90’s Fashion

Shreya Parashar
Sailee Borkar
Group-B
Contents

• 1990’s in fashion

• Women’s fashion

• Men’s fashion

• Hairstyles of the 1990s

• Makeup and cosmetic trends

• Friends fashion defined 1990’s

 1990s in fashion

For most of the decade, 1990s fashion in Europe, Oceania, Asia, and America was defined by a return to minimalist fashion in
contrast to the more elaborate and flashy trends of the 1980s. One notable shift in the western world was the mainstream
adoption of tattoos, body piercings aside from ear piercing and to a much lesser extent, other forms of body modification such
as branding.

In the early 1990s, several late 1980s fashions remained very stylish among both sexes. However, the popularity of grunge and
alternative rock music helped bring the simple, unkempt grunge look to the mainstream by 1992. The anti-conformist approach
to fashion led to the popularization of the casual chic look that included T-shirts, jeans, hoodies, and sneakers, a trend which
continued into the 2000s. Additionally, fashion trends throughout the decade recycled styles from previous decades, notably the
1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

Due to increased availability of the Internet and satellite television outside the United States, plus the reduction of import tariffs
under NAFTA, fashion became more globalized and homogeneous in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
 Women's fashion
Supermodels and high fashion
Throughout the 1990s, supermodels dominated the fashion industry. The top models of the 1990s were Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova,
Nadja Auermann, Christie Brinkley, Christy Turlington, Kate Moss, Carla Bruni, Tatiana Sorokko, Helena Christensen, Claudia Schiffer, Karen Mulder, Yasmin Le Bon, Nadège,
Yasmeen Ghauri, Stephanie Seymour, Valeria Mazza, Carolyn Murphy, Amber Valletta, Shalom Harlow, Kirsten Owen, Kristen McMenamy, Guinevere Van Seenus, Alek Wek,
Karen Elson, Elsa Benítez, Michele Hicks, Stella Tennant, Audrey Marnay, Amy Wesson, Maggie Rizer, Erin O'Connor, Kirsty Hume, Bridget Hall, Milla Jovovich and Tyra Banks.

Later in the decade, the rise of Kate Moss shifted the world of fashion when her entrance onto the scene turned the Big Five into the Big Six. Kate Moss became one of the
nineties' biggest phenomena when, at 14 years of age, she was discovered at JKF Airport. Her waif-like figure set a new fashion standard that became known as "heroin chic."
This was a pale and ghostly look that called for a stick-thin stature and size zero body. Due to Kate's extremely skinny frame, she was often criticized for allegedly promoting
eating disorders as apparently evidenced by her shots for Calvin Klein. Reportedly, posters of Kate Moss were often defaced with graffiti that read "feed me".

