16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (2024)

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Susie Heller

2017-08-16T19:07:57Z

16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (1)

The 1990s were an amazing time to grow up. "Friends" was still on air,Lunchablesand Oreo-flavored cereal were still considered perfectly acceptable meals, and you probably rushed home after school to playon your GameBoy Color.

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It's impossible to talk about how great the '90s were without paying homage tothe fashion trends that were popular back then. Andit just so happens that many of those trends— likechokers, denim on denim, and overalls — are having a moment now, too.

While nostalgia for the '90s is at a high, keep scrolling to see 16 fashion throwbacks that will instantly take you back totheera.

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Vests

16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (2)

Vests were a '90s staple. They could be worn over a shirt, in the same wayRachel Green styled her vest above, or worn as astand-alone shirt when buttoned up — another look Rachel often sported while serving coffee at Central Perk.

Overalls

16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (3)

Overalls were an easy, low-maintenance look. To make your all-denim ensemblelook effortlessly cool, you would wearthem with one strap undone.

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Butterfly clips

16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (4)

In the '90s, pretty much everyone wore butterfly clips in their hair. The more clips you wore, the cooler you looked. Fishel wasn't the only one who sported the embellished hairdo;Kirsten Dunst, Hilary Duff, and Gwen Stefani were also big fans.

Chokers

16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (5)

Chokers were a must-have accessory in the '90s because they could make any outfit look instantly cool.

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Jelly sandals

16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (6)

Patterned jelly sandals were a funky '90s staple. They came in a range of colors and were usuallyclear, allowingyou to show off yourpedicure while also keepingyour toes covered.

Bandannas

16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (7)

Bandannas can bea great camping accessory, but in the '90s they were a totally normal addition to your outfit on a bad hair day. Bandannas were so cool thatBeyoncéevenwore a shirtmade out of them, first in 1999 and more famously in 2000.

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Brown lipstick

16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (8)

Brown lipstick was the smokey eye of the '90s. Rocking a dark lip was the bold, vampy accent you needed to complete your going out look. Before Kylie Jenner popularized this look with her lip kits, celebs like Drew Barrymore, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Brandy rocked this trend in the '90s.

Flannels

16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (9)

The easiest way to give off grunge vibes was to sportan oversized flannel shirt, just like Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and other punk rockers. If itwas too hot to wear your flannel, you could tie it around your waist andstill look cool.

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Crop tops

16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (10)

Crop tops and belly shirts were staples ofthe era. Pop sensationslike Britney Spears, Destiny's Child, and Christina Aguilera rocked them on stage and the red carpet, while the rest of us felt extremely cool wearing them to high school dances.

Windbreakers

16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (11)

The '90s were all about neon — even on gloomy days. Multicoloredwindbreakers made fora sporty, casual look, and Will Smith notably rocked themon "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."

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Platform sandals

16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (12)

These platform sandalsare a classic throwback look.Although block heels are more popular these days, platforms were a hallmark of '90s fashion — and theydidn't leave your feet aching.

Platforms are starting to make a comeback, though; Steve Madden's "Slinky" shoes (pictured above) were all the rage in the '90s,andyou can now buy the same shoes.

Denim on denim

16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (13)

For a brief, glorious moment in the '90s, denim on denim wasn't considered a fashion taboo. It was even still trendy in 2001, whenBritney Spears and Justin Timberlakemade an iconicred carpet appearance wearing matching all-denim ensembles.

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Scrunchies

16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (14)

Sure, Carrie Bradshaw bashed the scrunchieon "Sex and the City," but that was well after the colorful hair elastic had itsheyday. But maybe Carrie got it wrong — scrunchies can beuseful,cute, and gentle on hair. Plus, '90s icons Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen seemed to love them.

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Mom jeans

16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (15)

Before the low-rise jeans of early 2000s fame, high-waisted jeans were hugein the '90s. Mom jeans, which are high-waisted, light wash jeans, were an especially popular look.

The style has made a comeback, with mainstream retailers like Zara offering their own versions of Mom jeans. Pinterest also named Mom jeans the mostpopular jean style of2017.

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Dr. Martens

16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (16)

Dr.Marten boots were a punk staple during the era. The lace-up, combatboot-style shoes are not only comfortable but also super versatile, and can be styledwith delicatefloral patterns or ripped jeans and a flannel shirt.

Layers

16 trends you’ll only remember if you grew up in the ‘90s (17)

Layers were anothersignature look at the time. For an easy workout, you could wear a camisole over a crew neck T-shirt, like Cher and Dionne did during the iconic gym scene in "Clueless." On "Friends," Rachel Green was also a fan of layers, sometimes opting to wear a slip dress over a T-shirt for a less athletic ensemble.