The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly; Fashion Trends from the 90s

At the turn of the decade, as we left the 1980s behind the fashion world that was once dominated by high fashion and larger-than-life celebrity models, think Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Christy Turlington – we turned quickly to more casual attire and less over-the-top glamour looks. While we didn’t altogether leave the past behind us, take, for instance, the early 90s obsession with 60s and 70s style, by then, the Grunge look was officially commercialized. 

Styles became less masculine (no more padded shoulders), and femininity reigned, the extreme example of which has to be Kate Moss’ ‘heroin-chic’ waif-like thinness, a controversial trend that was characterized by a gaunt, emaciated look.

Pop culture began to have a massive impact on fashion styles at the time, with movies like Clueless and Britney Spear selling a sexy schoolgirl aesthetic characterized by short skirts, knee-high socks, and preppy blouses. 

The casual style continued to flourish into the 1990s, with everyday wear becoming a mainstay of big-name designers and stores such as Gap and Tommy Hilfiger, which also began to feature their logos predominantly across every article of clothing. 

The bohemian obsession of the 1970s continued to influence fashion throughout the 1990s. The use of mixed fabrics, embroidery, and European flourishes became all the rage. This bohemian look, when combined with the casual aesthetic and slim, chic effect, set the stage for the dominance of low-slung jeans and crop tops in the early 2000s. 

The trend of wearing pacifier necklaces originated from the rave and dance music culture that gained popularity in the 90s. People would wear them as a fun and playful accessory to complement their outfits and show their participation in the rave scene. The trend eventually expanded beyond raves and dance parties, becoming a mainstream fashion statement.

In 1992, the world was introduced to the young hip-hop group Kris Kross, and their biggest claim to fame to this day has to be the trend of wearing clothes backward—an incredibly inconvenient trend that drove parents insane.

The Backpack Purse trend was made famous by the movie Clueless. Opposed to the Backward Pants trend, this one was actually pretty useful and cute. And it’s stuck around to this day, but now we also wear our little bags crossed across our bodies.

The first mood ring, priced at $45, was invented by Josh Reynolds and Maris Ambats in New York in 1975. By the 1990s, they were all the rage and about as cheap as you could get. We loved them, and we still do.

Hair was anything but boring in the ’90s, thanks in large part to Manic Panic’s rainbow-hued hair dyes. Our mothers screamed; we ruined too many towels and put, god knows what, chemicals into our bloodstream.

When ‘N SYNC started frosting their tips it was game over, all the young boys started following suit. Thank god this trend did not last for long.

The Slip Dress Trend graced every red carpet, fashion runway, and, eventually, our department stores. There is no reason to be mad at this trend, which has stuck around for good.