I used to be a rock chick.

[SpoonfulOfJam]

Low rise, baggy jeans. Studded belts. Skater style trainers like vans or dc. Midriff baring vest tops. Chokers and beads on my wrists. Long straight hair. Black eyeliner. Like Avril Lavigne.

Then skinny jeans happened. And I had kids and got fat. Baggy jumpers and tunic tops.

I've lost most of the weight. My arms are toned. I'm desperate to channel my inner Avril again. But I don't know where to start!

High rise jeans that support my mum tum are a blessing. And chokers are back which I love. (Never been into leather jackets, and don't intend to start now)

So come on all you rock chicks- help me relive my youth but with a touch of maturity.

[botemp]

What you're describing sounds more like Skater Girl than Rock Chick (which is heavily leather centric) to me but it overlaps quite a bit so who cares. Go mad in the Divided section at H&M. Supposedly it's geared to late teens and early twenty yo but it's a treasure trove no matter what age you are as far as I'm concerned. Won't last forever but at least you're not paying All Saints or Rick Owens prices. Monki and Weekday are likewise places aimed younger but shouldn't scare you off either. Jewelry section especially in Weekday is great for the money. For more grown up versions have a nose around COS, preferably in the shop itself as their website is... Ehm... Peculiar?

Oversized fishnets and mesh tops are everywhere again, just worn differently. The fishnets under low rise boyfriend fit battered and ripped jeans with the waist of the fishnets peeping out to sit at the natural waist and mesh tops worn under boob tubes or vests. Not as accessible anymore maybe but you can definitely put on a spin on it and you've definitely picked the right time to get back into it as there is plenty of it about now. Zara is full of fashion versions of Doc Martins and Vans have been everywhere for quite a bit.

[ReallyConvolutedCareerHistory]

I want to be a rock chick!

[YouWereRight]

I used to live that scene look. I've recently fallen back in love with clothes, after feeling quite meh for a few years.

I love that slouchy, casual look that note described, the monki, weekday, lazy oaf thing. I think you can definitely still dress quite scene, but in a slightly more suitable to grown up life way.

[botemp]

I agree it's just a thing of balancing it out, either go full on on top or bottom but not both. Speaking of Lazy Oaf they have some pink and black check high waisted trousers in currently that are slightly cropped that for whatever reason remind me very much of Avril Lavigne even though I think she always wore the plaids on top. Link here. With a simple top and styled with the high tops Vans on there it seems perfectly wearable to me.

Urban outfitters is another where you can find some fun pieces now and then. If you have the patience to browse, independent marketplaces like Etsy and TicTail are also great.

[SpoonfulOfJam]

Yeah, skater girl sounds more like it. Never really labelled myself back then.

I've never been to any of those shops, apart from h and m. I don't find their stuff fits well or washes very well though. That never bothered me 10 years ago. Funny how different things matter now.

Thank you for the advice... can't wait to start (saving and) shopping.

[MissWilmottsGhost]

I lived in jeans, t shirt and leather jacket from about 12 until my mid thirties when 'I don't give a fuck' started to look more like 'I just can't be bothered'. Now I rarely wear jeans, I am usually in a fairly sensible dress, and my long hair has been cropped.

I still show my metal past in my style though. I still wear several prominent piercings, my cropped hair is punky and often purple, and my boots are normally DMs.

Rather than dress the same as I did in my youth, I do a modern, mature style with goth/metal accessories

[CremeDeSudo]

I used to wear Indie Chick/Skater Girl fashion. I second H&M 'rock' section. What about some Band T's? They're are really in at the moment - there's lots about. Skinny's and Converse? I know you say you're not into leather jackets but I always feel more "rocker" when I wear mine. Have you looked at Pinterest for inspiration?

[MissWilmottsGhost]

I loved the slouchy, casual look when I was young too youwereright but on a middle aged woman I just felt it looked ever so frumpy.

[botemp]

Hmm I tend to agree with the music snobs that unless you bought the band t-shirt at a concert you really shouldn't be wearing them. IMO, obviously, at the end of the day it's just a t-shirt.

And yes, slouchy has to basically be reinterpreted to strategic draping to make it a bit more grown up.

I think Caroline de Maigret is actually one of the few that does Rock Chick (not so much the skater vibe though) done grown up very well but she has a very boyish figure which makes it easier in that sense. The Parisian set in general are interesting for that done/undone vibe, like Josephine La Baume, although it's definitely more than a bit of rock chick, it's a bit of a style on its own.