Relive the 90s Fashion Decade With These 85 Iconic Trends

Of all the times, the 90s fashion decade is regarded as the ‘Golden Era’ of fashion, and for many good reasons.

At the confluence of analog with digital, portable CD players, game consoles, cell phones, internet, and MTV, the 90s fashion has the most unique styles, trends, and aesthetics.

The 90s was the decade of unique looks popularized by Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Nirvana, Beavis and Butthead, Juice, SNICK, Power Rangers, TGIF, and Wayne’s World.

A decade of unique fashion styles, aesthetics, and trends popularized by Lady Diana, Andre Agassi, La Toya Jackson, Run-DMC, and Spice Girls.

From headbands to scrunchies, tube tops, capri pants, spiky and dyed hair, and chained wallets, these are the 85 most iconic moments of the 90s.

1/85
Rayon Shirts

By VERSACE, GAP, FIORUCCI

A byproduct of 19th-century army materials manufacturing, rayon shirts were one of the coolest things of the 90s.

Soft, light, and spongy, the material became popular in hot countries hence the initial adoption by South American drug dealers.

Eventually, the rayon shirts made it into Holywood via LA’s wealthy socialites and became part of the popular culture.

2/85
Bucket Hats

By KANGOL, LACOSTE, BURBERRY

Popular in the late ’80s thanks to Jam Master Jay and LL Cool J, the bucket hat continued into the nineties as a hip-hop accessory.

Popularized by Dennis Rodman, Ghostface Killah, and Rakim in the 90s, the bucket hat is trendy again in 2023, thanks to Rihanna, All Saints, Justin Bieber, and Naomi Campbell.

3/85
Bike Shorts

By GIORDANA, CASTELLI, DE MARCHI

Introduced by celebrities like Madonna and Jane Fonda, spandex bike shorts were worn in and out of the gym.

The highest 90s moment of the bike shorts was reached when Princess Diana was spotted wearing her De Marchi orange biker shorts in the park.

The royal matched the orange shorts with a navy blue oversized sweatshirt branded by Virgin Atlantic, gifted to her by Sir Richard Branson.

4/90
Neon Windbreakers

By OCEAN PACIFIC, REEBOK, NIKE

The brighter, the better! Neon windbreakers were hot in the 90s, among kids and parents alike.

The look emerged in the 80s and reached full maturity in the 90s, thanks to TV shows and popular school culture.

5/90
Sweaters with Stipes

By GUESS, MOSCHINO, HUGO BOSS, ICEBERG

From Kurt Cobain to Freddie Krueger, stripe sweaters were a prevalent clothing choice in the 90s.

The look was inspired by Grunge music bands, Friends, and shows like Nightmare on Elm Street.

6/90
Bandannas

By LEVIS, ELEPHANT, CAROLINA MFG

Tied around the head to showcase which rapper you were siding with, bandannas were a trendy head accessory in the 90s.

Later on, the meaning of wearing bandannas shifted from ‘gang-related’ to signaling sexual inclusivity – see the Handkerchief Code for more info.

7/90
Slap Bracelets

by FRUIT OF THE LOOM, OM CLOTHING, GILDAN

Slap bracelets (or snap bracelets) were invented by Wisconsin teacher Stuart Anders in 1983 and sold under the brand name “Slap Wrap.”

Made from flexible stainless steel covered with silicone in all the craziest prints and colors, wrist-slapping bracelets were all the rage in the 90s and used to showcase one’s tastes in movies, music, and so on.

8/90
Bike Caps

By COLNAGO, BILLABONG, BROOKLYN

Launched as a casquette by Colnago (cap in French, describing a peaked cotton hat worn by road cyclists) the accessory was tweaked by Brooklyn hip-hop celebrities in the 90s.

The brim was flipped up to create a unique look that eventually took over the pop culture of those times.

9/90
Coogi Knitwear

By COOGIE, VERSACE, MOSCHINO, JENNY KEE

It was in the 90s when rappers started endorsing fashion designers in their songs.

Notorious B.I.G. mentioned Coogi in his lyrics and the fans went wild – see “One More Chance – Stay with Me (Remix)” launched in the summer of 1995.