Neon colors
In the US, USSR, South Africa, Egypt, and Japan popular trends included bold geometric-print clothing in electric blue, orange, fluorescent pink, purple, turquoise and the acid
green exercise wear popularized by Lisa Lopes of TLC. Typical patterns included triangles, zigzag lightning bolts, diamonds, lozenges, rectangles, overlapping free-form
shapes, simulated explosions inspired by comic book illustrations or pop art, intricate grids, and clusters of thin parallel lines in contrasting colors for example, white, black and
yellow on a cyan background. Many women wore denim button-down Western shirts, colored jeans in medium and dark green, red, and purple, metallic Spandex leggings,
halterneck crop tops, drainpipe jeans, colored tights, bike shorts, black leather jackets with shoulder pads, baby-doll dresses over bike shorts or capri leggings, and skating
dresses. Neon colored tops and leg warmers were popular, together with leopard print skirts shiny satin or rayon blouses, embroidered jeans covered in rhinestones, and
black or white shirts, leggings and jackets printed with abstract red, blue, yellow and green geometric patterns. In America, popular accessories included court shoes, cowboy
boots, headscarves, slouch socks, Keds, ballet flats, and the penny loafers or boat shoes associated with the preppy look.
Leggings and exercise-wear
From 1991 on, sports bras, hoodies, Leotards worn as tops with jeans, a sweatshirt especially
Champion brand over a turtleneck with jeans rolled up to show off their slouch socks were
popular with young girls, teens, college girls, and young women in the UK, Europe and America.
A common outfit was to wear a skirt, dress shorts, babydoll or minidress with black opaque
tights, white athletic socks, and white Keds athletic sneakers. It was not uncommon to see
mothers dressed right along with their daughters in white slouch socks worn over black
leggings or sweatpants (especially heather grey color), an oversized T-shirt, sweater or
sweatshirt worn over a turtleneck, and Keds, Converse All Stars, or unisex aerobic, basketball or
Nike Air or gold Reebok hi-top running shoes. A dressed up leggings outfit was leggings with
an oversized v-neck sweater over a turtleneck, slouch socks, Keds (shoes) or Sperrys, and bangs
with a headband band or ponytail and scrunchie. Leggings worn over pantyhose or tights with
a pair of flats were also common. Leggings and slouch socks with oversized tops and casual
sneakers especially Keds continued to be worn as lounge wear and everyday comfortable and
fashionable casual wear until the late 1990s. In Israel, Britain and the US, Gottex swimsuits
became popular among female celebrities Princess Di, Brooke Shields, and Elizabeth Taylor.

Grunge
In mid-1992, grunge fashion broke into the mainstream for both sexes. For younger American,
Australian and Latina women, grunge fashion consisted of flannel shirts, ripped jeans, mom
jeans, Doc Martens, combat boots, band t-shirts, oversized knit sweaters, long and droopy Actress Paula Abdul wearing semi- Young woman standing on sidewalk,
skirts, ripped tights, Birkenstocks, hiking boots, and eco-friendly clothing made from recycled transparent black dress, curled hair and Uptown New Orleans, 1992.
textiles or fair trade organic cotton. A prominent example of the popularity of grunge fashion is smoky eye makeup, 1990
the teen drama television series "My So Called Life". Grunge fashion peaked in late 1993 and
early 1994.
Glamour wear
Slip dresses first became widely worn in the mid-90s, as part of the underwear-as-outerwear trend. (Jane Leeves, 1995)
In 1994, grunge clothing rapidly declined as fashion became more feminine and form-fitting. Young women in the UK and America
wore tailored skirt and trouser suits, short skirts and dresses, baby doll dresses, animal prints, hot pants, slim pants, bright colors (even
in colder months), long and short skirts, and high heels. High-shine fabrics, such as satin, metallics, sequins, microfiber, vinyl, and silk
became very prominent on both clubwear and work wear. The most common look among young women that year was the short
black slip dress worn over a tight, undersized white T-shirt. Loungewear generally consisted of black Lycra leggings, large T-shirts,
oversized sweatshirts sometime over a turtleneck, and baggy sweaters while at home or relaxing during the weekends.
A very popular look among young women and girls from 1994–1995 was the "sexy school girl" look. This trend consisted of tartan
minikilts, undersized sweaters, short slip dresses, baby doll tees, knee highs, thigh highs, miniature backpacks, overalls, tights,
pantyhose, and chunky shoes. The sexy school girl look was prominently portrayed in films with female leads such as Clueless, Empire
Records, and The Craft.
Among women over 30, 1950s ladylike fashions made a comeback in the United States. This included pencil skirts, cardigans, girdles,
petticoats, satin or lace Wonderbra lingerie, and fitted suits. Popular accessories that went hand-in-hand with this revival included
brooches, white gloves, sheer stockings, diamonds, sequins, and red lipstick. For more casual occasions, women opted for lean capri
pants, polka dot blouses, belted trench coats, 1940s style sandals, white canvas shoes, and leather jackets.
Popular shoes and accessories during the mid-1990s in Europe and North America included loafers, Mary Janes, suede sneakers,
mules, clogs, knee high boots, jelly shoes, go-go boots, black court shoes, Keds, silver jewelry, dainty earrings and necklaces, conch
shell necklaces, berets, straw hats, floppy hats, gold jewelry, and hipster belts. Navel piercings had started to gain popularity around
this time.

