Everything old is new again. This undoubtedly applies to ’90s fashion, which saw a comeback beginning in the 2010s and continued strong into the 2020s. Clothing, accessories, and hairstyles from this era are especially popular with Gen Zers striving to rock a vintage look.
Some of these trends are better left in the ’90s, while others have had a lasting impact. Here are some quintessential fashion and style terms we inherited from this era. Dust off your old clothing catalogs and take a trip down memory lane!
Clothing
neon jacket
noun: a short, lightweight coat in a bright color
Neon jackets 鈥� especially wind-resistant ones 鈥� were all the rage in the 1980s and well into the ’90s. Neutrals? No way. Only bright colors with abstract patterns.聽
cargo pants
noun: loose trousers with a large external pocket on the side of each leg
Cargo pants in the ’90s were very baggy and had lots of pockets to store all the notes you passed in class. They were usually low-rise, in contrast with high-waisted jeans that were also popular in this era.
straight-leg “mom” jeans
noun: Informal. unstylish women’s jeans
Straight-leg “mom” jeans have a consistent width all the way down the leg, without tapering or flaring out. These high-waisted jeans from the ’90s made their comeback in the 2010s, giving the long era of skinny jeans a run for its money and somehow making us a tad more comfortable along the way. Thanks, mom!
overalls
noun: loose, sturdy trousers, usually with a bib or biblike piece to which shoulder straps are attached
The ’90s taught us that overalls aren’t just for farm or carpentry work. This decade set the stage for everyday overalls, which can be dressed up or down and come in various flattering styles.
plaid
noun: fabric woven of differently colored yarns in a crossbarred pattern
The 1995 movie Clueless helped popularize this pattern. Who could forget when Cher and Dionne wore matching plaid ensembles to school? Classic!
Accessories
bucket hat
noun: rimmed hat used for casual wear and various outdoor activities
Once reserved for fishing excursions and other outdoor activities, the bucket hat became a fashion staple in the 1990s hip-hop scene. LL Cool J, for instance, wore it all the time. And because of that, so did we…聽
mini backpack
noun: a tiny pack or knapsack with straps, carried on one’s back
Clueless influenced our fashion again, this time with mini backpacks 鈥� like the little feathery one Cher paired with her yellow plaid outfit.
butterfly clip
noun: small, butterfly-shaped clasps used to pin back strands of hair
These tiny hair accessories, shaped like butterflies, soared to new heights in the ’90s. And the rule was simple: the more butterfly clips in your hair, the better.
choker
noun: a necklace that fits snugly around the neck
In the ’90s, you couldn’t walk down a school hallway without spotting someone wearing a choker. Whether the choker was velvet, lace, or that stretchy plastic that looked like a neck tattoo, everyone was channeling their inner goth.
Hairstyles
The Rachel
noun: a voluminous bob hairstyle with many layers, especially framing the face; modeled after Rachel from the TV show Friends
Hairstylists around the globe heard requests for The Rachel, a bouncy, layered cut worn by Jennifer Aniston during her time as Rachel Green on the hit series Friends. Eventually, Rachel lost the signature bob, but people continue to look to Aniston for hair inspiration today.
frosted tips
noun: a hairstyle where the ends of the hair are highlighted, especially by bleaching selected strands
Boy bands in the ’90s loved the frosted tips look. Bonus points if you spiked yours with really strong gel.
soul patch
noun: a small, shaped patch of facial hair just below the bottom lip, generally with the rest of the face shaven
Originally associated with the jazz scene, the soul patch became a defining look of the ’90s. You might recall Luke Perry’s iconic soul patch in the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Test your ’90s fashion knowledge with our quiz!听