10/90
Backward Caps

By NEW ERA, STETSON, FUBU

The trend of wearing hats backward was started by Ken Griffey Jr., a famous baseball player of the 90s.

The trend of wearing hats that way was adopted by music stars like Dr. Dre, Will Smith, Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., NAS, and Janet Jackson spreading like fire throughout the 90s hip-hop community and beyond.

11/90
Starter Jackets

By STARTER

Sported by anyone, from athletes to movie stars, Starter jackets were the apex of the 90s way of dressing.

Created by Starter, a premium athletic brand established in 1971, the jacket was designed to represent your favorite team.

Nowadays, the Starter jacket is seen as the first adoption of sports clothing by the masses.

 

12/90
Basketball Kicks

by AIR JORDAN, CONVERSE, REEBOK, BRITISH KNIGHTS

From Air Jordan to Rebook and BK, basketball sneakers remain the most representative fashion moments of the 90s.

After Michael Jordan won his sixth basketball championship in the ’90s, everyone felt that wearing a pair of Air Jordans bestowed them with magic powers.

Each pair of Jordans kicks released during the 90s was an absolute banger, and every pop culture icon rocked a pair of basketball kicks.

13/90
Preppy Cardigans

By OLD NAVY, MICHAEL KORS, MARNI

From TV shows like Jawbreaker, Fresh Prince, and Friends to Cameron Diaz’s looks in ‘There’s Something About Mary,’ cardigans were everywhere in the 90s.

There was nothing more stylish than a cardigan thrown over your shoulders or on top of your spaghetti strap dress.

14/90
Ripped Jeans

By PEPE JEANS, LEVIS, CALVIN KLEIN

Seen as a political statement, ripped jeans became a trendy garment choice to showcase one’s anger towards society in the 90s.

Kurt Cobain and Madonna popularised the look, shifting it from a form of protest into a fashion trend that still reigns supreme.

15/85
Tennis Headbands

By NIKE, ADIDAS, SERGIO TACCHINI

Popularized by the tennis stars of the 90s, thick headbands became a must-have hair accessory that’s still permeating the catwalk scene.

Headbands were everywhere; in colleges paired with preppy clothes, movies, and music clips on MTV.

16/85
Tracksuits

By ADIDAS, FILA, UMBRO, TOMMY HILFIGER

It was in the 90s when the masses decided to rebel against fashion stylists and dress by the street rules.

Affordable and comfortable, tracksuits became the de-facto outfit of the streets, so much so that it permeated into the realm of high-end designer labels, topping the 90s fashion magazines and catwalks.

With tracksuits worn by everyone, from hip-hoppers to British footballers and grandpas, the trend signaled the emergence of the streetwear movement.

17/85
Baggy ‘Hip-Hop’ Jeans

By CARHARTT, WRANGLER, CROSS COLOURS

There is no discussion about 90s fashion without talking about the hip-hop baggy jeans.

The baggier they were, the higher the prizes and respect. Equally, the brand name – it had to be recognized to be appreciated by your peers.

Launched by stars and hip-hoppers of those times, the trend was picked up by teenagers and worn at school, discos, and even at home.

Baggy jeans had a big comeback in 2023 and are one of the trending jean styles of this year.

18/85
Straps Down Overalls

By GUESS, TOMMY HILFIGER

Showcased in movies, music clips, and on stage by supermodels, overalls were super popular in the nineties.

However, the classic overall garment was rocked with one strap or even both straps down, and without a shirt underneath, in what later became known as the ‘Jodeci Style’.

19/85
Combat Boots

By Dr MARTENS, SERGIO ROSSI, MONCLER

Popularized by the 80s goth, grunge, and punk subculture, combat boots were the footwear everyone wanted to have – in particular, Dr. Martens – in the 90s.

The combat boots look was popularized in the 90s by the ‘Tank Girl’ devotees, fictional characters like Daria Morgendorffer, and celebs like Mel B. from Spice Girls.

20/90
Cargo Pants

By DICKIES, CARHARTT, WRANGLER, SKIDZ

Thanks to Notorious B.I.G., Busta Rhymes, Tom Cruise, and Brad Pitt, cargo pants and military-style khaki pants became mainstream fashion in the 90s.

