Back to the past: Why we love 90s fashion

As numerous fashion trends come and go, 90’s style continuously remains one of the most popular, timeless trends to date, but why are we so hung up on it?

The rise of indie and grunge bands, Oasis and Nirvana for example, sparked a revolutionary change in fashion. Though this change fizzled out when the 2000s hit, indie bands resurfaced (Arctic Monkeys, The Kooks and Florence and The Machine to name a few) and revitalised this trend. Now it’s the norm for any young adult to rock a pair of Dr Martens with a pair of mom jeans and a thrifted sweatshirt. 

"It's literally impossible to escape 90’s trends if we wanted to. But let’s be honest, we really don't want to."

Something about the 90’s exudes an edgy yet chic vibe that we’re unable to capture in this day and age. We have an endless amount of material to work with too: with Winona Ryder, a paragon of cool yet comfortable 90’s chic, making us want to be as  trendy as her as she makes a comeback onto our screens. When rewatching Friends, Clueless and 10 Things I Hate About You, we google what they all used to wear and follow those 90’s throwback fashion pages on Instagram and Twitter for inspiration (@modernmodels being a good source). With the Kardashians/Jenners and the Hadids etc strutting in spaghetti strap dresses paired with a choker and butterfly clips and Hailey Beiber recently doing a Diana-esque photo shoot where she effortlessly matched a vintage sweatshirt with bike shorts it's literally impossible to escape 90’s trends if we wanted to. But let’s be honest, we really don't want to.

Image source: @haileybieber (Instagram) by Gregory Harris

Social media is a hub for 90’s fashion inspiration along with the rise of fashion-based Youtubers, bestdressed for example, constantly throwing endless amounts of outfit combinations that we want to try out while regurgitating old yet fashionable styles. With Florence Welch, Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks blessing us with hippie-witch vibes, it’s hard to not notice a sudden rise in floral maxi skirts coupled with a good pair of Docs and we’re all here for it. It’s hard to not be so hung up on 90’s fashion when it’s so diverse that it fits anyone and everyone’s needs. Literally, everyone. Whether you fancy wearing a spaghetti strap dress with a choker, a tracksuit with a pair of slide shoes and a bucket hat or fishnet tights and a tea dress (all probably accompanied by at least two multi-coloured butterfly clips), 90’s fashion accommodates everyone.

Image source: @bestdressed (Instagram)

"Rachel and Monica’s various casual yet cute outfits, such as the white cropped jumper, plaid mini skirt and knee high socks, makes us yearn to be living in New York City in the 90’s"

Along with social media, the constant broadcasting of Friends on practically every television channel in existence (I mean, seriously, does Comedy Central air anything else?) further throws endless amounts of inspiration for 90’s fashion whilst giving us a sense of nostalgia for a time some of us wasn’t even alive in. Rachel and Monica’s various casual yet cute outfits; including the white cropped jumper, plaid mini skirt and knee high socks, makes us yearn to be living in New York City in the 90’s in a funky apartment. While Phoebe’s funky yet hippie outfits has us hooked while giving us even more Stevie and Florence vibes that we can’t get enough of. We are constantly surrounded by 90’s culture making us yearn to be a part of it as it appears to be a better decade than we will ever experience.

The rise of denim jackets, tea dresses and Dr Martens along with Adidas and Nike tracksuits, once worn by Sporty Spice and now Kendall Jenner, marks the second though not last wave of 90’s fashion, showing us that it’s here to stay.