt brings out a cutesy girly vibe which directly contrasts with the edgy, rebellious aesthetic evoked by the ripped leggings. They both collectively contrast with the heels which bring out an air of femininity and sophistication. The beauty of this is that this lack of coordination is what makes it work. 

Tip : If you’re trying to create a harsher look, is to give your hair the illusion of immense volume, use a texturizing spray on the underside of your hair and you’re ready to go. 

LOOK 2 : Black Maxi Skirt + Striped Crop Top 

This is something I would wear for a dressier occasion. It still maintains the edgy hard rock vibe through the translucent skirt quality, whilst still being elegant and something you could pull off at a more formal occasion. Interestingly, your lip colour could be the determininant of whether this look is more vampy-sultry or more girly and cutesy. 

Tip : Try the darker ends of the reds spectrum for a vampier look, and stick to the nude colours for a classier more sophisticated look. 

LOOK 3 : Grey Slit Sleeved Top + Denim Shorts + Torn Belt 

This is a fun outfit that draws out a more casual chilled out vibe. The faded baggy grey top lends to the grungy- feel of the overall look whilst still looking cutesy and fun. 

Tip : Try to keep your hair up with this outfit to make sure the slits on the shoulder keep the centre of attention. 

Style Role Model : Sigh, if only i could pick one! I draw a lot of inspiration from the late 1900’s. I fell in love with Morticia Addams' sense of style from The Addams Family growing up, and I’ve always enjoyed the likes of Madonna’s edgier grunge rock ripped net stockings. At the same time I really enjoy the classier Lana Del Ray 1920’s style, with high waist skirts and sleeveless shirts. 

Favourite Colours to Pair : Black. 

Go To Outfit : Leggings! This not only looks amazing and classy but it also has the comfort element to it. It’s amazing because it can be dressed up or dressed down just depending on what you wear on top. 

Style Must Have’s? 

- A staple pair of GOOD black leggings. This is an essential investment in every wardrobe! 
- A good red lipstick on par with your skin tone (get yourself colour matched based on if your skin is cool toned or warm toned) 
- Black high heels (make sure it’s something you’re comfortable with first though) 

Style Tip : When in doubt, wing it out! I find that winged liner works with everything and although seemingly insignificant, it does actually do a lot to tie the look together. 

By Panchali Illankoon 
Photographs by Kashish Naraindas