Cargo pants of the 90s had a multi-pocket construct ideal for carrying Gameboy consoles, pagers, cell phones, wallets, keys, and much more.

21/90
High-Waist ‘Mom’ Jeans

By LEVIS 501, GUESS, GITANO, JOOP

Thanks to a smart campaign conducted by Levis – the Spike Lee commercial – high-waist jeans became a fashionable wardrobe item in the 1990s.

Guess followed up the right way with their own high-waist jeans for women, and mum jeans became a 90s thing.

Three decades later, nineties mum jeans are still holding strong as one of the most demanded garments in streetwear.

22/90

Slip Dresses

By LA PERLA, EMANUEL UNGARO, ARMANI

Launched as an ‘underwear-as-outerwear’ kind of garment, the slip dress became popular towards the end of the nineties decade.

Made from layered chiffon, polyester satins, or charmeuse trimmed with lace, the slip dress exemplifies the minimalist and relaxed vibe of those times.

23/90
‘Grunge-Style’ Flannel Shirts

By CARHART, LEVI’S, WOOLRICH

Popularized by Grunge rockers who wore them as part of their trademarked low-key outfits, flannel shirts reached peak popularity in the mid-90s.

Adopted by country music fans, flannel shirts spread like wildfire becoming a mainstream fashion trend and clothing staple for generations to come.

24/90
Velvet Outfits

By GIORGIO ARMANI, YVES SAINT LAURENT, NEW LOOK

In the 90s, anything made from velvet was a must-wear by the fashion icons of those times.

The best example is Gwyneth Paltrow’s red velvet suit and red shoes making her look fused into the red carpet.

But of all 90s velvet looks, it is Batsheva’s Victorian necklines and YSL structured cuts with a gathered waist that stand out as the epitome of those times.

25/90
Tees & Blazers

By NO FEAR, FRUIT OF THE LOOM, MOSCHINO

‘Tees under Blazers’ became a thing in the early 90s, thanks to movie stars promoting the look as a quick smart casual look to be worn at the office, out, and even on a relaxed dinner date.

By the mid-90s, labels like Moschino, Versace, and Calvin Klein introduced the trend of high-end tees and blazers combos in various colors and styles.

The trend was cemented by affordable streetwear labels like Fruit of the Loom and No Fear by launching skater tees designed to match all kinds of denim blazers and suit jackets.

26/90
Mood Rings

By BEWILD, LAGUNA

The first color-changing jewelry appeared in New York City during the 70s fashion rage and flower-power times, as a way of showing emotions.

The 90s mood rings were a bit more advanced; built with a temperature-sensitive liquid crystal encased in quartz, the rings changed color according to one’s skin temperature – supposedly triggered by blood flow and emotions.

In 2023, mood rings are back with a twist, as anxiety rings, with rotatable bands and beads you can spin with your fingers.

27/90
Skateboarding Logo Tees

By NO FEAR, ALIEN WORKSHOP, TOY MACHINE, TRASHER, SPITFIRE

In the 90s, the global street skateboarding culture led to an explosion of ‘mall rats,’ for example, teenagers rocking hand-made graphic tees with skate logos and similar slogans.

The trend was quickly commercialized by brands like Alien Workshop, Hook-Ups, Toy Machine, Thrasher, No-Fear, and Spitfire, and the rest are skatewear history books.

28/90
Rollerblading Style

By ROLLERBLADE, POLLY POCKET, ROOKIE

In the ’90s, skateboarding was taken over by the youth culture and used to compete or protest.

In response, inline skating – initially seen as a close competitor but later seen as a form of alternative fitness and dance, was adopted by the more mature market.

The fitness and disco dancing aspect sought by rollers resulted in a different fashion vibe, similar to the 80s fashion fitness days with leg warmers, bike shorts, and neon tights.

29/90
Side-Stripe Jeans

By PARASUCO, RICHMOND, GLORY, NIKE, ADIDAS

In the 90s, pants and jeans with two stripes from waist to ankle were designed to show you had the cash flow of the rappers who rocked them at the time.