Work wear
For much of the early and mid 1990s, power dressing was the norm for women in the workplace: navy blue, grey or pastel colored
skirt suits with shoulder pads, pussy bow blouses, silk scarves, pointed shoes, stretchy miniskirts, polka dot blouses, and brightly
colored short dresses worn with a dark brocade blazer, bare legs and metallic open toed shoes. Other 1980s fashions such as chunky Slip dresses first became widely worn in
jewelry, hoop earrings, smoky eye make-up, hairspray, Alice bands, and brightly painted nails remained common. Shorts suits were the mid-90s, as part of the underwear-
also very popular. They consisted of a regular suit top and jacket and dress shorts with tights underneath worn with ballet flats. as-outerwear trend. (Jane Leeves,
By 1996, professional women in Britain, Australia and America wore more relaxed styles and muted colors, such as black floral print 1995)
dresses, plain kaftan style blouses, Mary Janes, maxi skirts, boots, smart jeans, big floppy hats, culottes, and chunky platform shoes.
Trouser suits began to replace skirts, and nude tights and black pantyhose made a comeback.
1970s revival
From 1997 onwards, many British and American designers started to take cues from the disco fashion of the mid–late 1970s.
Particularly common were black or dark red pleather pants, animal print clothing, halter tops, metallic clothing, crop tops,
tube tops, maxi coats, maxi skirts, knee boots, and boot-cut dress pants. By 1997, popular mainstream trends included tight
shirts, bell bottoms, platform shoes, fleeces, cropped tank tops, Union jack motifs inspired by the Cool Britannia movement,
and military inspired clothing, such as flak jackets with camouflage patterns.
In the late 1990s, bright colors began to make a comeback in mainstream fashion, as a backlash against the darker tones
associated with the grunge and skater subculture. Popular colors included plum, chocolate, and navy, all of which replaced
black, which had become ubiquitous. Other fashion trends popular from 1997-1999 included glamour wear, high-waisted
miniskirts, plastic chokers, knee socks associated with the school girl look, tight pants, slip dresses, turtle-neck sweaters,
conservative chic, capri pants, high-waisted trousers, and cardigans.
More formal styles intended for the workplace or special occasions (such as a cocktail party) included silk blouses in neutral
colors or animal prints, tailored pantsuits and skirt suits inspired by the 1980s, collarless coats, and the little black dress, with
or without subtle embroidery.

Casual chic
From 1998–2000, the unisex casual chic look gained mainstream appeal, with dark stonewash jeans, spaghetti strap crop tops,
tracksuits, sweatpants, and other athletic clothing. Denim's popularity was at an all-time high in Europe, with designer denim
jackets and matching jeans rocketing in prices. Other common, more affordable brands included Mudd, JNCO, and Evisu, a
Japanese denim brand which launched in the 1980s. The most popular trainers were white or black and manufactured by
Adidas, Skechers, Hitec and Nike. Running shoes with built in air pumps were popular among both sexes. Leather had largely
Model wearing a midriff shirt, a silver
replaced canvas, and soles were made of foam rather than solid rubber.
necklace, low ponytail and straight-
In the US and Britain, popular accessories included large hoop earrings, shoes with rounded toes, flip flops, jelly shoes,
leg leggings, circa 1999.
rhinestone-encrusted hip belts, embellished slippers, beaded wristbands and lariats, Alice bands, pashminas, fascinators, gold
jewelry, moccasin loafers, running shoes, jelly bracelets, bandanas, and novelty Wellington boots with leopard print or zebra
stripe patterns.
 Men's fashion

