In ten short years a style revolution was born, and if you were right there with us (watching Buffy whilst goofing around with your Tamagotchi) then you’ll happily admit to owning at least one, or all of the below. Have we missed anything?
1. Buffalo shoes
Emma Bunton in buffalo shoes whilst posing with the rest of the Spice Girls at the 1997 VMAs.
The Spice Girls really started something with Buffalo. Pretty soon, we were all bouncing around on sky-high sponge platform trainers thinking we looked like Baby Spice or Ginger.
2. Skirts over trousers
Gewn Stefani rocking the trend on a red carpet.
Lucky you if you were one of those girls that had an actual skant (see what we did there?) hybrid. The rest of us had to make do wearing an actual skirt over trousers…
3. Backless tops
Mel C knew how to bring some back to her '90s look.
Less was definitely more in the 90s, and that included shameless back flashing. The more you bared, the cooler you were. Total nightmare for those of us generously blessed in the boob department.
4. Babydoll dresses
The original '90s it girls, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, were exceptionally great at nailing a babydoll.
It started with Whigfield. It ended around 1995. Three decades later and the mall is full of them again. If you want, you can up the My So Called Life ante by wearing a white tee underneath.
5. Pedal pushers
Geri Halliwell was a firm fan of pedal pushers on and off the stage
As seen on 90s stars like Geri Halliwell, these babies made everyone look like a confused 1950s teenager. And not at all flattering on the crotch area.
6. Dragon and flame motifs
Natalie Imbruglia was the queen of dragon tees
Remember Natalie Imbruglia’s tee in Torn? Yeah, don’t pretend you didn’t try and hunt that one down.
7. Combat trousers
The All Saints ladies made utility pants a bona fide trend. It basically meant we all walked around with our underwear hanging out.
8. Satin everything
Drew Barrymore wowing in a little satin number
Shiny satin dresses or maxi skirts (preferably cut on the bias) were the A-list go-to for red carpet glam, and it still is today… Well, pre-COVID when red carpets were actually still a thing anyway. In the 90s, Drew Barrymore sported hers with blonde pixie-cut. What a maverick.
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9. Knee-high boots
Mariah Carey in a pair of signature 90s knee-high boots
A platform heel was essential, and if you had a pair in white PVC you were the actual bomb.
10. Leopard-print coats
Madonna on the streets of New York in a leopard-print coat
From rock stars to ladettes, a leopard-print coat gave you instant pub-landlady glam.
11. Knee-high socks
Cher from Clueless sparked this trend following the release of the '90s classic
*sigh* Clueless was, like, our '90s movie style bible and, whatever Cher wore, we wore…even if it looked a bit ridiculous for shopping with your dad.
11. Square sunglasses
The Appelton sisters showed us all how to wear this shape
12. Retro sportswear
Damien from BLUR in his signature Nike top
Damon Albarn (swoon) pretty much created the need for obscenely tight sports tees and Adidas Sambas.
13. Bad hats
'90s hip hop fashion was all about hats, as proven by Missy Elliot and Lil Kim
Hands up who didn’t own, or aim to own a Kangol hat? You know who you are. Then there was the Bez bucket, and the Blossom-style velvet floppy style…pinned up at the front, and accessorized with a ridiculously large fake daisy.
14. Chokers
Naomi Campbell was our inspo for everything fashion in the '90s, even the choker
From thick velvet Victoriana style, to those weird plastic twisty things, every teenage '90s girl owned a choker. The cool high-school girls rocked ones with yin and yang symbols, and we coveted them from the far end of the playground.
16. Midriff
Late R&B songstress Aaliyah was renowned for showing off her toned abs in a midriff top
The ULTIMATE '90s accessory that prevails today. If you weren’t baring your belly, you were basically your grandma. Open Instagram now and you’ll find nothing has changed.
17. A Baby-G
Baby-G watches were an accessory staple in the 90s
Prime arm candy for the technologically-savvy nineties fashionista. The Baby-G had tons of functions, came in a whole rainbow of colours and if you owned one, you were pretty much winning at life — especially if it was pink. Today it’s all about Fitbits and Apple watches, *sigh*
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