This trend spilled over into the tracksuit pants of those times.

30/90
One-Leg Rolled-Up Pants

Aka ‘GHETTO LEG’ Style

The “ghetto leg” style consisted of rolling up a pant’s leg to prevent it from getting stuck in the bike’s chain during life-threatening ‘ghetto activities.’

This was a functional approach that later translated into hip-hop music and beyond as a means of saying: “Don’t mess with me.”

31/90
Bleached Hairstyles

Aka ‘SUICIDE BLONDE’ Style

INXS introduced the term “suicide blonde” to describe a misunderstood, complex person on the verge of collapsing.

Thanks to celebrities like Eminem, Drew Barrymore, and Gwen Stefany, the bleached blonde hairstyle became representative of the 90s fashion decade.

32/90
Calf-Lenght Pants

Aka Pedal Pushers or Capri Pants

The name ‘pedal pushers’ recalls pants worn by cyclists who avoid long pants that can be caught in bicycle chains.

The style was the female reflection of the ‘Ghetto Leg’ style – part of the teenage clothing looks of the 90s

Not to confuse ‘Capri pants’ and ‘pedal pushers’ with shorts or cropped kick flares.

Pedal pushers follow the calf-length trousers style of the 50s and 60s fashion.

Often cuffed and worn tight to the skin, the style is sometimes referred to as ‘clam diggers.’

33/90
Chain Wallets

By DICKIES, HARLEY DAVIDSON, LEVIS

Wallet chains were used in the 50s by bikers performing exhibitions on motorcycles as a way to secure their wallets.

The trend resurfaced in the 90s as a trifold or bifold leather wallet anchored at the fold with a sturdy chain (single or double) that hangs out on the side of the leg.

34/90
Unbuttoned Shirts

By CALVIN KLEIN, TOMMY HILFIGER, LEVIS, GUESS

Unbuttoned shirts were the antidote to the 90s fashion styles pushing toward tailored men’s looks via high-end designer labels’ advertising.

Shirts and ties were seen as a trend for older people, where showing skin was all about subverting or breaking the idea of tailoring conformity.

35/90
Hypercolor T-shirts

By GENERRA SPORTSWEAR

Hypercolor was a line of clothing manufactured by Generra Sportswear and marketed as Generra Hypercolor, Generra Hypergrafix, or Global Hypercolor.

The line comprised mainly T-shirts and shorts that changed color via a thermochromic pigment made by Matsui Shikiso Chemical of Japan, one color when cold and one when warm.

36/90
Tank Tops

By MOSCHINO, VERSACE, CALVIN KLEIN, MUJI

Worn by action hero men of the 90s, man tanks became popular among women thanks to music and movies by female celebrities.

Supertight man tanks were all the rage on the bodies of stars like Jean-Claude Van Damme and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Big, muscly bodies were the standard physiques of the 90s heroes, and no garment was more suitable for showing off their six-packs and overinflated pecs.

37/90
Discman Headphones

By SONY

A status symbol of the 90s fashion trends, Discman was Sony’s brand name for portable CD players.

With the 1st Discman device launched by Sony in 1984 as the D-50 or D-5, Discman was the perfect example of the love-hate relationship every music lover had in the 90s.

While the tracks would always skip, the looks you got from having a $100+ player on your belt were worth all the stress.

38/90
Piercings

Aka – REBEL CULTURE

From rave outfits to pop and skater cultures, piercings were the must-haves of the 90s fashion trends.

The ’90s were the prime time for piercings; nose, lips, tongues, ears, belly buttons, nipples, and piercings were conquering places suitable enough to poke a needle through.

39/90
Lunchbox Bags

By RAVE SMILEY FACE, TOM CORBETT, PLANET OF THE APES

Popularized by grunge, goth, metal, and other hardcore alternative celebrities like Marilyn Manson and Gwar, the lunchbox was a handle bag ideal for stowing essentials and signaling your tribe affiliation.

40/90

Sailor Stripes

By POLO RALPH, TOMMY HILFIGER, MOSCHINO

Striped tops were made by every 90s fashion brand from Tommy Hilfiger, Eddie Bauer, and Polo.