Casual clothing
Continuing on from the late 1980s, many young men in the UK and Europe wore tapered and cuffed high waisted jeans with
matching denim jackets, Champion brand, Stone Island or Ralph Lauren sweatshirts, polo shirts with contrasting collars, short
Harrington jackets, grey Tommy Hilfiger sweaters with prominent logos, oversized Guess denim shirts, brightly colored
windcheaters especially in yellow or green, Hush Puppies shoes, V neck sweaters, soccer shorts, white athletic socks worn with
black or brown loafers, triple striped tube socks usually folded over at the top, pastel colored three button sportcoats, graphic print
T-shirts, tracksuit tops with a vertical contrasting stripe down the sleeve, sweatpants, bomber jackets, pale denim drainpipe jeans as
worn by Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting, shiny red or blue rayon monkey jackets, grey or tan leather jackets with shoulder pads,
and wool baseball jackets with contrasting sleeves. Short shorts were popular in the early years of the decade, but were replaced
with looser and baggier basketball shorts after 1993 when hip-hop fashion went mainstream.

Grunge-style flannel shirt and curtained hair, 1993

From 1988 until 1995, flannel shirts became very popular in the US and Australia, due to their use among the skater subculture and
grunge bands including Nirvana, Mudhoney, or Pearl Jam. Unlike the fitted Western shirts of the 1970s which fastened with pearl
snaps, the flannel shirts of the 1990s were padded and loose-fitting for optimum warmth. Men also wore acid wash jeans,
patterned wool sweaters with turtlenecks underneath, black Schott Perfecto leather jackets, sheepskin coats, olive green anoraks,
corduroy sportcoats, grey sweatpants and fingerless gloves.
In Britain and the US, popular accessories included Converse All Stars, trapper hats, tuques, combat boots, Doc Martens Boots,
Aviator sunglasses popularized by the late rock star Freddie Mercury, and neon-colored trainers (sometimes incorporating flashing
lights and elastic self-tying laces).
Around 1995/1996, 1960s mod clothing and longer hair were popular in Britain, Canada, and the US due to the success of Britpop.
Men wore Aloha shirts, brown leather jackets, velvet blazers, paisley shirts, throwback pullover baseball jerseys, and graphic-print
T-shirts (often featuring dragons, athletic logos or numbers). Real fur went out of fashion and fake fur became the standard.
 Hairstyles of the 1990s

Women's hairstyles
Women's hair in the early 1990s continued in the big, curly style of the 1980s. High and High
sided ponytails continued through most of the decade, especially when playing sports and at
the gym. These were worn with a scrunchie until the late 90's when hair ties began to replace
scrunchies. Bangs remained big throughout the decade, especially the "mall bangs" poofy
style associated with the early 1990s. From 1994 and through 2000s they got smaller and
somewhat flatter and less poofy and laid closer to the forehead.
The pixie cut and Rachel haircut, based on the hairstyles of Jennifer Aniston in Friends and
Marlo Thomas in That Girl, were popular in America from 1995 onwards. Around the same
time red hair also became a desirable color for women, as well as feathered bangs, and mini
hair-buns. From 1995 until 2008, dark-haired women tended to dye their hair a lighter color
with blonde highlights (popularized by Jennifer Aniston).

In the late 1990s, the Bob cut was well-desired, popularized and rejuvenated by Victoria
Beckham of the Spice Girls. This late 90s-style bob cut featured a center, side, or zig-zag
parting, as opposed to the thick bangs of the early 1990s. The Farrah Fawcett hairstyle made
a comeback in 1997, with highlights going hand-in-hand with this revival. Other late 1990s R&B singer Brandy Norwood Butterly clips, worn by young
haircuts included "Felicity curls" (popularized by Keri Russell in the hit TV show Felicity), the sporting box braids, popular in girls in the mid and late 90s.
Fishtail Half-Up, and pigtails, as well as the continuation of mid 1990s hairdos. the 1990s among women of
African descenta.
Men's hairstyles
The 1990s generally saw the continued popularity of longer hair on men. In the early 1990s, curtained hair,
mullets, and ponytails were popular. Other trends included flattops, hi-top fades, and cornrows.

