The ’90s were known for the rise of hip-hop music, the end of the Cold War, and the beginning of a new millennium. As a teen in this decade, you might have found yourself watching TGIF every Friday night on ABC while babysitting your Tamagotchi pet and drinking Surge.
When it came to fashion in the ’90s, there were plenty of unique trends happening, too. Women often donned cropped tops with cargo pants or baggy jeans. Men wore oversized flannel shirts and many people embraced the “grunge look.” While we’ve seen a recent comeback of some of these style trends of the ’90s, not everything is meant to come back around. From men’s unique hairstyles like frosted tips and bowl cuts, to women’s corset tops and vests worn as shirts, those of us who were alive to see the ’90s believe there are a few fads that will stay in the past.
To compile this article on some of the fashion fads from the ’90s we’ll never see again, 24/7 Tempo used various fashion sources including Cosmopolitan, InStyle, and Marie Claire. Click here to check out a few other ’90s fashion trends that should come back.
Frosted Tips
As mentioned, many young men in the ’90s embraced the look of frosted tips. Guys would cut their hair short, then have the ends bleached blonde. The style was complete with the use of hair gel to shape the hair into a spikey look. Today, you may see highlights, but it won’t be the same as the bleach-blonde frosted tips of the ’90s.
Puka Shell Necklaces
California fashion was king in the late ’90s to early 2000s, and with it came the puka shell necklace. Both men and women donned these necklaces which were added to create a look of casual beachwear.
Most of these necklaces were short in length. Some included larger puka shells, while others looked almost like white, round, and flat beads all strung together. When men combined their puka shell necklaces with their frosted tips and cut-off flannel shirts, it was certainly a look straight from the 90s.
JNCO Jeans
While baggy jeans were popular in this decade, one brand stood out in particular: JNCO Jeans. These jeans took the wide-leg look to a whole new level, with some styles baggy enough to cover your shoes before dragging on the ground. While the JNCO brand is still around today, this is one trend that will likely stay put in the ’90s.
Paisley Bandana Print
This infamous print was found everywhere from headbands to tops. It was designed to mimic handkerchiefs used by cowboys and was most commonly found in the color red. Beyoncé was known for donning this look from time to time along with other celebrities who wanted to mimic western wear.
Bandana Headbands
To piggyback off of the paisley bandana print discussed above, many people in the ’90s used this print to don bandana headwear. Some wore the bandanas as headbands, while others used the bandana to cover their head entirely.
Studded and Bejeweled Belts
Belts were a hugely popular accessory in the ’90s. Today, belts are kept simple and used for a pop of color with an outfit. However, in the ’90s, belts were given a life of their own. From blingy jewels to studs, belts were used as the star of the show in some outfits. Bejeweled belts were often paired with low-rise pants to complete a total ’90s look.
Plaid Suit
Plaid matching outfits, namely plaid skirt suits, became incredibly popular in the ’90s thanks to the 1995 classic “Clueless.” Cher Horowitz was known for her iconic yellow plaid skirt outfit. These plaid ensembles could be paired with a bucket hat and clear platform sandals to make a statement.
Vests as Shirts
Vests were huge in the ’90s, but they weren’t always worn over tops like we saw in the decade before. Many celebrities were seen donning the “no shirt” look by choosing to only wear a vest.
Corset Tops
Beyond the “no shirt” look of vests in the ’90s, corset tops were also a popular choice. Celebrities like Madonna and Baby Spice (of the Spice Girls) made this trend one many women copied.
Colored or Chained Sunglasses
Sunglasses with colored lenses were hugely popular in the ’90s. Additionally, sunglasses were often much smaller than they are today and had metal frames. If you really wanted to up your style game in the ’90s, you could also add a chain as an accessory.
Tracksuits
While tracksuits began trending in the ’70s and ’80s, they rose to the top in early ’90s fashion. Featuring matching jackets and sweatpants, these suits were often made of water-resistant fabric, and were also called “windbreakers.” Additionally, no one made this trend more popular than Whitney Houston who appeared in a matching white tracksuit to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl in 1991.
Crimped Hair
While crimped hair began growing in popularity during the ’80s, the ’90s took this fashion fad to a new level. Celebrities like Britney Spears, Hillary Duff, and Tyra Banks rocked crimped hair made possible by a special heated crimping tool. To take the style to another level, many would also add hair jewels or butterfly clips (which we’ll get into shortly).
Scrunch Tops
One interesting fashion trend of the ’90s was the scrunch top. These shirts were one-size-fits-all and made of a stretchy material that allowed them to stretch when worn.
Mushroom Cut
We’ve discussed men’s frosted tips, but another hair trend for guys in the early to mid-’90s was the mushroom cut. Many men choose to don a bowl cut with their hair parted right down the middle.
Some of the most popular celebrities with a mushroom cut included Ryder Strong (Shawn from “Boy Meets World”), Jonathan Taylor Thomas, and Leo Decaprio in “Romeo and Juliet.”
Zigzag Headbands
While men were rocking frosted tips and the mushroom cut, women embraced the infamous zigzag headband of the late ’90s and early 2000s. This circular plastic headband was designed to give women’s hair a zigzag look when properly in place.
Jelly Shoes
From flats to sandals, jellies were a common footwear choice in the ’90s. These shoes were known for being made entirely of plastic and were always see-through. While some styles were clear, you could find them in fun pastel colors or hot pink, too.
Chokers
While choker necklaces have shown up from time to time throughout history, they certainly had their time to shine in the ’90s. Most famously, you’d catch black plastic chokers paired with a spaghetti strap or corset top. Some chokers also included beads as well and could be used to dress up for date night.
Pleather Jackets
James Dean may have made the look of a leather jacket, T-shirt, and jeans popular in the ’50s, but that doesn’t mean the look didn’t have a comeback in the ’90s. Women took to the look, too, often wearing a simple black leather or pleather jacket over a white T-shirt. Other pleather jackets of the decade were made of animal print or donned funky designs.
Skirts over pants
Layering grew in popularity throughout the late ’90s and into the early 2000s. One particular layering trend included women’s skirts over pants. However, these pants weren’t the simple, fitted leggings we see today. Often, skirts were worn over baggy trousers or even jeans.
Butterfly Clips
While it’s possible we’ll see butterfly clips return in 2024, it’s unlikely they’ll be worn in the same way they were in the ’90s. Many women would take small sections of their hair around their face, give it a small twist, and clip it in place with a butterfly clip. Cosmopolitan reminds us that celebrities such as Sarah Michelle Gellar, Melissa Joan Hart, and even Jennifer Aniston took their turn donning these iconic clips in the ’90s. For more fashion news, check out trends that should go out of style in 2024.