Yahoo Sports 12 '90s fashion trends that are popular again — and 13 we wish would make a comeback
Insider spoke with a fashion historian to learn more about some of the decade's most popular trends.
Acid-wash denim, printed blazers, and headbands are a few trends we wish would come back in style.
The '90s were an exciting time for fashion.
According to Sarah Byrd, a New York University and Fashion Institute of Technology lecturer and fashion historian, this can be traced back to technological advancements made in the decade, which made fashion more accessible to everyone.
From the burgeoning internet to the Style Network, a cable channel that broadcast style- and beauty-centric shows, style inspiration suddenly became widely available to anyone with a TV, or, in the later '90s, a home computer.
Styles popular in the '90s — just like fashion trends of any decade — reflected both old and new ideas. Some trends, like mod sunglasses and plaid outfits, were reminiscent of the '60s. Other styles, like patent leather and nylon clothes, symbolized a futuristic view and a look toward what people thought the year 2000, the new millennium, would bring.
And, as further proof that trends are cyclical, some of our favorite '90s looks are popular again today.
Here are some of the best fashion trends from the '90s that are back in style, and more we wish would make a comeback.
Designer brands like Versace and Tommy Hilfiger became more well-known by everyday people due to the rise of supermodels and fashion-focused media.
In a 2019 interview, Byrd told Insider that prior to the mid-and late-1990s, high fashion and luxury name brands were mostly reserved for an elite group of people: celebrities and designers. But with more access to media and TV shows about celebrity style, everyday people started to feel that they could participate in the once-exclusive world of fashion.
"In the late '90s, you had this widespread emergence of TV shows that talked about style," Byrd said. "For example, with shows like 'Fashion Police' on E!, celebrities [became] not just talent, but they also became fashion icons."
Versace and Tommy Hilfiger are still popular fashion brands today.
A simple "little black dress" was a huge trend in the '90s and still is today.
Style icons Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, and Jennifer Aniston all rocked the chic look throughout the 1990s. Today, the LBD is still popular off and on the red carpet.
Leather was popular during the decade and was often worn in the form of skirts and dresses.
Styles that appeared shiny and sleek were a common thread throughout the '90s.
Today, oversized leather jackets and leather pants are popular ways to wear the trend, although Sydney Sweeney proved leather dresses still work at Variety's Power of Young Hollywood event in August, where she wore a leather Alexander McQueen peplum midi dress.
A classic leather jacket was a must-have in the '90s, and is still a wardrobe staple.
Leather jackets weren't a style that originated in the '90s, but, as Byrd explained, "The story of fashion is also the story of revising design" — everything makes a comeback.
"From the very beginning of time, there's only been so many ways people can approach how to put together fabric into something that goes on the body," Byrd said. "You'll see the revisiting of past designs and familiar silhouettes throughout the history of fashion."
This classic look is still loved today — Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker even wore matching leather jackets for their 2022 Las Vegas wedding ceremony.
Wearing a plain T-shirt under a blazer was another go-to look in the '90s.
This classic look is still a go-to today, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Acid-wash jeans were a new way of wearing denim at the time.
Acid-wash jeans may not have been everyone's cup of tea, but they were certainly a fashion statement. The style was recently spotted on runways in 2019, as pointed out by Who What Wear.
Leopard print has also withstood the test of time, but in the '90s, it was all the rage.
The animal print really was everywhere, from hats to coats and dresses.
Cardigans were another huge trend, and they're making a comeback.
Cardigans were not only worn as cover-ups thrown on top of tops or blouses, but many stars wore buttoned-up cardigans on their own. Today, stars like Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Katie Holmes have all rocked the look.
Plaid blazers and skirts are an example of '90s fashions that made an intentional nod to the past.
The yellow plaid outfit worn by Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) in "Clueless" has made a resurgence in popularity in recent years, thanks to Iggy Azalea's "Fancy" music video.
Crushed velvet was another popular fabric in the '90s, and it's made a comeback in recent years.
Crushed velvet spaghetti strap dresses were a '90s staple, and would still be a flattering look today.
The bucket hat was a fun '90s statement that is also back.
Of all the accessories people sported in the '90s, the bucket hat was a reliable and versatile option. Recently, they've made a return — Pete Davidson even wore one to the 2023 Met Gala.
Neon colors and athletic wear were often a fun, fashion-forward combination during the decade.
Though these exact styles from the Spice Girls may not be on-trend today, athleisure has made a major resurgence, proving that fashion constantly revisits itself.
Patent leather and vinyl were often used as fabrics in the '90s for a futuristic look. The look has yet to make a comeback, but definitely should.
Byrd says that the overall technical advancements of the '90s as well as the impending new millennium influenced people to dress in what seemed like futuristic styles at the time.
"You can see clearly that in the '90s, there was some ingenuity with how people were looking at design, in large-part because of technology and the feeling that we were entering a new era," Byrd said.
Platform shoes were a '70s trend that reemerged in the 1990s.
Throughout the decade, everyone from The Spice Girls to Britney Spears and Tori Spelling was photographed wearing platform shoes, and we're waiting for this trend to take off again.
Speaking of prints, blazers with loud prints and vibrant colors were very '90s.
The loud floral print may be less popular today, but bold printed blazers could be a fun statement to revive.
Polka-dot shirts were big in the '90s.
From Julia Roberts' dotted dress in "Pretty Woman" to lesser-known fashion moments, like this Jerry Seinfeld look, polka dots were a defining print of the '90s.
Seinfeld's style, showcased in the sitcom "Seinfeld," also became iconic for the decade.
Leopard-printed outerwear was especially popular.
Though not everyone reminisces on fashion trends from the '90s in a positive light, the leopard- and animal-print look is one that has aged well.
Blazers and button-up shirts were truly the name of the game throughout the decade.
While not exactly style icons, the cast of "Seinfeld" dressed iconically '90s. While blazers are still worn today, they're usually styled a little more casually.
Skirt suits, often worn by Princess Diana, were always a classy ensemble.
Princess Diana wore a number of memorable outfits. While skirt suits are popular among politicians and royals today, it's not often that you see someone wearing this look in a casual setting.
Overalls were also popular for both kids and adults.
One-piece fashions, like rompers and jumpsuits, have become a staple in many wardrobes today, so overalls reminiscent of the '90s would fit right in.
The high-neck tank top was common in the late-1990s.
This was one of the more simple silhouettes of the '90s.
We miss halter-style shirts, which also kept with the high neckline theme.
J-Lo has rocked a variety of memorable ensembles over the years.
Wearing hair in an updo was very on-trend in the '90s.
Butterfly clips and crimped strands were also popular '90s hair trends.
Many sunglasses that were popular in the '90s were a nod to shades from the '60s.
As Byrd explained, some styles popular in the 1990s were largely inspired by elements from the past: "Even though there was some ingenuity with how people were looking at design, probably in large part because of changes in technology, there were some styles [of the '90s] that were reflective of the '60s."
Headbands were also super popular.
Headbands have come back in style numerous times over the years, including in the early 2000s with the popularity of teen drama "Gossip Girl," on which the main characters wore them almost constantly.
However, in the '90s, the trend truly dominated.
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