Ill-fitting horizontal or vertical block stripe tops were the rage of 90s fashion trends, rocked by celebs everywhere, from holidays to the red carpets.

41/85

Sheer Dresses

By GUCCI, VERSACE, JEAN PAUL GAULTIER

Babydoll shaped, with thin spaghetti straps, the sheer dress style became a global fashion trend after Kate Moss’s iconic appearance in 1993 – pictured above – a trend etched in the fashion movies and books forever.

42/90
Pump Sneakers

By REEBOK, NIKE

Basketball pump sneakers hit the 90s fashion scene on the feet of royals and athletes like Lady D., Dominique Wilkins, and Michael Chang.

Made by Nike and Reebok, ‘Pump sneakers’ were mesmerizing and versatile, pointing to streetwear clothing styles we only now begin to understand.

43/90
Turtlenecks

By POLO RALPH, TOMMY HILFIGER, TRIPLE FIVE SOUL

Turtlenecks were a staple of the 90s fashion styles.

Suitable for the wintertime, 90s turtlenecks came in two varieties: extra-thick for sensitive souls, and close-cut, ribbed for the badass ones.

44/90
Color Blocks (With A Message)

By CROSS COLORS

Carl Jones and T.J. Walker set to create the “Clothing Without Prejudice” label to boost social awareness of AIDS and racial discrimination.

Infused with African motifs and colors, the American label has become a beacon of inspiration for good, sported by celebs like Arsenio Hall, Kriss Kross, and Jamie Foxx.

45/90
Rice Necklaces

By NOMINATION, MICHAEL KORS, VIVIENNE WESTWOOD

The vials are made of glass comprising a grain of rice as glass makes the rice look bigger, and the writing can be read more easily.

Most inscriptions contain a name, date, a rose, or a short text like “I love you.”

Rice writing originated in ancient Anatolia, Turkey, and India where rites state that those who receive it become luckier and wealthier.

In the 90s fashion, rice necklaces with your lover’s name were the ideal accessory to make a cult-ish, religious almost, statement of love.

46/90
Clipped Pagers

By MOTOROLA, NEC, PANASONIC, PHILIPS

There were not many smartphones in the 90s, but pagers were the norm.

Pagers could receive messages, were lightweight, had long battery life, and were very cheap.

There was no transmitter inside the pager, and there was no physical possibility of sending any response.

47/90
Pinned & Tagged Backpacks

By ELLESSE, HEAD, NIKE, ADIDAS

Emerged as a way to represent your crew or favorite bands, the trend continues to the current times as laptop decals and smartphone covers.

Inspired by the backpack carried by the American soldiers in the Vietnam War, the 90s backpack tags were initially symbols of power and love.

Over time, the movement transitioned into ways of showcasing one’s musical affiliations and tastes.

48/90
Leather Jackets

By PELLE PELLE, AVIREX, 8-BALL

The strong influence of the first generation of supermodels turned the classic leather jacket into a fashion trend in the 90s.

From mid-length to waist-cropped jackets in snakeskin prints and preppy tag-ons, leather jackets became the uniform of the ’90s style icons such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, and Cindy Crawford.

49/90
Large Hoop Earrings

By BVLGARI, CARTIER, CHOPARD

Emerging from Africa (notably Egypt and Sudan), hoop earrings symbolize cultural identity, rank, and protection.

The style made its way to Rome via pirates, and in the 90s fashion times, hoop earrings returned as a symbol of style and rebellion over the status quo.

50/90
Flat Top Haircuts

Aka, McHAMMER HAIRCUT

Big Daddy Kane, Will Smith, Charles Oakley, and Kid ‘n Play Flat Top HaircutsA “flattop” is a short haircut where the hair on the top of the head is usually standing upright and cut to form a flat-appearing deck.

The flattop was popular in 1950s fashion but faded in popularity with the emergence of longer hairstyles in the late 70s, resurfacing in the early 1990s thanks to popular TV shows, music, and basketball celebrities.

51/90
Spiky Haircuts

Aka, PUNK Hairstyle

In times of rising hard-rock bands, post-Cold War fashion styles, and rebellious punk hairstyles, all blending and forming the 90s pop culture, the spiky haircut was a ‘must-have.’

