If the bright styles of the 80s were firmly fixated on the future, 90s fashion was all about the now. From grunge and hip-hop to sport and pop, it was an era in which people dressed to show their interests.
The 90s were tribal, and these distinctive looks allowed Gen X to be chameleons, changing their personality with their clothes. From a baggy two-piece long-sleeve shirt to a minimalist slip dress, 90s kids embraced the freedom of being themselves.
Gen X Styles
The 90s were a quarter of a century ago, but many of its looks are still proving trendy and timeless. Let’s explore some of the most popular 90s styles, and why they’re attracting Gen Z audiences today.
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Skater & Grunge
From Bart Simpson to Kurt Cobain, the rebellious dropout was an icon of the 90s for their attitude, and fashion. Backed by grunge and punk-style music, this was the foundation for one of the 90s’ most quintessential looks.
Bulky boots, baggy jeans, and band t-shirts covered with flannel overshirts were at the core of grunge and skater fashion. Double-layer t-shirts brought back by Rockstar Original are a classic example of a 90s look in a 21st-century form.
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Hip Hop & Sport
Close to grunge style at first glance, but with key differences, 90s hip hop and sporting fashions were interlinked. Bucket hats or baseball caps with music tees were embellished by statement sneakers from global sportswear brands.
While many clothes were still baggy, these were mixed with more fitting wear for ease of movement. Thanks to a continuing obsession with America, jerseys from the NFL and NBA were also popular with many 90s kids.
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Minimal Chic
Showing you didn’t have to go big to stand out, a popular option for 90s women was to go minimal. Taking influence from supermodels like Kate Moss, this meant single-colour slip dresses with sandals, or fitted suits in neutral colours.
Designers like Calvin Klein leaned into minimalism to focus on fabric and fit over color and complexity. This offered the freedom to let go of accessories and embellishments, keeping things simple, clean, and comfortable.
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Double Denim
Since its rise to stardom in the 1950s, every era of fashion has found a place for denim. In the 90s, that place was everywhere, on every clothes item, all at once.
From baggy to bootcut and white-dyed to stone-washed, jeans were ubiquitous for almost every age group in the 90s. And doubling up with denim jackets, shirts, or overalls was also a popular look in several years of the decade.
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Summer Styles
While boys extended the casual trend with long, loose shorts and bright, baggy tees, “girly-with-a-twist” was a common female look. Tied shirts or crop tops were often worn with denim shorts and skirts, keeping cool by putting hair in scrunchies.
Another popular 90s summer style was light, floral dresses combined with Doc Martens of various colors. Layering these with t-shirts and cycling shorts helped keep outfits practical without losing the feminine look.
Simpler Life
Though time has moved on and we’re now two generations later, Gen Z has found a fascination with 90s fashion. Part of the attraction is the combination of flexibility and comfort, that you feel free to be who you want.
Another is the rejection of fast fashion and the rising value of enduring, vintage items that can be worn often. Finally, in the online, smartphone world, the 90s represents the last decade in which everyone was present in the moment.
By choosing 90s fashion, people are showing an affection for simpler, less overwhelming times. It’s a step back to an era when people were their own canvas—not filtered, altered, and compared online.
There’s just one question anyone wanting to embrace and revive 90s fashion needs to ask themselves. Are you Team Nirvana, Team Run-DMC, Team Mariah, or Team Backstreet Boys?
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