Written, Directed & Photographed by Mavis Parks

Modeled by Alexis Loftis, Kaitlyn Patton, Cole Vest, Molly Pritchett, & Liz Eike

Makeup by Ky Williams

The year is 2014. You’re scrolling Tumblr, imagining how great it would be as a 20-something-year-old in New York City — to wear those American Apparel disco shorts your mother says are too revealing, to finally see the Arctic Monkeys live. But sadly, you’re stuck in the Midwest and you have a reading journal due third period. While I’m sure we all thought we were unique in having these aspirations, the FOMO teenagers and pre-teens experienced during this time was quite universal — old enough to go online, yet too young to experience the things Julian Casablancas and Karen O described in their music. Luckily enough for us, this era is coming back into vogue. With the recent debut of artists such as The Dare and Snow Strippers, and songs such as “Maps” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs making it back onto Billboard’s TikTok Top 50, there’s no denying that the indie sleaze style is coming back in full swing.

So what is “indie sleaze” anyway? Most simply put, it is a label attributed to the music, fashion, and culture of indie and electronic music subcultures from the mid-2000s to the mid-2010s. Some more prominent examples of figures under this umbrella include bands such as The Strokes and Interpol, and models Kate Moss and Alexa Chung. The aesthetic as a whole is experiencing a rebirth as both those who took part in this era — and those who were too young — have begun to make posts appreciating the zeitgeist of this time. Which is a surprise, considering the small amount of time that has passed since this moment in pop culture. For those of us whose brains weren’t permanently warped by a continuous consumption of Tumblr posts, you might be wondering why this era is so popular nowadays. Aside from the obvious nostalgia factor, the rebirth of indie sleaze is a quite reactionary movement.

Most notably, the rebirth can be traced back to a reaction against perfectionist trends seen on popular social media sites such as the “clean girl aesthetic,” as well as internet users beginning to more closely curate and monitor their own social media presence. Instead of advocating for this, the indie sleaze era supported radical self-expression and an unfiltered, gritty presentation of personality. On a similar note, the rebirth of these aesthetics may be attributed to our desire for slower and more simplistic forms of social media. 

A decade or two ago, these sorts of communities were limited to sites like MySpace and Tumblr, but now in the era of TikTok and Instagram, social media posts are consumed in a far more passive and disingenuous manner. Additionally, the comeback of these trends are representative of the post-Covid-19 rebelliousness younger generations are beginning to experience. In the 2000s and 2010s, especially within indie and electronic music communities, it seemed that everyone was going out and partying. 

Now, because of the long-lasting effects of pandemic social distancing and our generation’s overall dislike for going out, experiencing moments like the ones we saw on our favorite blogs seem more like unattainable ideals than something we can actually experience. So, it’s clear why consuming and participating in music and fashion styles from this era may be cathartic.

Still not remembering what this moment in internet history felt like? Let’s touch on some of the most iconic figures, fashion, and music of the scene. 

One of the most notable reference points for this era is photographer Mark Hunter, better known as “The Cobrasnake.” Hunter is most well-remembered for his photographs of celebrities in the scene at a myriad of different parties and social gatherings of the 2000s, including figures such as Alex Turner and Sky Ferreira, as well as recent photography at Charli XCX’s birthday bash with actress Rachel Sennott and singer Billie Eilish. Overall, Hunter’s lo-fi photography style is a great point of reference for the photography at the time — lots of flash, contrast, and a lack of editing. To see more photos from the era as a whole, as well as The Cobrasnake’s work in particular, I’d recommend checking out the Instagram profile @indiesleaze. 

Arguably, the most important element of this era is the music. Again, Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and the band Interpol must be mentioned. These three bands are arguably some of the most influential of the time. In addition to those artists, LCD Soundsystem, Peaches, MGMT, Santigold, and Crystal Castles are quite notable as these artists paved the way for much of the indie and electronic music that is popular today.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the fashion of this time period, as it is what many are most excited to see “come back.” Some common aspects of feminine outfits of this style include ripped, patterned, or brightly colored tights, fur coats, short shorts, babydoll dresses, and metallics. As for more masculine looks, blazers, skinny jeans, and leather are often featured. For accessories, many choose to pair the above pieces with sweatbands, bright-colored glasses, chunky necklaces, and scarves. And to complete the look, one will often adorn themselves with glitter and smudgy dark eye makeup. 

While it’s impossible to completely “bring back” an era, I think it’s a good sign that we are taking inspiration from this time in Internet history. Although it was not long ago, the rebirth of the indie sleaze era provides inspiration for all of us — to slow down our social media usage, go outside and hang out with friends, and to re-listen to some of our favorite musicians (and maybe draw a mustache or two on our fingers while we’re at it.)