By the end of the ’90s decade, spiky haircuts began to morph with bleached hair and piercings into a unique and characteristic style of the nineties decade.

52/90
Wallabees Shoes

By CLARKS

The crepe-soled shoes were equally cool in urban and prep circles, the hallmark of a good ’90s fashion trend.

Clark’s Wallabees enjoyed renewed popularity during the 1990s thanks to Wu associations.

Wu-Tang rapper Ghostface was the undisputed champion of Clark’s Wallabees, explaining the current collab between the two brands to release the classic Wallabee in three exclusive colorways.

53/90
Knee Socks

Aka, THIGH-HIGH SOCKS

The 90s school-girl knee socks look made famous by Cher Horowitz’s (Alicia Silverstone) appearance in the ‘Clueless’ TV show.

High-fashion brands like Prada quickly picked up the style, and the sheer socks with loafers style were born, a look that resurfaces time and time again.

54/90
Leather Chokers

By H.SAMUEL, URBAN OUTFITTERS, HOT TOPIC

Chunky leather and chain chokers were the ideal forms of punk expression during the 90s fashion styles.

There were also more sophisticated versions with crosses, skulls, flowers, and hearts.

55/90
Platform Sneakers

By SKECHERS, NIKE

Platform sneakers were trendy in the 90s, with many brands (Skechers) making skate shoes, Air Max 95-like trainers, and the half-dressy, half-sneaker hybrids.

Some other popular platform shoes of the 90s were ‘Flatforms,’ ‘Lace-Up Platforms,’ ‘Sneaker Platforms, ‘ and ‘Foam Flip-Flop Platforms.’

56/90
Platform Slides

By BIRKENSTOCK, H&M, STEVE MADDEN

With the platform shoe style taking over the 90s women’s footwear, platform variations emerged, from platform sneakers to more relaxed styles such as the Slide platform.

In the ’90s, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who didn’t own at least one style of platform slides, from Thong Sandal Platform to Strappy Platform Sandal and even Platform Flip Flop.

57/90
Claw Clips

By BARRETTE HAIR CLIPS

Claw clips were, in the ’90s, the ultimate chic hair accessory, promoted by Jennifer Aniston’s character Rachel Greene in ‘Friends Over and over again.’

58/90
Cat-Eye Sunglasses

by LE SPECS, LINDA FARROW, SAINT LAURENT, GUCCI

Cat-eye sunglasses and oversized cat-eye style glasses frames peaked in the ’90s as excellent accessories for girls who wanted to have fun.

Modern throw-back cat-eye frames are often associated with the celebrities and royals of those days.

59/90
Preppy Plaids

By TOMMY HILFIGER, RALPH LAUREN, CHANEL

Here’s another 90s fashion trend attributed to Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) and her iconic preppy style yellow plaid blazer and skirt set from the Clueless TV show.

The plaid set outfit sees a resurgence in 2023, worn as a plaid cardigan and tank combo to create a modern preppy look.

60/90
Fanny Packs

By FILA, CARHARTT, LONGCHAMP

Fanny packs bore the brunt of many fashion jokes, but in the ’90s, they were revered as a brilliant way to carry all your stuff hands-free.

Nowadays, waist belt bags are back with a vengeance, spotted on everyone from fashion influencers to Kendall Jenner.

61/90
Digital Watches

By CASIO, SEIKO

Digital watches were the 90s attempt at wearable technology and the smartwatches we have today.

Techy watches were all the rage in those days, and CASIO’s watches – from classic to G-Shock line – catered to all, from office to techwear fashion lovers.

62/90
Extra Flared Pants

By ECKO ULTD., LEVIS, DIESEL

As a successor of the booming 70s fashion trend sparked by Palazzo Pants, the wide-legged pant style caught attention thanks to denim houses reinventing the look.

Palazzo Pants also drew inspiration from the wide-legged cuffed pants worn by avant-garde fashionistas in the 30s and 40s, such as Katharine Hepburn, Greta Garbo, and Marlene Dietrich.

