10 Trends From the ‘90s Making a Comeback

An abrupt departure from the flashy extravagance of the '80s, the '90s felt like a breath of fresh air. While music embraced the grunge genre with bands like Nirvana, and the advent of girl groups like the Spice Girls and Destiny's Child, the world of fashion sobered up. 

From Calvin Klein to Helmut Lang, the fashion lexicon of the '90s was renewed. And it consisted of a clean, sleek and minimal vocabulary. Seen in the personal style and red carpet looks of Hollywood stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Julia Roberts, and with the rise of the infamous supers – Naomi, Christy, Cindy, and Linda – and other rising models of the time, such as Kate Moss, the smart elegant flair of the nineties was built around a casual chic demeanor.

When the new millennium arrived, the minimalist memo was ditched and a new era of everything-sparkly-and-sexy began – the much-touted Y2K. Things kept moving, though. From indie sleaze to boho chic, the fashion scenario has shifted while taking  nostalgic trips down memory lane. 

Now one can find several niche aesthetics walking around New York, London, Milan, and Paris. But after 2023 saw a rise in maximalist trends – from Weird Girl Core to Barbie Core – given freedom and the gusto to live after the Covid-19 pandemic, 2024 features a new look that is just as posh –  and similar – as '90s fashion. 

From the Office Siren look to Quiet Luxury, TikTok is pushing minimalism. And it has resulted. Seen on runways as Peter Do Spring 2024, Michael Kors Fall 2024 and Ferragamo Fall 2024 and on celebrities as Zendaya, Bella Hadid, Jennifer Lawrence, Olivia Rodrigo and Hailey Bieber, it's safe to say that many '90s trends are here to stay. Ahead, Fizzy has rounded up the 10 trends from the '90s that are all the way back – so be ready with your trend-spotter wit and, possibly, your wallet. 

Cargo Pants

More practical than sartorial, cargo pants were first adopted by the British military in 1938, with a single patch pocket to hold a soldier's necessities.  In the 1940s, the American army adopted the garment, adapting it to have two front pockets, thus making the item a part of its uniform. 

But it was in the late '80s and early '90s that the garment went mainstream, with the rise of military surplus stores, hip-hop, and subcultures like grunge. Spotted on celebrities like Aaliyah and Jennifer Aniston, cargo pants achieved the status of a '90s fashion staple. And now stars like Fenty Beauty founder Rihanna and singer Dani Moon aka 070 Shake are proving that the piece is back on the fashion scene. 

Baby tee 

 From movies like ''Clueless'' to TV shows like ''Friends,'' baby tees popped up everywhere in the '90s – and still do. Its popularity is attributed to Linda Meltzer's brand, Tease Tees, which took the world by storm in 1993. Growing up, Meltzer would take her sister's French-cut shirts, a silhouette much smaller than other designs, and buy kid-size versions. By the time she was in her twenties and working as a stylist, she hadn't given up her obsession with little tees, and on set, models and actresses alike loved what she wore.

 So in 1993, Meltzer began a new business venture, making her own baby tees. Once she made a deal at one of the trendiest shops of the nineties, Fred Segal, and came up with a name for the company – Tease Tees –, the fashion world was about to change.  Seen on actresses like Drew Barrymore and Reese Witherspoon, Meltzer created a phenomenon – one that isn't going away anytime soon.

 In 2016, Meltzer relaunched her brand under a different name, called Pretties. Celebrities like Ayo Edeberi, Emily Ratajkowski, and JT have been seen wearing the label's designs, while other stars such as Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and Addison Rae have incorporated the silhouette in their wardrobes – but from other labels.

Wedges

Introduced by Salvatore Ferragamo in the '30s, wedges became a remarkably popular footwear – whether as a more comfortable option that still gave you that extra height, or as a favorite during the hippie days of the '70s. In the 1990s, this notoriety was no different. 

From Scarlett Johansson to Jennifer Aniston, wedges could be seen everywhere. Now, with Chemena Kamali's debut for Chloé featuring an entire front row in wedges, celebrities like Sienna Miller and Millie Bobby Brown stepping out in the footwear, and the return of boho chic becoming an increasingly common topic of conversation, wedges seem to be back for good. 

Slip Dresses 

Popular in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the slip dress – called a "chemise" in France – rose to prominence during the reign of Marie Antoinette in the 1700s. Seen as a symbol of freedom, its appeal would only grow in the centuries that followed. 

It was in the '90s, however, that the slip dress' reputation evolved, courtesy of the sleek demeanor that the decade embraced and that the garment emulated. Seen in Calvin Klein's Spring/Summer 1994 collection and on celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Lady Diana, Courtney Cox, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Elizabeth Hurley, the simple yet elegant piece soon became a decade's classic. 

This year, personalities such as Olivia Rodrigo at the 2024 Grammys Vampire Performance, Queen Letizia of Spain at the 14th Atlantida Mallorca Film Festival Closing Ceremony, Alox Menon at the SAG Awards, and Bella Hadid at a Chopard dinner in Cannes demonstrated that the garment is a must-have for a polished and alluring look for the years to come.

