How to Dress from the 90s

Co-authored by Susan Kim

Last Updated: November 23, 2022 References

The 90s were a great time for pop culture and music, which greatly influenced the fashion trends at the time. If you want to create a 90s-inspired outfit, wear things like flannel shirts, baggy jeans, and combat boots. Other popular trends include windbreakers, tube tops, and overalls. Pick a 90s top and bottom, and pair your outfit with 90s accessories to easily dress from the 90s.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Choosing 90s Tops

1
Throw on a skateboard brand T-shirt to look 90s approved. Graphic T-shirts are popular 90s staples, and skateboard tees were especially trendy. Pick a T-shirt from brands like Blind, Toy Machine, Element, and Volcom for a skateworthy style.^{[1]
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- If you aren’t into skateboarding, go for a vintage band shirt instead, such as Nirvana or Alice in Chains.
- You can wear the T-shirt by itself or throw on a sweater or jacket, for instance.
2
Wear a flannel shirt to fit into the 90s grunge scene. Flannel shirts comprised much of the fashion in the 90s, especially with grunge music. Throw a flannel over top of your skateboard shirt, or try a plain white or black shirt instead.^{[2]
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- In the 90s, most people wore flannel shirts with baggy or distressed denim.
- Choose a flannel in neutral colors like forest green, brown, and burgundy. You can also go with a bright flannel, such as red, orange, and yellow.
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3
Go with a bandanna top or tube top for a popular sleeveless option. In the 90s, many women wore bandannas as tank tops. To do this, fold the bandanna in half at the diagonal, and hold it to your chest.^{[3]
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Susan Kim
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 4 May 2021.} Then, tie it securely around your back. In addition, tube tops were popular options.^{[4]
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- Tube tops are sleeveless crop tops that only cover the bust region.
- If you don’t want to wear a bandanna on its own, look for a paisley printed tank that resembles a bandanna.
- Wear your tank with high-waist denim or trousers or with a pair of leggings, for example.
4
Put on a slip dress for a fashionable look. A slip is a thin, silky dress usually worn underneath of a dress or shirt. Choose from colors such as black, white, cream, peach, pink, or light blue. Then, wear the slip as a regular dress for casual or dressy occasions. If you'd like, put on a T-shirt or tank top underneath your slip dress.^{[5]
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- You can also find velvet slip dresses.
- Slip dresses come in full length and knee length varieties.
5
Pair your outfit with a colorful windbreaker to follow 90s fashion. Windbreakers were all the rage in the 90s! They are windproof, multicolored jackets that people wore with all sorts of outfits. Wear a T-shirt underneath the windbreaker, and choose to either leave it open or zip it up.^{[6]
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- Look for one with 2 or more colors for an authentic 90s style.
6
Wear a colorful Coogi sweater to keep warm in the winter. Coogi sweaters are a colorful, thick cord sweater made by an Australian company. They got popular from hip hop icons in the 90s, including Notorious B.I.G. Coogis are made from thick fabric, making them great as a winter sweater.^{[7]
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- Coogi sweaters can get rather expensive, so keep an eye out at your local thrift store or consignment shop.
- You can also wear colorful or argyle sweaters for a 90s throwback.
7
Tie a sweatshirt or sweater around your waist in case you get cold. Wearing a sweatshirt around your waist was a popular fad in the 90s. To put it on, flip the body of the sweatshirt around your back and tie both arms around your waist. People did this in case it got cold out, but oftentimes the sweaters remained on their waist.^{[8]
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- You can also do this with a flannel shirt or cardigan sweater.
- Pick a colored sweatshirt that matches the rest of the look to tie your outfit together.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Pairing with 90s Bottoms

1
Select a pair of baggy or flared jeans to pair with your 90s tops. Denim was a fashionable stable in the 90s, and the most popular styles had baggy legs and/or flared bottoms.^{[9]
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Susan Kim
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 4 May 2021.} These go great with skateboard shirts and flannels. You can also wear them with tube tops or tank tops.^{[10]
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- In today’s trends, these are similar to the “boyfriend” jean.
- Acid-wash jeans were very popular in the 90s. You can get a pair of light-colored, baggy jeans for an authentic 90s look.
2
Go with a pair of distressed, high waist denim or trouser pants. "Mom" jeans were very popular in the 90s, known by their high waist that came up to the navel area. Choose a pair of ripped up or bleached jeans or high waist trousers for a true 90s pant option.^{[11]
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- Wear your distressed denim with tube tops or band T-shirts, for example.
- Pair your trousers with a 90s-inspired blazer or button-down.
3
Put on a pair of overalls but leave the straps unfastened. Overalls were very trendy in the 90s, though most people left the straps unfastened or only strapped 1 side. They look great with plain or graphic T-shirts.^{[12]
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- In today’s trends, overalls have made a comeback, so you can easily find modern styles at many department stores.
4
Opt for a pant suit for a professional 90s option. A part suit or power suit is known by the matching trousers and jacket combination. Pick a pair of pants in a solid color, and pair them with a jacket or coat that matches. This way, you'll look 90s approved in the workplace.^{[13]
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- Pant suits came in all colors of the rainbow. Select a suit in a bright color like red, purple, or blue. Or, go with a neutral suit like tan, khaki, or brown.
5
Put on a pair of leggings for a casual, comfy style. Leggings grew popular in the 90s as athletic wear and a casual clothing option. They look great with baggy T-shirts and tunics, for instance. Select a bright colored pair for an authentic look, and don't forget the sweatbands!
- Choose leggings in bright colors like pink, yellow, and purple. Many 90s leggings also featured patterns like zig-zags, polka dots, and flames.
6
Wear bike shorts for a comfortable and trendy option. In the 90s, male athletic shorts were much shorter than current styles. To cover up, they wore bike shorts underneath. After this, bike shorts grew very popular for both men and women. They are a great option for a casual, 90s-inspired look.^{[14]
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- Bike shorts come in bright colors, such as blue, pink, and purple.
- Women often wore bike shorts underneath a one-piece or leotard when working out.
7
Try wearing a sarong as a skirt for a unique style. A sarong is a long piece of clothing wrapped around the waist or bust. They traditionally were worn in Southeast Asia, but they became popular in the 90s as well. Many women wore sarongs around their waist to act as a skirt.^{[15]
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- To tie a sarong around your waist, hold each corner in your hands, and tie them in a knot at your belly button. Twist the knot to either your left or right side, and fluff out the corners so the fabric lays properly.
- Pair your sarong with a T-shirt or tube top.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Selecting 90s Accessories