63/90
Hair Scrunchies

by BURBERRY, TED BAKER, CHAMPION

Neomi Campbell, Britney Spears, Demi Moore, Sarah Jessica Parker, Madonna, Paula Abdul

In 90s fashion, hair scrunchies hold the synonym of getting ready for elementary school.

Wearing scrunchies in the 90s felt fresh and ready for a fitness session; nowadays, it feels romantic and luxurious.

64/90
Spaghetti-Straps Dresses

By REISS, MISS ANTOINETTE, AMERICA TODAY

Most 90s spaghetti-strap tops and dresses were worn to elegant soirees – see Gwyneth Paltrow’s 1999 Oscars outfit.

But, there was another more casual version of the dinner spaghetti straps, with branded prints and matched with denim, ideal for going out with friends.

65/90
Leopard Prints

Aka, ANIMAL FASHION

Started by catwalk models like Naomi Cambel and taken to stardom by celebs on MTV like Spice Girl’s Mel B, in the 90s, animal prints were everywhere.

You’d see them on midi lengths in snakeskin fabric and full-body outfits printed in leopard patterns; animal print styles were definite signs of luxury taste.

66/90
Chainmail Dresses

By PACO RABANNE, VALENTINO, VERSACE

The chainmail-style fabric was brought back to life after Gianni Versace created a wearable dress that took the 90s fashion scene by storm.

Chainmail is a type of flexible armor made of metal rings linked together in a well-defined pattern to form a mesh, also used as a military robe between the 3rd century BC and the 16th century AD in Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

67/90
Corsets

By VIVIENNE WESTWOOD, JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER, AGENT PROVOCATEUR

Owning and wearing lots of corsets was a thing of the 90s fashion.

Available in various styles and constructs, such as corset bodices, ribbon corsets, pipe sets, front-laced corsets, waspies, and Guepiere corsets, the 90s corsets went great with fancy skirts.

68/90
Printed Leggings

By NAUTICA, NIKE, REEBOK

The trend of printed leggings started in the 80s, with the help of Olivia Newton-John and her ‘Let’s Get Physical’ clip and workout outfits, and went well into the late 90s fashion days.

69/90
Strappy Heels

By CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN, JIMMY CHOO, GIVENCHY

Once the go-to red-carpet shoe for 90s It-girls, from Jennifer Aniston to Kate Moss, the strappy heels are no longer reserved solely for evening engagements.

Strappy heels of the 90s fashion days were paired with dinner dresses or office trousers, nowadays with jeans and blazers.

70/90
Halter-Neck Tops

By EMILIO PUCCI, ZIMMERMANN, JIL SANDER

Introduced as a new sleeveless style, similar to tank tops but with straps tied behind the neck, halter necks became the official tops of the 90s trends, usually paired with boot-cut jeans.

71/90
Vests

By PACO RABANNE, VALENTINO, BALMAIN

Made from a wide range of materials – from leather to velour and silk, 90s vests were worn as independent pieces rather than as a suit combo and matched with skirts and jeans.

72/90
Lit-Up Sneakers

By L.A. LITES

Short-lived but making 90s fashion history, the Lit Up Sneakers were a unique pair of high-tech smart kicks with lights in the heel.

Lites were awesome for stunting around with your friends in middle school but horrible when trying to escape the cops at night.

73/90
Tube Tops

By TOMMY HILFIGER, LOEWE, WOLFORD

Tobe tops were the ultimate fashion and comfort pieces in the 90s, seen as a must-have for any respectable wardrobe girl.

Usually accessorized with an oversized necklace, the strapless tops came in colors and materials.

74/90
Beanies

By POLO RALPH, MONCLER, STETSON, GUCCI

While the name sounds strange, beanies are nothing but a knit cap of simple, tapering constructions.

Worn by the movie stars, athletes, and rappers of the 90s, beanies came in various styles, materials, and materials.

75/90
Branded Baseball Caps

By NEW ERA, DICKIES, STUSSY

The baseball cap is so ubiquitous in American culture that it could be called America’s national hat.

Made of a soft cap and stiff visor, it is typically adjustable at the back thanks to velcro, plastic, or elastic band.

