The resurgence of ’90s fashion has resulted in a truly mixed bag of emotions. While the ’90s can be credited with providing us with now-favorable slip dresses and kitten heels, there’s also a raft of trends we’d like to keep in the past.
Here are the most popular ’90s fashion items and trends and we wore to death and are now making a huge comeback at present:
SCRUNCHIES
It’s safe to say that the biggest hair accessory of the ’90s was the scrunchie, available in a whole host of colors, sizes, and fabrics. Up to now, it’s still a freaking standard—a scrunchie as an accessory and a giveaway product for online sellers who are into makeup and fragrances.
BIRKENSTOCK
Who would’ve thought that Birks are from the 90s? In fact, these comfortable sandals, easily recognizable for their cork soles and buckles, were a staple of the ’90s hippie wardrobe, but today you’re more likely to see them worn by a more fashion-forward crowd. Birkenstocks fit right in with the so-called “normcore” concept of unpretentious, comforting clothing from the ’90s actually being subversively stylish. You can buy them in a wide variety of colors and styles.
CHOKERS
Chokers are lifesavers when it comes to fashion. These seductive necklaces, which often have a goth look, were all the rage in the ’90s. The tattoo choker in particular—a looping, cheaply made, plastic variation on the them. These chokers, as well as more traditional velvet and rhinestone ones, have once again become popular.
MOM JEANS
A cool girl staple! Known as “jeans” in the 90s, these ones were used to be high-waisted and rigid by default, but as more stretchy fabrics came onto the scene, tight-fitting skinny jeans became popular, and by the ’00s they were inescapable. Low-rises were also the norm then, and the high-waists of so-called Mom jeans have proven to be more flattering and comfortable for many, and can have a surprisingly timeless feel.
BIKER SHORTS
These trendy, very exquisite biker shorts are currently seen being worn in partner with oversized shirts and jackets. People have an understated, chic quality outside the house, as evidenced by the many pictures of ’90s style icon Princess Diana out and about in bike shorts that often circulate on Instagram. Many people discovered the elasticity and beauty of wearing these in the time of pandemic.
PLAID FLANNEL SHIRTS
Plaid has always been around, but in the ’90s it was everywhere, from the flannel shirts of grunge musicians to the yellow skirt suit famously worn by Alicia Silverstone in Clueless. Putting on a plaid piece is an easy shortcut to the boldness of ’90s style, as evidenced by pop star and Gen Z fashion Maven Olivia Rodrigo’s penchant for plaid dresses and miniskirts.
BOMBER JACKETS
Military-inspired style proved to be immensely popular in the ’90s. And leading the charge was the iconic bomber jacket. Designer Raf Simons spearheaded the trend that got an added boost from Tom Cruise in Top Gun and Natalie Portman in Léon: The Professional. Now, bomber jackets are proving that they’re one hell of a bomb. They’re making a comeback as a fashion statement in different forms and styles.
FANNY PACKS
Well for the record, we also didn’t know that these were called Fanny Packs.
At one point, they were just reserved for tourists to keep a watchful eye on their belongings. But fanny packs found a captive and even fashionable audience in the 90s. The late Karl Lagerfeld himself created his very own fanny pack for Chanel, which premiered on the brand’s runway in 1994. From that point on, the decade witnessed the debut of countless other designer and mass-produced fanny pack styles that would eventually epitomize an entire decade of fashion.
