10 Trends From The Nineties That We Need To Bring Back

The nineties were wild. From the OJ verdict to the L.A. riots, from Seinfeld to South Park, the nineties became defined by economic, political, and social change. I mean, the freakin’ internet became accessible to the public. But despite all the upheaval the ’90s brought, they will forever go down as the decade in which everyone wore that hairstyle. You know the one–with the butterfly clips and tightly-twisted bangs. It’s true with every decade. Do we really remember the 1980s for the fall of the Berlin Wall? Or do we remember the ’80s for the wedding dress that Madonna wore in her “Like a Virgin” music video?  Let’s be honest–we’re obviously less interested in real-world, life-altering events and more interested in the fashion trends of the time. And the nineties are no different. Forget the Spacecraft Pathfinder landing on Mars (if you haven’t already). The nineties were about silk dresses, platform sandals, and, for some strange reason, vests. 

The Silk Slip Dress

Culprit: Drew Barrymore

Underwear as outerwear has and will always be on trend. And while having your thong hanging out of your pants isn’t for everyone, the silk slip dress of the nineties was. Fashion is all about creating a balance: between runway style and street wear,  between grungy and ultra-feminine. And the silk slip dress was the epitome of this balance. The color of the dress, usually a pastel, and the material was so princess-in-training. But the nineties were defined by the grunge look, so dark eyeliner, brown lipstick, chunky shoes, and crappy tattoos that all said biker chick. When the styles are combined, it’s like listening to a Nirvana cover of “Barbie Girl.” If grunge is experiencing a resurgence, why shouldn’t silk slip dresses, too? 

Soft, Ultra-Feminine Makeup

Culprit: Cameron Diaz

I’m not suggesting that pounds of concealer, foundation, powder, bronzer, contour, and highlighter isn’t a look. It is. But the nineties were all about fairy-tale shades of eyeshadow, natural lips, and thin brows. The makeup look in the ’90s was way dialed down after the neon shadows and untamed brows of the ’80s. As someone who can’t properly apply concealer to save her damn life, I’m all for the toned down look. Purple shadows and soft brown lips are a dream. And while I’m not suggesting we all start shaving our eyebrows down to nothing, I am waiting for the politician who prioritizes a return to soft, ultra-feminine makeup over war efforts in the Middle East. 

Platform Sandals

Culprit: All of us

Shoes were chunky in the nineties, and we’re just gonna have to get over that. The chunkier the better. And while I wish I could hate the trend, I can’t. I remember being obsessed with a pair of shoes my mom owned. They were Steve Madden (obvi), chunky (obvi), and red velvet (obvi). The shoes were quintessential ’90s, and my eight-year-old self knew it. I would sneak into my mom’s closet and strut around the house like the bad bitch I would never grow up to become. All of a sudden, however, chunky shoes were out and flats were in. It was a depressing time. But lately, chunky shoes have found their way back into mainstream fashion. Vans have release platform sneakers and Dr. Martens’ soles come in all sizes. 

Vests!

Culprit: Sofia Coppola 

I don’t know who OK’d the vest–maybe it was a cowboy–but the accessory experienced a huge resurgence in the nineties. Not only did Sofia Coppola rock a leopard print one, but Rachel Green (Miss ’90s, herself) wore multiple vests throughout the ten seasons of Friends. Denim, floral, that Southwestern print that nobody really knows how to define, but we all know it when we see it–vests came in all styles during the nineties. As long as you could throw it over a blouse or a tee of some kind, you were quintessential ’90s. So why bring the vest back? After all, this article is a plea to bring back such styles. Let’s bring the vest back because it’s the ultimate layering piece, and Sofia gives us hope that we too can look that hot in a vest. 

Matching Leathers

Culprits: Moss and Depp

And the grungiest couple award goes too….Kate Moss and Johnny Depp. These two were the epitome of the nineties–probably because they both completely capitalized on the heroin-chic look. The bags under their eyes, the omnipresent cigarette between their fingers, and the matching leather jackets are so grungy I can’t help but cringe. I’m not suggesting we all start smoking again, but if there’s anything better than a leather jacket, it’s matching leather jackets. Let’s stop brushing our hair and start coordinating our leather jackets. So nineties. 

That Hairstyle

Culprit: Reese Witherspoon (but also, all of us and our moms)

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Ok, I don’t know what it is about this hairstyle, but it was everywhere during the ’90s. Reese, Alicia Silverstone, Drew, and Kirsten Dunst all rocked this hairstyle, complete with baby hairs galore and those little butterfly clips. (Am I the only one who used to step on these damn things and break them?) This hairstyle is cute, flirty, and fun, which was a nice change from the leather jackets and dirty flannels of the grunge movement that was simultaneously taking shape. As a waitress, I’m constantly looking for new and innovative ways to keep my hair out of my face (and obviously a way to incorporate winged insects into my style). So not only is this hairstyle totally adorable, it’s also incredibly practical. And that’s just good work ethic. 

(Naughty) School-Girl Plaid

Culprit: Paris

This whole Paris Hilton look is an absolute look. From the pigtails to the chunky platform boots, from the plaid to the purple eyeshadow. Very nineties. Plaid became popular during the nineties thanks to Cher Horowitz. School girl plaid, when worn by anyone but a school girl, is all about being sexy and cute–in a weird, almost pervy, kinda way. But that didn’t stop anyone in the ’90s from wearing plaid skirts, and it shouldn’t stop anyone now. It doesn’t only have to be skirts–try plaid pants or a plaid trench. 

Menswear

Culprit: Julia Roberts

I can’t say for sure that this picture is from the ’90s. But what is for sure is that Julia Roberts is gorgeous, she was a total nineties babe, and that the menswear trend was a real thing. There’s no denying that the nineties were inundated by the fight for women’s rights and the normalization of feminism. So it’s no surprise that menswear worn by strong, independent women was a trend during this decade. The power suit was no longer only for men. Women staked their claim in menswear as they continued to fight for power in their careers, power in their families, and power as women. Do I even need to say why this trend should make a comeback? Not only is gender more fluid than it’s ever been, but women are making stands against the patriarchy everyday and in every way. Let’s take back the suit!

It’s easy to look back on the nineties in total awe, almost like it was a made-up time in some fairy tale book. Defined by cliché bad guys, princesses in pastels, and gardens filled with butterflies, the nineties were a once-in-a-lifetime time. Comment below your absolute favorite’90s trends.

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