Biker Jackets

In 1928, brothers Irving and Jack Schott's Schott NYC label released the world's first motorcycle jacket – the "Perfecto" – for Harley Davidson. Designed primarily for functional reasons, the piece quickly became a sartorial emblem – seen on Old Hollywood figures such as James Dean and Elvis Presley. 

With rebellious connotations, the jacket then evolved into a symbol of many musical genres, including '70s rock, '80s punk, and '90s grunge and the famed decade’s minimalism. Seen on celebrities such as Kate Moss, Cindy Crawford, Linda Hamilton, and Drew Barrymore, the biker jacket gave a defiant twist to sleek looks. Now, as seen in Charli XCX, Gigi Hadid, and Addison Rae, the biker jacket remains a ‘90s icon while adding a cool twist to several outfits. 

Waistcoat

It was in 1666 that King Charles II of England introduced a new trend in men's clothing – the waistcoat. While the waistcoat was a menswear garment in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, this began to change in the 20th – in the 1970s, women began wearing it as workwear. 

But in the 90s, the piece rose to sartorial prominence with the likes of Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham, and Elle Macpherson adding a cool appeal to formal looks in their street style and red carpet looks. 

Nowadays, frequently spotted in celebrities such as Dakota Fanning, Emily Ratajkowski, and Dua Lipa, the waistcoat is strongly associated with the elegant and classy aesthetics brought by the '90s fashion revival. 

Mules

From worn only by the three highest magistrates in ancient Rome to relegated to bedroom slippers in sixteenth-century Europe, the mule's status has changed drastically. It was all thanks to Comtesse d'Olonne, a rebellious lady, who donned a pair of light red mules for church in 1694.

  Since then, Catherine the Great, Marie Antoinette, famous paintings such as Olympia by Edouard Manet, Herbert Levine Company shoes, and actress Marilyn Monroe, as seen in the film The Seven Year Itch, have all adopted the shoe. In the '90s, stars like Sharon Stone and Reese Witherspoon were seen in public sporting mules, and then, just like that, mules went mainstream after Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw rocked the shoe as she strutted through New York, ultimately making it a must-have of the decade. Now seen on the likes of Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa, Gigi Hadid, Dakota Jonhson and Emilia Clarke, mules have become one of the most sought-after shoes of the year. 

Leopard Print

From the dawn of humanity, when animal skins were used for protection, to the Middle Ages, when it was a status symbol of the wealthy, leopard print is probably one of the most recognizable prints of all time. And it became fashionable after Christian Dior first put it on the runway in 1947. Since then, leopard print has continued to grace the scene – whether in subcultures, celebrity style, or designer collections.  

However, the pattern received a major boost in the '90s,  as seen in collections such as Alaïa Fall 1991, Genny Fall 1992, and Christian Dior Fall 1995. From then on, the print was adopted by stars such as Mel B – aka Scary Spice –, Gwyneth Paltrow, Courtney Love, and Pamela Anderson, and became a dominant trend of the nineties.

As a symbol of extravagance and audacity, leopard print is now more popular than ever – potentially a product of Mob Wife's aesthetic or Dolce & Gabbana's reintroduction of the print in their Spring Fall 2024 shows. With celebrities like Rihanna, Ashley Graham, Beyoncé, Lourdes Leon, and Lupita Nyong all sporting the print this year, it's clear that the print does catch the eye. 

Capri Pants

Named after the Italian island of Capri, where the item gained traction during the late '50s and early '60s, Capri pants were first introduced by German fashion designer Sonja de Lennart in 1948.  A favorite of stars like Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, and Marilyn Monroe, the retro silhouette became a synonym for classic style. 

And rightly so, it was rescued in the '90s by pop icons like Madonna, Christina Aguilera, and Jennifer Lopez. Once the Capri faded away in the noughties, many expressed their dislike for the piece. Now, things are changing. Seen on the Spring 2024 runways of Coperni, Tory Burch, and Ferragamo, and recently worn by supermodel Bella Hadid during a walk in New York City, Capri pants reign supreme.

Baguette Bags

Created by Silvia Venturini Fendi in 1997 and dedicated to the Parisian women who used to carry baguettes under their arms, the Baguette Bag has quite a history. But its success is due to Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw – a woman who is a lover of Fendi baguette and a few other things. When mugged in New York's Soho and confronted for her purse, Bradshaw told the armed robber, "It's not a purse, it's a baguette. Since then, this style of Fendi bag has been seen on celebrities like Paris Hilton, Sarah Jessica Parker and Elizabeth Hurley. 

Later, other fashion houses have presented their interpretations of the Baguette. But for some, the bag became a controversial item for its size, dubbed to be too small. Amidst the controversies, like any trend, the Baguette bag began to fade away. 

But when the Italian label presented its Spring/Summer 2019 collection, which marked the official return of the Baguette, and the Sex and the City reboot And Just Like That, which saw Carrie back with her purple Fendi, the Baguette conquered a few more admirers. Now seen on stars like Lily-Rose Depp, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kaia Gerber and Zendaya, the Baguette bag is back. And, it looks to be here to stay.