The 25 Best 90s Fashion Trends That Still Work in 2025

Today, hoops’ significance to Black and Latina communities is sometimes omitted when we talk about them as a ubiquitous jewelry box item. Buying jewelry from Black- and Latina-owned jewelry shops and brands is one way to avoid playing into that!

Much like hair claws, scrunchies were a fun way to liven up a simple hairstyle in the ‘90s. More often than not, they were colorful and made with excess fabric to fan out around the ponytail (or ballerina-style bun). They’ve been back in style for a little while now (recall the VSCO girl?) and we hope they’ll stay that way!

Unlike baby tees, crop tops look like they’re missing a bit of, well, shirt at the bottom — and we mean that in a fun, stylish way! Maybe it’s a cropped T-shirt. Maybe it’s a cropped tube top a la late ‘90s fashion. Maybe it’s literally any shirt Gwen Stefani wore during No Doubt’s heyday. If it hits at or above the belly button, it’ll work!

Whether it was a mesh dress with bold appliques peppered in the important areas or see-through tops worn with a tube top underneath, sheer clothing saw a big moment in the 1990s. It’s still a super fun fabric to play with, especially when there are small, peek-a-boo moments of mesh hidden in your fit.

When it comes to 1990s trends, the less of your optical region your sunglasses cover, the better. Shapes and colors may vary, from long, oval shades with a pastel tint to wire-framed square sunnies that are perched on the tip of your nose. But a slim size is the thing to look for, as Sydney Sweeney would agree.

Grab a pair of combat boots and some cargo pants, and you could have dropped yourself into any ‘90s music venue with a mosh pit. Some designs had drawstrings at the ankles for a parachute-y vibe, while others were bootcut. Cargo pants have been back for a minute, meaning you can find both of these styles — and many, many more — in stores today.

Late fashion designer Thierry Mugler had a big hand in popularizing the corset top as a go-to piece of early 1990s fashion, and if you can find an original, you’re in for a real treat. Available in patterns and colors of all kinds, a truly throwback design detail is a lace-up front or back— a feminine touch for any pair of jeans… or cargo pants.

A good leather jacket is timeless, but something about a black leather blazer feels distinctly 1990s in the best way. Maybe it was all the leather blazers we saw Winona Ryder and Gwyneth Paltrow rock in the ‘90s and aughts. They were clearly onto something, as the reemergence of leather blazers today shows. And even if you can’t spring for a real leather blazer, there are a ton of convincing vegan leather options out there.

The resurrection of jelly sandals is proof that everything really does come back around. As a platform heel or mule, in bright colors or glittery PVC plastic — you can’t go wrong with this cute, comfy sandal.

Nothing says late 1990s fashion like a choker. Stretch tattoo choker? Check. Wide velvet choker? Check. Choker with a pendant? Check check. There’s a different Y2K choker style out there for every day of the week and then some.

What’s more ‘90s fashion than a choker? A scarf worn as a choker! Nineties women loved a scarf as evening wear. Bonus points if the fabric is an exact match to the rest of your ‘fit. Or for an even dressier version, a classic, drape-y shawl slung low around the elbows works, too!

Start with a lacy babydoll dress. Add some ripped tights, a Peter Pan collar, and a bright red lip, and you’ve got a recipe for Courtney Love-inspired getup. This version of ‘90s grunge style has had its moments of revival — what was indie sleaze style if not its direct descendent? — and we’re certain we haven’t seen the last of it.

Animal print — once the stuff of ‘90s red carpet looks and suburban living rooms — is back to having a moment. (Just ask Hailey Bieber, Sang Heon Lee, and Rosé!) Add in a splash or go full head-to-toe leopard print a la Shania Twain in the 1998 music video for “That Don’t Impress Me Much.” In any dose, it’s an easy way to add a little glam to your wardrobe.

Finally, it’s time to talk about our return to pint-sized purses, including the long, weiner dog-like style that Fendi designer Silvia Venturini Fendi coined and Carrie Bradshaw popularized: the baguette. A sleek leather one pairs perfectly with the minimalist Career Woman look of the ‘90s (think Elizabeth James in 1998’s The Parent Trap). Or look for a holographic pattern and a slightly more rounded shape as an ode to ‘90s club fashion. Just make sure your phone still fits!