Nevermind the Lumberjack Shirts, Here's Kurt Cobain's Grunge Done Right

Of all the things that we miss about the early 1990s, grunge-era fashion isn't high on the list. The perpetually-on-the-verge-of-a-comeback trend was all too often an excuse to look like you got dressed in the dark.

Seriously, how did anyone really think that the Bermuda shorts, Doc Martens boots and leather jacket combo -- as modeled by Alice in Chains and Citizen Dick from the movie "Singles" -- was a good idea?

Classic rock star poise, on the other hand, is timeless. Even in the ugliest, baggiest cardigan, Kurt Cobain somehow managed to look cool. While his contemporaries were making like heavy metal roadies let loose in a goodwill store, Kurt selected his scruffy threads to suggest a poetic sort of bohemian nonchalance.

With Nirvana's 1989 debut "Bleach" newly repackaged in a deluxe, 20th-anniversary edition, we present our Kurt-inspired guide to doing grunge right.

Lost Property White Kurt Cobain Tee
Nirvana were always admirably quick to big-up their contemporaries and influences, and Cobain's T-shirt-based championing of quirky singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston helped propel the Texan to cult-hero status. Happily, Daniel Johnston's a seriously hip concern again following a 2006 documentary, so rocking this tribute to his "Hi, How Are You?" album will earn you music-geek points as well as emulating a classic Kurt look. ($49.50 from My-Wardrobe.com)

Cult of Individuality Trysten Bootcut
We wouldn't recommend adopting the full, ripped-to-shreds approach of grunge leg-wear, but these elegant, scruffy pants from new denim brand Cult of Individuality combine the well-worn early-'90s look with a dash of cutting-edge '00s style. ($135 from CultofIndividuality.com)

Men's Thermal Long John Underwear
Hole-filled jeans and the Seattle winter were never going to mix, Kurt Cobain wisely went for the thermal-long-johns-peeking-through-torn-denim look. ($10 from OldNavy.com)

Scattered Type Shirt
Cobain's quirky, patterned shirt brought a dose of flair to ultra-casual outfit for the 1992 MTV VMAs. This unusually designed dress shirt -- check out the little letters! -- from Armani Exchange will add a similarly contrasting touch to your own grunge-inspired get-up. ($59 from ArmaniExchange.com)

Thick Frame Clear Lens Eyeglasses
Plastic-framed geek glasses are the perfect finishing touch to an I'm-not-trying-to-look-cool (but-secretly-don't-I-look-really-cool?) ensemble. ($10 from Amazon.com)