25 Top Iconic 90s Style Trends You Can Wear Right Now
Every decade has a signature look, and the 90s were no different. Grunge rockers were sporting flannels and combat boots, while starlets wore baby doll dresses, spaghetti strap tees, and plaid. As with all fashion trends, if you wait long enough, they will come back around. And now the 90s are back in a big way. Here are some 1990s-style trends that are gaining popularity this year.
As usual, current events had a big impact on the style of the time. Grunge music was big in Seattle, while West and East Coast rappers were battling it out with their rhymes. Internet and computer usage was on the rise, and Titanic was big at the box office. All of this had a big effect on the clothing and accessories of the day. If Kurt Cobain wore oval glasses and cardigans, so did everyone else. And if you saw the latest pop band wearing animal prints and crop tops, so did you. People were fashioning outfits from their favorite characters in hit movies like The Craft, Clueless, Empire Records, or MTV's arsenal of music videos from the Backstreet Boys and Pearl Jam.
So, what were the biggest fashion trends of the 90s? From bucket hats and overalls to work boots and oval sunglasses, 90s trends are back in a big way. And while there are some 90s trends we'd like to forget (kitten heels), there are many that are welcomed back into vogue.
Flannel
If you wanted to be cool in the 90s, you had to sport a flannel. Everyone from grunge rock singers to skater kids wore these oversized, plaid button-ups.
Spaghetti Straps
Showing off your shoulders was big back in the 90s. And what better way to do it than wearing spaghetti straps?
Combat Boots
A flannel shirt and cargo pant combo weren't complete without the combat boots. Whether ankle-high or higher, these shoes were the ultimate 90s accessory.
Bucket Hats
Bucket hats amped up the coolness factor for any outfit. And if you had them in trendy colors and textures, all the better.
Biker Shorts
Lady Diana famously wore oversized sweatshirts and biker shorts. This look caught on among teens and adults in the 90s. The comfort level could not be beat.
Overalls
Overalls combined high fashion and comfort in the 90s and hand lots of pocket room for your accessories like keys, chap stick, and discmans. And if you wore one strap up and one down, you were super cool.
Headbands
Headbands offer function and fashion by keeping your hair out of your eyes and adding an extra layer of color and dimension. The only problem was deciding which one to wear because 90s girls had literally dozens.
Cardigans
You can't go wrong with a cardigan today. And the same was true in the 90s. You could wear it preppy with a collared shirt or grunge style with a striped tee.
Slip Dresses
Slip dresses were all the rage among teens because they were an effortless way to look polished. Some wore them with combat boots as a contrast between fem and punk.
Scrunchies
Scrunchies weren't just for your hair. They were worn on the arm for fashion, too. High ponytails weren't complete without one or two of these elastic and fabric contraptions.
Work Boots
Overalls and oversized jeans looked great with a pair of work boots. While they were functional and fashionable, they weren't very comfortable because of their weight.
Baggy Jeans
Forget skinny jeans, the opposite ruled the 90s. In fact, the baggier the jeans, the better.
Snap Back Hats
Ball caps, especially snap-back hats, ruled supreme in the 90s, and most people had a huge collection. But no matter how many hats you had, you always had a favorite that was comfortably worn in.
Oval Glasses
The oval glasses trend took off when Kurt Cobain of Nirvana wore a pair in an MTV interview. From then on, they were the quintessential sunglasses of the era.
Leather Blazer
Leather blazers gave you just the right amount of edge. You could pair it with a button-up and jeans or wear it over a floral dress.
Tiny Purse
Although they didn't hold much, tiny purses were very popular in the 1990s. They could be pastel, neon, or even faux fur-covered.
Graphic Tees
Sure, people still sport graphic tees today, but they were huge in the 90s and featured everything from favorite cartoon characters to catchy sayings.
Bomber Jacket
If you weren't wearing a flannel, you were probably sporting a bomber jacket. These loose-fitting jackets came in a variety of colors.
Tie Dye
The 80s were a hard decade to shake, so it's a surprise that the tie-die crazy carried over to the 90s. Much like today, tie-dying your own t-shirts was the perfect sleepover activity.
Sports Jerseys
It didn't matter if you were a sports fan. People of the 90s loved their sports jerseys. They wore them with just about everything.
Plaid
Plaid was big back then. It came in many shapes and sizes, from shirts and dresses to skirts and accessories.
Animal Print
Whether leopard or zebra, animal prints were huge in the 90s and took the form of jackets, shirts, purses, and backpacks. The only rule? Just keep to one animal print at a time.
Beanies
Wearing a beanie had nothing to do with the weather back in the 90s. It just looked cool, and that's all anyone cared about.
Kerchiefs
Bandanas were worn as kerchiefs for the ultimate 90s accessory. They were inexpensive and came in tons of different colors.
Chokers
If you were wearing jewelry in the 90s, chances are you wore a choker. And choke, they did. If it were too tight, you'd be fussing with it all day long.
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