In the mid 1990s, men's hairstyle trends went in several different directions. Younger men who were more
amenable had adopted the Caesar cut, either natural or dyed. This style was popularized by George Clooney on
the hit TV show ER in season two, which premiered in mid 1995. More rebellious young men went for longer,
unkempt "grunge" hair, often with a center parting. The curtained hairstyle was at its peak in popularity, and
sideburns went out of style. Meanwhile, most professional men over 30 had conservative 1950s style bouffant
haircuts or the Caesar cut.

By 1999 it was considered unstylish and unattractive for men and boys to have longer hair. As a result, short hair
completely took over. From 1999 onwards, aside from curtained hair (which was popular throughout the decade),
spiky hair, bleached hair, crew cuts, and variants of the quiff became popular among younger men. Dark haired
men dyed their spikes blonde or added wavy blonde streaks, a trend which continued into the early 2000s
(decade). Variants of the surfer hair was popular among rock musicians during that time period. For African- Young man in 1995, sporting a short undercut
American men, the cornrows (popularized by former NBA player Allen Iverson) and buzz cut were a popular hairstyle.
trend that continued into the early 2000s.
Makeup and cosmetic trends
Women's makeup in the early 1990s primarily consisted of dark red lipstick and neutral eyes. Around 1992 the
"grunge look" came into style among younger women and the look was based on dark red lipstick and
smudged eyeliner and eyeshadow. Both styles of makeup continued into 1994, but went out of style the next
year.

The trends in makeup shifted in the mid 1990s. In 1995, nude shades became desirable and women had a
broader color palette in brown. Another makeup trend that emerged was matte lipsticks, with deep shades
of red and dark wine colors worn as part of night makeup. Blue-frosted eye shadow became fashionable,
and was eventually integrated into the Y2K makeup of the late 1990s/early 2000s (decade). Gothic makeup
had broken into the mainstream, having been made up of vamp lipstick (or even black lipstick), heavy
mascara and eyeliner, often purple-tinted eye shadow (or else very dark blue), and extremely pale
foundation. The Gothic makeup remained relevant in the later years of the decade.

By 1999, glittery, sparkling makeup had come into style. This was called "Y2K makeup", consisting of facial
glitter and lip gloss. Blue-frosted eye shadow remained a staple of late 1990s makeup, although silver was
ideal look. Dark eyeliner was considered bodacious. Pale, shiny lips became desirable, as lip gloss largely
replaced lipstick. An alternative for those who did not like metallics were purples and browns. Goth makeup
and Y2K makeup continued into the early 2000s.

A darker shade of lipstick seemed

popular among women
throughout the decade. (Chiara
Mastroianni, 1997)
'Friends' Fashion Defined '90s Style

The Mid-Nineties: Tasteful Grunge And The

Watching
Princess "The One Where Monica
Diana Gown Gets A Roommate" 20 years after it debuted — yes, 20 — is akin to being slapped in the face with
some of the '90s most notorious trends. Phoebe's rugged, bleached denim vest and oversized grey dress are sheer grunge, while
Monica's overalls and menswear watch speak to the decade's interest in androgynous dressing. While not an everyday sartorial choice,
Rachel's crumpled, off-the-shoulder wedding gown is part '80s couture and part Princess Diana, a combination many early-'90s brides
personally relate to.
After outfitting Jennifer Aniston's fashion plate character in voluminous ensembles and moody colors for much of the first season,
McGuire began to favor more body conscious looks for the ever-stylish Rachel. High-waisted Levi's and baby tees were the unofficial
Season 2 uniform, with a helping of bell-shaped mini skirts and fitted sweaters thrown in for good measure.

