Believe it or not, the 90s were over 23 years ago. For some of us, that’s a lifetime ago. For others, that’s ancient history. Well, those who grew up during that decade will suddenly have a lot of clothing that’s in fashion once again because the 90s are back in a big way. Trends are cyclical, much like bell bottoms came back for a time, so does everything else. The 90s are no different; it goes along with all the reboots and remakes. Nostalgia will always sell, and the kids who grew up in the 90s are now in their prime for designing clothes. Here are 8 outfits that are coming back in 2023 from the ’90s and other eras.
Sheer Dresses
The 90s was the era of the supermodel. Of course, they were famous before that, but women like Kate Moss, Cindy Crawford, and Naomi Campbell were lighting up runways and gossip pages. The sheer dress became famous and popular when Kate Moss was photographed wearing one during a night on the town. While the dresses you’d wear probably won’t be transparent like Moss’, you can still enjoy the thrill of showing off without being too revealing. The sheer dresses of today come in colors, both neutral and gold. Many feature a built-in underskirt to complete the look. A variation on this look is the sheer maxi or midi dress, which can be paired with a sheer lace top.
Ballet Flats
This one’s from the decade after the 90s. In the 2000s, ballet flats were very popular, and if you’ve hung onto your pair, you’re in luck. Much of the fashion at the time was inspired by dance, including a love of body suits. However, today’s ballet flats have a little more pizzazz to them, while the aught’s ballet flats were monochrome and plain. These shoes have flashy colors, straps, and buckles for a little flavor.
Cargo Pants
What can we say? In the 90s, we loved pockets. The rise of cargo pants meant you had a pocket for your wallet (which was attached to a chain), your Walkman, and your headphones. Plus, you had one leftover for anything else you might want to carry around. Cargo pants are back, but not just the pants. Cargo pockets are things in shirts and jackets, too. Oversized pockets are all the rage, as people have more to carry around than ever before. Instead of wearing a dress or a skirt, cargo pants with a plain white tee shirt is a casual look that’s very comfortable. If it cools down, then layer it with a jean jacket or even a coat with cargo pockets.
Overalls
Another fashion we liked in the 90s was overall. There was nothing fancy, just city kids trying to look like they worked on a farm, but it worked. The boys would wear them with one strap hanging loose, and the women would wear them with a short shirt underneath to expose some skin. Like ballet flats, the overalls were plain back then. However, now they come in all sorts of variations, including denim overall skirts. When wearing a denim overall skirt, pair it with an off-the-shoulder striped shirt for contrast. It’s a chic look, but you can go more elegant with a midi skirt. Heeled sandals complete the look nicely.
Slides
It was a staple of college campuses everywhere. The slide was a comfortable and fast way to have shoes on your feet in a hurry. They were easy to take off if there was a pickup soccer game in the quad, too. They made their way to the general population, including even clubbers, but then faded away. Now they’re back, with graphics and patterns to make them splashier. Dress them up with a mini skirt and blouse, or go with a beach vibe with shorts and a flowy top. Slides are the ultimate comfort footwear as long as they are the right size.
Menswear For Women
The 80s saw a real revolution for women’s clothing. For the first time, masculine elements hit the ladies’ scene, with the pantsuit being the most common. Now, there might be another revolution brewing. The aim now is for more body-positive clothing, and men’s clothing lends itself well to that. Try conservative pieces that still look great and highlight the places you want to highlight. For example, wear wide-leg office trousers paired with a sweater vest. You’ll look just feminine enough yet prepared to shatter glass ceilings.
Knee Socks
Knee socks were a big hit in the 90s. Who can forget Cher Horowitz saying “as if” while sporting school-girl socks and mini skirts. Now they are back, and they are showing up everywhere, from the streets to the runway. A mini skirt still goes amazing with knee socks, as long as the socks go as far as the bottom of the knee and the skirt ends with some upper leg showing. Wear them with luxe loafers or designer heels, and you’re ready to go.
Bucket Hats
Bucket hats were all over the place in the 90s and early aughts. They were great for guarding against the sun, and there was a lot of room for graphics and patterns. These days there’s more variety, with fuzzy ones, silk ones, and even denim ones. They are either very casual or very fancy. For casual, choose a pastel hat with an off-shade tee shirt. Complete the look with jeans or sweatpants, and you’ll have supreme comfort while walking around town.
If you grew up in the 90s, then it’s time to dust off your old clothing. If not, then you can discover these great pieces and outfit ideas from a great decade.
