These 1990s Fashion Trends Capture What It Means to Be Cool Without Trying Hard (2024)

Grunge & Alt Rock

If you think about it, the energy of this decade really began when Nirvana came out with the song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991). Suddenly, the posh, feminine, and emotional synthesizers of the 80s were out, only to be replaced by a filthy lassitude that captured a feeling of ennui and disinterest in the status quo.

Style trends followed suit, and Seattle-born Kurt Cobain unintentionally made scruffy, unwashed hairstyles and a carefree flannel shirt the look of the moment. Rebel child Drew Barrymore donned a choker as her main statement jewelry, then box dyed her hair bleach blonde and let her dark roots grow out. Courtney Love, lead singer of Hole wore an ironic tutu and tiara, but what made her look inherently grunge was that she didn’t care if her mascara was smudged or if lipstick was on her teeth. The grunge era of the 90s came when no one expected it, making “messy” and “grimy” a choice rather than a concern.

Casual Everyday Chic

If you were cool in the 90s, you were someone who did as little as possible and stole the show anyway. The 90s made casual everyday wear incredibly chic, as seen in the iconic tabloid images of Princess Diana waltzing through the streets of London wearing nothing but sneakers, crew socks, biker shorts, and a sweatshirt. Julia Roberts probably had a whole closet full of chunky knitted cardigans that captured the feeling of drinking coffee and reading a book on a Sunday morning. Instead of a designer gown, Janet Jackson literally showed up to the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards in baggy denim overalls. In the 90s, dressing casual was anything but casual.

Supermodel Glamour

Even though the 90s were laid back and obsessed with effortlessness, it was still the era of the supermodel. Otherworldly beauties like Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Tyra Banks, and Cindy Crawford ran the runways and created a whole new level of unattainable.

Even though the supermodel club was incredibly elite and hard to get into, their glossy magazine spreads inspired style trends such as satin slip dresses, animal print coats, and statement handbags. It set in motion countless items made from high-shine fabrics, like metallics, sequins, microfiber, vinyl, and silk. Vixens like Kate Moss entered the scene, launching the “heroin chic” movement that made everyone feel like they had to be skinny to be beautiful. (Not every trend from the 90s should be brought back.)

Goth, Punk, & Nu Metal

If you weren’t following supermodels in the 90s, you may have just been a goth kid at heart. After Siouxsie Sioux began popularizing goth style in the 80s with her cat-eye makeup and frilly, yet flowing jet black hair, it peaked in the 90s and even influenced pop culture. One of the most iconic “goth” looks of the decade would have to be Fairuza Balk in The Craft (1996), as her iconic character Nancy Downs captured not just the style, but the attitude. The same goes for Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice (1988), saying “I myself am strange and unusual,” with spooky pride. If you were just as “strange” during this time, you know you wore Doc Martens and platform Demonias covered in buckles.

On your left, you’ve also got punk fashion of the 90s, which you probably wouldn’t find at a red carpet event, but you would see it on young adults with mohawks at late night clubs wearing studded vests that were shorn, torn, and decorated with their own pins and patches. On your right, you’ve got your nu metal kids wearing beanies, band t-shirts, gel-spiked hair, and dreadlocked beards while blasting Korn and System of a Down and dreaming of chaos at Woodstock 99′.

Although the pompadours, bodycon dresses, and Bettie Page bangs of the rockabilly scene rooted in 1950s nostalgia deserves its own category, it can also be considered a cousin of these darker, more “misfit” trends of the 90s.

Rave & Neon

Raves started underground, where this subculture provided a safe space for young people to dance to house music and party until dawn in remote warehouses.

With this scene’s signature neon colors, hightop sneakers, furry bikini tops, body glitter, and face gems, it’s no wonder that rave fashion made its way into pop music. Just look at Gwen Stefani in the 90s, with her twisty space buns and brightly colored hair. Look at Christina Aguilera with her studded belts and knotty hair extensions. Look at literally any member of the Spice Girls, who arguably wore platforms better than any other human in history. The 90s solidified the rave scene as a significant cultural moment that still shows no sign of dying down.

Hip-hop & R’n’B

Although hip-hop started in the 70s and gained momentum in the 80s, no one on planet Earth could disagree that the genre peaked in the 90s. Musical acts like Boyz II Men and Bones Thugs-n-Harmony started style trends that were emulated by boy bands and other pop music groups, but never truly replicated.

When you think of rapper Tupac Shakur—one of the most iconic figures of the decade—you think of his NY Yankees cap, his nose ring, his gold chain necklace, and the paisley bandana he wore around his head, which set trends that never went out of style. In the 90s hip-hop world, you also saw tracksuits, Sovereign rings, and FUBU t-shirts. Color blocking and kente cloth were major, as seen in the all-female hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa. And if one accessory exemplified 90s hip-hop, it was Timberland boots, which were worn by Notorious B.I.G., Aaliyah, Tupac, and pretty much anyone who knew what was up.

School Girl & Business Wear

If one outfit could capture what it meant to be young, cute, and sexy in the 90s, it would have to be the school girl look. This decade loved to put an ironic twist on the stuffy styles associated with academia and the business world, tapping into the “ingenue” archetype that was so popular at the time.

Think of Alicia Silverstone strutting through the halls of Bronson AlcottHigh School in Clueless (1995), wearing a yellow plaid blazer with a matching pleated skirt and white high knee socks. Think of Britney Spears in her music video for “Baby One More Time” (1999), wearing braided pigtails, dancing beside rows of lockers in a gray cardigan, a white collared crop top, and a black mini skirt. And in case you thought this look was always “sexy,” lets not forget that women were also wearing full-on pantsuits instead of gowns, like Julia Roberts did at the 1990 Golden Globes.

Bohemian

The “new age” movement was also the pinnacle of the 90s, as every shopping mall in America had its own spirit store that sold crystals, wind chimes, and incense. After all, people were super nostalgic for the 1970s at the time, much like we’re feeling nostalgic for the 90s in the year 2024.

That colorful “love and light” mentality was alive and well during this decade, as seen in the unforgettable fashion choices of Lisa Bonet, who was arguably the queen of bohemian. With her long soft locs, thrifted dresses, round sunglasses, and playful top hats, she and then-husband Lenny Kravitz epitomized what it meant to be boho chic. Even Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay in the 90s sitcom Friends was a perfect example of what this style looked like at the time, which was soft, sweet, and something you could imagine your favorite childhood teacher wearing. With her crotchet head scarfs, tasseled vests, oversized hats, and borderline-gaudy jewelry, she captured vibe of the artsy and free-spirited bohemian.