The Late Nineties: Printed Slip Dresses, Capri Pants,

The series shifted in a decidedly formal direction during the third season, when each of the six major players were gainfully
and V-Neck Sweaters
employed in enviable positions. While Phoebe's ever-whimsical wardrobe remained wistful and playful, Rachel's once-casual
wardrobe became more sophisticated and polished after the character's transition into the Bloomingdales' buying department. Of
course, no season would be complete without several major fashion missteps, including Rachel's decision to wear a negligee as a
slip dress. Minimalist skirt suits à la Calvin Klein appear on both Monica and Rachel over the course of the season, as well as the
type of sun-faded prints and slip dresses that would have paired excellently with Doc Martens. Truthfully, doesn't every woman in
her mid-twenties make some sort of similar wardrobe transgression?
One trend the decade aced, however, was the v-neck sweater. From Rachel's solid-colored cashmere versions to Chandler's preppy
sweater vests, v-necks took center stage in the late '90s, on the small screen and off. If you're looking for the trend's most recent
incarnation, simply take a gander at Alexander Wang's athletic-chic, sports-striped mesh tops, which echo the look in the most
avant-garde manner.
The Millennium: Leather Accents, Spaghetti Straps, and Slits
Speaking of transgressions, if you missed the '70s the first time around, you were in luck for the millennium — 2000 brought the decade's looks screaming back with the help
of Friends. A disgruntled Rachel returns from Ross' honeymoon in Greece clad in an embroidered peasant top and longer locks than ever, pairing the look with ill-fated olive-
hued capris and a glowing tan. However, after its short blip on the fashion circuit, the bohemian trend was put back to rest with its former devotee: Phoebe.
Anyone who wore platform slides, a slit maxi skirt, or serious leather around the year 2000 was inadvertently stealing from the Friends playbook. In an effort to make even
wintry ensembles sizzle, chunky knits appeared with slim-cut leather pencil skirts and heeled boots on the series, though in Phoebe's case, the color palette remained in
punchy, vibrant hues. Matrix-esque leather trench coats and streamlined silhouettes almost convinced viewers that science fiction had predicted future trends, until 2001's
runways ushered in a new host of ideas entirely.
The new wave featured a host of masculine-meets-feminine aesthetics, from low-slung, fitted, bootcut jeans to utilitarian, embroidered tees. Even the odd pair of military-
inspired cargo pants snuck their way into the show's wardrobe, stoking the fire under an already hot trend. In lieu of the series' previous diaphanous slips dresses and
unembellished uniforms of mini skirts and tees, Friends' characters began to wear clothing which could only be described as — gasp! — adult.
Though Rachel's character is seen in thigh-grazing pleated skirts until the bitter end of the series, they pair well with more thoughtful button-downs and cashmere sweaters;
fans of the early-aughts series The O.C. will recognize the trend as a front-runner on the latter show's first season, which began in 2003 as Friends was coming to a close. As a
mother-to-be with a baby on the way via surrogate, Monica favors bell-sleeve blouses and jeans tailored to her slim figure, accented with the odd denim jacket for utilitarian
warmth. And as any Millennial recalls, the jean jacket was indispensable to a tween in the early aughts. The reigning queen of eccentricity, Phoebe ends her reigns on Friends
with a printed dress, periwinkle stockings, and a fistful of jewelry, a trend a certain Upper East Sider would snatch up a mere three years later.
Friends made its mark on history, and thanks to its current, incredibly addictive streaming capability, a new generation is bound to fall for its innate flair. So is the world in for
another round of suspenders, chunky platforms, and ragged denim? Stay tuned to find out.
 Bibliogra
ph
• 1990s Minimalism
• "Bad fads: Tattoos". Archived from the original on 2011-11-28. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
• "Body piercings and Tattoos". Archived from the original on 2012-04-24. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
• Fashion at the edge: spectacle, modernity and deathliness, Evans, Caroline [1] Yale University
Press, 2007, p. 22
Thank You