1
Wear a mood ring to showcase a 90s staple. Mood rings are accessories that have a thermochromic element that changes color based on temperature. The color of the ring supposedly suggested the mood of the wearer. Select a mood ring in a style you like, such as a large circle, butterfly, or dolphin shape.^{[16]
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- While these are mainly popular with girls, mood rings are a unisex accessory.
- The mood ring was invented in the 1970s, but it did not get widely popular until the early 90s.
2
Strap on a slap bracelet to add color and pattern to your outfit. A slap bracelet consists of a flexible piece of steel covered in fabric, silicone, or plastic. To wear, lightly slap the band on your wrist, and the metal effortlessly coils around your hand. Pair these with your tube tops and leggings, for instance.^{[17]
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- Slap bracelets came in many colors, patterns, and textures, such as animal print, zig-zags, and polka dots.
3
Put in a hoop earring if you have pierced ears. Small, silver hoop earrings grew popular due to many television actors wearing them. You can wear 1 hoop in each ear, for instance. If you have multiple ear piercings, wear a larger pair in the first hole and a smaller pair in the second.^{[18]
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- You can also opt for gold or black hoops.
4
Get a body piercing if you want to follow a 90s trend. Before the 90s, body piercings were not very popular. The grunge scene helped spread the piercing trend, and soon many teens rocked a pierced nose, eyebrow, lips, and nipples. If you want an authentic 90s look, consider getting a piercing.^{[19]
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- Keep in mind that piercings are semi-permanent.
5
Put on a snapback hat for a popular 90s accessory. 90s hip hop encouraged many people to wear snapback hats. Pick a hat with your favorite sports team or band logo, and put it on after you finish getting dressed. For a true 90s style, turn the brim of the hat around so it faces your back.^{[20]
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- Snapbacks are known by their large, flat brim. They also have an adjustable strap consisting of 2 pieces of plastic.
- You can wear a snapback with your Coogi sweater and baggy jeans for a hip-hop look.
6
Wear a studded belt to add a touch of grunge to your outfit. Studs were all the rage in the 90s grunge scene, and many people wore studded belts with band shirts and flannels. In addition, studded belts were very popular with baggy jeans. Pick a belt with silver, red, blue, or pink studs, for instance.^{[21]
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- You can also get studded chokers or jackets for a grunge or punk look.
7
Choose shoes from brands like Kangaroos, Timberland, or Doc Martens. Kangaroos are a brand of sneaker known for their bright colors and small, zip-up pocket. Timberland boots grew widely popular with the hip hop scene. Doc Martens are a combat boot style that was popular with grunge music. Pick your favorite style, and rock your footwear with your 90s look!^{[22]
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- For example, wear Kangaroos with your bike shorts.
- Pair your Timberlands with baggy jeans and a Coogi sweater.
- Rock your Docs with a flannel shirt and studded belt.

Community Q&A

Question

What trends were popular in the 90s?

Susan Kim
Professional Stylist
Susan Kim is the owner of Sum+Style Co., a Seattle-based personal styling company focused on innovative and approachable fashion. She has over 5 years of experience in the fashion industry, and received her AA from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.

Susan Kim

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

Clothing like bandanna tops and oversized baggy jeans were really popular styles in the 90s.
Question

Are thrift stores a good place to buy clothes like these? Because most stores in my local mall don't have 90s style clothes

Community Answer

Yes! Thrift stores are great for finding vintage clothes, or plain clothes you can DIY to look like 90s clothes.
Question

What shops in the UK would you recommend for 90’s clothes?

Sehara Goonasinghe

Community Answer

Primark is likely to have some 90s styles, but you could also have a look around at shops such as Sainsbury's, Next, Marks and Spencer, etc. for the more formal 90s clothing styles.