But what made the baseball cap so famous was Jay-Z’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt, in 1996, where he appeared on the cover hidden under a fedora and scarf fit for a mafia don.

76/90
Oversized Bottoms & Tops

FUBU, KARL KANI, ROCAWEAR, WU-WEAR

The decade stands out thanks to a unique blend of streetwear looks borrowed from skater and hip-hop subcultures.

Oversized jackets, cargo shorts, hoodies, and T-shirts, in combos we see even now, as the streetwear trend.

77/90
Tie-Dye Tops

By VANS, FRUIT OF THE LOOM

In the 90s, everyone wore a tie-dye T-shirt, sweater, or jacket.

Tie-dyeing was simple, often done at home, and consisted of folding and twisting the fabric of a garment, binding it with strings or rubber bands, and immersing it in various dyes to achieve unique patterns of colors.

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Oversized Knits

By JAROL, ICEBERG

Coming in all colors, materials, and styles, 90s perfection knits had one thing in common: oversize.

Worn everywhere, from school to the gym and TV, the knits paired with skinny joggers were ‘the bomb’!

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Cropped Tops

By TOMMY HILFIGER, BILLABONG, JUICY COUTURE

After Tommy Hilfiger launched an aggressive campaign promoting cropped tops, every stylish girl wanted to wear one and look like Aaliyah.

There were even models for guys who wanted to be like Grand Puba or Puff Daddy.

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School Bags

By JANSPORT, TUMI, DAKINE, NIKE

The 90s were also the years when branded school bag trends started to rise, with labels like JanSport holding the top spot.

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Jorts (Short Jeans)

By GUESS JEANS, VERSACE, MOSCHINO, CALVIN KLEIN

In the 90s, denim shorts (also called ‘jorts,’ a ‘portmanteau of jeans,’ ‘shorts,’ or ‘short jeans’ were worn by both genders.

The most popular style of the 90s fashion was above-knee, with the ends rolled up twice or styled with a high-rise straight fit and long fray hem.

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90s Preppy Style

By POLO RALPH, TOMMY HILFIGER, LACOSTE

The uniforms of old private Northeastern colleges and preparatory schools reached peak popularity in the 90s fashion stage, commercially driven by the advent of Polo and Hilfigers’ stylish looks.

Also, the preppy style with prep jackets, shirts, shorts in bright colors, and equestrian aesthetics was embraced by urban culture in the 90s.

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Hip-hop Boots

By TIMBERLAND, LUGZ, KARL KANI

Hip-hop boots matched with sagged, baggy jeans and chains – Notorious BIG and Tupac.

Nothing was fresher than sporting a fresh pair of 6-inch Timberlands or Lugs, and you were a pro if you cleaned them with your pencil eraser.

While Timberland was already popular in the 90s, Lugz made the connection to the hip-hop world.

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Skateboard Sneakers

by DC, CSC, AIRWALK, MUSKA

There was a silent battle in the 90s grade schools between Airwalks and Vans’ skate sneakers.

Skaters were fiercely loyal to their brands, as the ultimate supremacy of skate shoes was at stake, a war eventually won by Vans.

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Zubaz Pants

By ZUBAZ, SKIDS

Nowadays known as sweatpants, Wild Pants were introduced to the 90s fashion scene by rappers like Hammer and Vanilla Ice.

Made of soft, breathable fabrics suitable for dancing, these loose-fitting pants came in various colors and prints, with a drawstring closure and taper at the leg.

Conclusion

This compilation of 90s fashion moments is a gold mine for the 1990s nostalgic ones and those seeking some 90s party outfit inspiration.

From the rare fashion moments of the 1990s to the most-wanted looks of the nineties decade – that endure today – and from cropped cardigans and kitten heels to slip dresses, these are the best.

The nineties fashion shaped how we understand and wear fashion, from backward baseball caps to bucket hats, knee socks, fanny packs, spaghetti straps, to celebrity footwear collabs, which are so relevant right now.

These iconic 90s fashion looks resurface decades later, inspiring the latest fashion trends.

Now it’s your turn…

Which one of these 90s fashion looks is your favorite and why?

Are there any other ICONIC 90s fashion ideas you know and want to add to this list?

Comments below, please!