by Anne-Marie Jones
As a dorky kid growing up in small-town New Zealand in the 90’s, I looked up to the amazing fashions of the Gen X’ers on TV – Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, Sweet Valley High, Clueless…and of course the epitome of 90’s fashion, The Spice Girls.
Over the past 30 years, I’ve seen these trends come and go, and come and go again!
Here are my picks of what should stay and slay, and the no’s that can go –
Still So Hot –
Baby Doll Dresses/Slip Dresses – whether you style them cute and playful like Baby Spice, or grunge and dirty like Courtney Love and riot grrls, these dresses were so comfy and so much fun!
Wear a white t-shirt underneath (like on F.R.I.E.N.D.S) for bonus 90’s points!
Denim – denim was popular in the 90’s and also as part of Y2K fashion, and it’s no wonder. It’s practical, versatile, and can be dressed in just about any way – jackets, jeans, even denim shirts and hats!
You don’t have to take it to the extent of Britney and Justin below, but denim definitely has it’s place!
Brown and Berry lipsticks and Chanel Vamp Nail Polish – I’m biased because these shades really suit me but browns and berry lipstick shades were so in at different times in the 90’s and they are both so pretty! I feel like berry still works as a lip colour but brown feels kinda dated now.
Chanel Vamp (originally called Rouge Noir, and changed just before it’s USA release) was an iconic 90’s nail polish, one of the best-sellers of the 90’s, and helped bring dark, sexy shades into popularity. Unfortunately this was discontinued, then brought back in a different finish.
Choker necklaces – throughout the 90’s (and Y2K), choker necklaces had us in, well, a chokehold. Tattoo chokers were at the end of the 90s, before that velvet chokers were popular, sometimes with charms attached.
Celestial/Whimsigoth – I don’t think this even had a name back then, but stars and moons were everywhere – bedding, Duraseal’d school books, every type of fashion and home decor item you can think of! And popular shows like Charmed and Sabrina The Teenage Witch (and The Craft movie) kept the witchy vibe running right up to the very end of the 90’s.
This style mixed astrological symbols with jewel-toned colours, fabrics like satin and crushed velvet and already popular items like Doc Martens, and of course a velvet choker – a little Phoebe Buffay!
Platform Sneakers/Shoes – Look, I know this is debateable but I’m short and I can get away with them and since I can’t wear heels, I love my chunky shoes. You rarely see them these days, but Dangerfield sometimes have them.
Can We Please Not? –
Over-Drawn Lips – This took off in the 90’s , and had it’s origins in the Latina and Hip Hop communities before becoming a mainstream look seen on celebrities like Pamela Anderson.
This involved drawing the around your lips in a dark shade like brown, and filling the lips with a pinky or nude shade.
Tattoo Choker Necklaces – yes, I just said choker necklaces are pretty, the tattoo ones not so much. They don’t actually pass as a tattoo, they look tacky and literally cheap, and they have as much edge as a skibidi toilet video.
Barb wire tattoos/Chinese symbol tattoos – Look, we really looked up to Pamela Anderson and the Spice Girls in the 90’s! Sporty Spice had a few Chinese symbol tattoos, and Pamela Anderson in her role as ‘Barb Wire’ was so well known even though I don’t think anyone even watched the movie. Definitely two tattoo trends that have not aged well!
Overalls – I just never got this one but clearly I’M wrong because they keep coming back like a dead pet in a Stephen King novel.
Crimped Hair – Why, in the name of Lizzie McGuire, would you want to look like you stuck your finger in an electric socket? Why?
Jelly Sandals– My younger sister really wanted jelly sandals, just like the tiny pink ones her Kelly doll had (Barbie’s younger sister). Actually, secretly I kinda did too, but I was trying to enter my Daria era.
Our mum insisted they were totally impractical and would never get worn, but she just had to have them , and finally mum gave in. After the most painful day of my sister’s life, the shoes never got worn again.
“For Sale : Jelly Sandals, Worn Once”, would be Hemingway’s take on the 90’s, I think.
