Introducing the edge

Three fashion staples to rock out your wardrobe

By Brittney MacDonald, Life & Style Editor

Every little kid wants to grow up to be a rock star at some point. Luckily for you, you don’t have to put in all that time and effort if you just want to look as cool as one. With a few simple staple pieces, you can turn any wardrobe into one that looks like it belongs to rock royalty, and don’t worry—this look is super cheap to pull off, as long as you know where to look!

To begin your transition, think back to every rock star or ultimate bad boy/girl. What did they have in common? Ever since the day of greasers and squares (we’re talking the ’50s here, people), nothing says rock star more than a good ol’ leather jacket. A leather jacket is a really awesome piece to invest in, because they never go out of style, and they can be used to add a little edge to any outfit, no matter if your feeling like pulling off the rock star thing one day, or you want to go for something a little more professional the next. The trick is in the styling. Pair a leather jacket with some ripped jeans or harem pants and you can be casual cool, while then rocking the same jacket with a button up and some dress pants will ingratiate you to any potential employer. Not comfortable with wearing leather? That’s no problem. Technology has allowed us to develop countless vegan alternatives that look just as good as the real thing, but be warned—depending on what it’s made of, you might end up paying a little extra.

Reflecting on the rock gods of the past, such as Jim Morrison, Freddie Mercury, and Axl Rose, it’s obvious that you can’t build a rock star wardrobe without a great pair of oversized aviator sunglasses. Aviators, as a style, never really seem to go away. The reason? They’re great to hide the fact that you’re hung over. The large lenses block out the light to prevent a worsening migraine, while remaining the perfect shape to conceal the dark circles and over-all eye puffiness symptomatic of a rough morning after. However, not just any aviators will do. Kick up the rock star factor by investing in ones with mirrored or ombre colored lenses, and make sure the frames are metallic—not plastic. If all this sounds too expensive, it doesn’t have to be. Sure, you can buy a designer pair of aviator sunglasses for a few hundred dollars, only to regret the purchase later when you eventually break them. Or you can head to any accessory shop and find a pair of knock offs for super cheap. This style is so popular that it is literally available anywhere from Holt Renfrew to Claire’s.

Ripped jeans are so iconic to the rocker look that many brand name designers have come out with ones that have been pre-ripped—you know, for people who are too busy to have fun on their own. I’m kidding, but only because I die a little inside every time I look at the price tag of these hobo chic monstrosities. If you’re wanting that casual ripped jean look without the high price tag, just do what I did and DIY it. Ripping up denim isn’t that hard. Simply cut a few small holes, and then tear them wider. Use some sandpaper to fray the edges, or to roughen up the denim, and voila! The perfect pair of affordable rock star inspired jeans!