And just like that, these '90s fashion trends are making a comeback
Love it or hate it, ‘90s fashion is back in vogue. Sure, some Y2K artefacts like the wraparound aviators have resurfaced, and the seemingly eternal winters have brought back the “mob wife” aesthetic along with some '80s nostalgia, but it's 1990s fashion that seems to be returning with a vengeance.
But a closer look at the trend would reveal that this newfound obsession with styles of the ‘90s is not so new after all – in fact, it’s been a few years coming. Remember the quiet luxury trend circa 2023? Well, the ‘90s women did it first. From Calvin Klein to Jil Sander to Helmut Lang, these designers turned ‘80s opulence on its head and put out purist collections of sharp tailoring and simple styling. Those skinny strappy stilettos? We have them to thank, too. As for the Brat aesthetic that turned our feeds green last year, it can also be traced back to the '90s grunge girlies who loved to thrift. Think: vintage tees, baggy jeans, scuffed trainers, shaggy, day-old hair.
The ’90s was the era of the fashion designer, with diffusion labels galore from the likes of Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors and Giorgio Armani sprouting faster than you could say “logo.” Fuelling this rampant consumerism were the pop culture icons of the moment. One cannot look at women of ‘90s fashion without being flooded with images of supermodels from Naomi Campbell to Cindy Crawford on every billboard and fashion magazine, none more famous than Kate Moss, the poster child of the controversial “waif” look. Then there was the rise of hip hop that played on every radio station (remember those?) and whose bands like Destiny’s Child informed how we dressed, from bandeau tops to low-slung jeans.
One only had to look at the movies and TV shows of the time to figure out what we were collectively obsessing over. Whether it was Carrie Bradshaw's romps about town in Sex and The City or all the futuristic fashion in The Matrix, sex, space and sartorial rebellion were what the ‘90s were all about – and let’s be honest, those ideas never go out of style.
From logomania to snake print to strappy sandals, these are the '90s fashion items coming back in 2025.
If the Noughties were all about baby tees, their ancestor would have to be the '90s tie-front top. The 1990s was all about showing skin, be it through sheer fabrics or cropped styles, and the tie-front top is definitely a big part of the family thanks to the way it oozes sex appeal.
Who didn't covet a Louis Vuitton bag in the 1990s? The decade was ruled by fashion designers like Marc Jacobs who began his tenure at Louis Vuitton and quickly turned the house's leather goods into the most sought-after bags of the 90s. With the re-edition of the limited edition collaboration between artist Takashi Murakami and Louis Vuitton this year, the iconic LV Speedy bag's appeal is stronger than ever.
Leopard may have been the reigning print of 2024, but you'd best make way for snake print, the sexy, serpentine pattern all over boots and sheer tops in the '90s that will surely be slithering its way back into our hearts this year.
Before there were the futuristic, wraparound sunnies, there were the skinny frames. Narrow in height and a little wider than the face, they gave the perfect pinched look to go with all those crisp skirt suits and low-slung jeans, and they're about to be huge again if BLACKPINK's Jennie's latest collab with Gentle Monster has anything to do with it.
The corset top has been all over the runways and streets of couture fashion week, and has been bubbling up on red carpets in the last few seasons. A staple of the ‘90s, it seems the bustier is finding favour amongst today’s Gen Z fashion lovers, for better or worse.
From Rihanna to Beyoncé to Kendall Jenner, the chainmail dress popularised in the '90s and Noughties is the sartorial armour of icons, and fashion houses like Rabanne are continuing to make it their signature.
When you think of Rachel from FRIENDS or Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and The City, what piece of clothing comes to mind? Inevitably, an image of a slip dress will appear, likely in a beautiful pastel hue like mint or pink, and this simple yet oh-so-effective dress is still one of the most popular date night styles today.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, she earned her journalism degree in America and spent time at GLAMOUR US and People Magazine. She then returned to Hong Kong and became Tatler Asia's fashion director, where she ... Read More
