Top 3 Most Popular Fashion Trends of the 90s

Fashion trends in the late 90s were defined by a big return to minimalism, contrasting rather than complementing the more colorful and extravagant trends of the earlier decade. One striking change was the mainstream acceptance of tattoos, body piercing except in the case of ear piercings and to an even lesser extent, other types of body modification like branding. Then came hip hop and grunge, two major fashion styles of the time, which gave way to a more “loud” fashion style, characterized by oversized clothing and an attitude towards fashion that were distinctly individualistic. Another important symbol was the wearing of many different bracelets, a trend that fizzled out in the early years of the new millennium. Still, the combination of fashions and styles remained highly popular, and some of the most popular fashion trends from the period are still fashionable and sought after.

The 90s also witnessed a definitive style shift when ethnic wear made its entry into the fashion scene, especially in Western countries. Ethnic wear represented an alternative to the traditional avant-garde styles, which tended to be too much of an exaggeration of the cultural values of certain groups. Fashionistas in these countries preferred vintage ethnic style clothing, and ethnic prints were also worn on clothes. These prints, including armband tattoos, did not resemble those found on the urban wear of the time, but they nevertheless made a significant impact because they represented a return to a bygone era.

A third major fashion trend of the 90s was the rise of bright colors and prints in clothing. Bright colors were associated with the new wave of hip hop and urban clothing, and the combinations were bold, imaginative and unique. The cut of the outfit was a significant feature, and the bright colors were generally contrasted by dark colors, like blacks, dark blue or dark grey. This sub-genre of fashion had two distinct phases: the dotty phase, when designers tried to create new patterns by merging two or more of them, and the post-dotty phase, which saw the merging of many more patterns. The result was a dazzling array of bright colors which incorporated asymmetric cuts and interesting graphic details.