Don’t Call It A Comeback – 90’s Fashion Fads
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Recently the New York Times published an article about the next big trend and new fashion muse in the cities hipster circles – Elaine from “Seinfeld.” Think about that for a moment…
The circle of fashion dictates that styles and trends recycle about every 20 years, and we’ve been seeing hints of early 90’s trends on the market (like reworked flannel shirts and leggings in lieu of the 90’s tights) for the last few seasons. According to the Times, these downtown hipsters are our arbiters of style, and you should get ready to see lots of Elaine Benes clones all over your town soon.
While mulling over the the ways fashion recycles styles, I came up with a couple of fads I’m hoping stay way back in the dark, back recesses of the closet:
• Platform Sneakers
I blame the Spice Girls for the flash and burn cycle of this (let’s face it stupid looking) shoe fad. As I’m barely 5’2”, I quickly picked up a pair of my own black platform sneaks. I’m lucky if I wore them maybe 50 times, and when on my feet they were responsible for approximately 50 overturned and sprained ankles. And these are daytime shoes, so we can’t even blame the alcohol for the falls. 1970’s type platform shoes are no problem for me, but the platform sneaker was hell on the ankles.
Disclosure: I will admit that it was the alcohol and not the platform sneakers (I wore the exact same Steve Madden pair as pictured) that caused me to fall, repeatedly, Halloween night of 96 (Sporty Spice) – not a good combination, but a fun night!
• Little Backpacks
Again with the tragically flawed accessories! This fad – the teeny, tiny, almost always black, backpack – was nicely designed to automatically make any woman, once she strapped the Barbie sized bag to her back, appear about 25% larger then actual size. Thanks for that.
• Combat Boots with sundresses
(Image: chictopia)
Hmm, well according to the Times, this combo is part of the Elaine style, even though I picture her wearing something brown and loafer-like with buckles. I will admit the reason I’m hoping the combat boot/sundress look stays in NYC is purely selfish. As mentioned earlier, I’m short; and I have correspondingly short, sadly dumpy, legs. Wearing a dress or skirt with chunky boots that hit at the mid-calf is not a slimming or lengthening look for anyone. On me, this trend visually cuts my legs in half, giving me a nice square and squat figure. Tip One: If you’re under 5’4” stick to pairing mid-calf boots with jeans.
Need an additional reason to shelve this look? No matter how graceful the lady, paring a pairing of army boots with a dainty dress creates a nifty juxtaposition that makes everyone look just a little clumsy. Listen up youngsters, as I recall closing time at my favorite Hollywood bar in the mid 90’s; picture a roomful of tipsy to soused, Doc Marten-footed girls lumbering around, trying to avoid the bouncers eye, slightly off balance like a roomful of cross-dressing Frankenstein. (Tyna, I didn’t look that bad! ~Stef) Tip Two: If you do wear this recycled trend, do not wear it when drinking.
• Anything Steve Sanders wore on 90210
(Image: happygrrls)
I’m pretty sure those 90210 era swoopy haircuts and sharp sideburns will be back (and secretly, I’m sort of excited for it). However if there was ever a gigantic 90s Fashion No, it would be any and everything in Ian Ziering’s trailer. Throw in David Silver’s wardrobe (Brian Austin Greene) as well.
• Those Ridiculous Pants (sort of like Jams on steroids)
Stef and I both tried to find just the right phrase to title this one. Remember those awful, baggy men’s pants (a descendant of Hammer Pants maybe) that were like a combination of pajama bottoms and workout pants? They were always made of too-thin material with an obnoxious print and loud colors and the fine details included deep slouchy pockets and pleats? Those. They were a classic sign of a ‘douche bag’ back when they were called ‘tools’.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kT7pVHgWu4
• TRL
I’ve heard there’s plan to resurrect this series over at MTV and to that I say, “It’s too soon!” This truly awful live show ran at prime just-home-from-school-hours everyday on MTV and was responsible for unleashing unspeakable horrors from head to toe as worn by both the fashion victim guests (teen boy bands and pop princesses) and audience (lovers of teen boy bands and pop princess wannabees). Also? I blame this show for the downfall of the M in MTV.
• Possibly the most evil of them all – Scrunchies!
(Nightmare inducing image: American Apparel)
No explanation necessary – just look at that thing! Shudder.
Is it possible this long reviled hair accessory is poised to make a comeback? No matter what the fashion mags tell me, I just can’t ever wear a scrunchie again.
we heartsters – what 90’s trends have you dreading their comeback? Share in the comments!
Ha! I think I had that dress Elaine’s wearing in your photo! I hope this time when 90’s trends come ’round it’s in the spirit of the decade and not a carbon copy.
I laughed all the way through this post, @tyna! Oh the bad memories you’ve conjured up! The little dress/Doc Martens combo was my wardrobe staple in the 90s. Sometimes I substituted DM oxfords and scrunchy socks (!) for the boots.
TRL made me think of Dance Party USA, which you and @stef might remember as Philly girls. It was a regional version of TRL that is best known for spawning big-haired Kelly Ripa. But I watched every day for the fashion, which included everything you’ve listed except for the very un-sexy Elaine look.
90s fashion: just say NO!
@turboterp – we don’t just know Dance Party USA, we know it’s predecessor; Dancin’ on Air! (but that’s old school 80’s).
@tyna this is a GREAT post. I have to agree with the backpacks, but I liked the sneakers! Ok, ok, I was only 12, but the Spice Girls were the best thing ever. I think the thing that would make me shudder most would be the late 90’s trend of thigh high socks and shirt skirts with chunky shoes.
I loveeed sundresses and Doc Martens!! I am actually very seriously contemplating purchasing some new boots. If that’s wrong maybe I don’t want to be right? And I loved Elaine. She was one of the only curly haired leading ladies on tv. But seriously, a lot of 90’s trends are legitimately horrible. But one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right?? Totally awesome post @tyna!!!!!
Ah! I’ve been watching a lot of Seinfeld lately and I am so pro the Elaine fad. I just hope that this incarnation of her wardrobe is a little better fitted.
I admit that I was a platform sneaker wearing, tiny backpack toting (oh and yes, I had a Giga Pet too) kiddo way back when. This time around I think I’ll part with the Spice Girls fan in me and embrace the grunge. I really like the re-worked flannels, especially the lighter, tunic-y versions.
And I sincerely pray to all the higher powers out there that scrunchies do NOT make ANY kind of comeback. I only JUST got my mom to part with hers last month (no lie). They need to stay dead and buried.
I love Elaine! But hope the 90’s stay at bay! Great post @tyna! That picture of her almost looks like her face was pasted on the body! I am one of those people that get a chuckle watching people make up new trends.. I was hoping the one where the kids all wear jeans/pants hanging off their butts and showing underware would NOT have lasted so many years..HA!! I have a really old pair of white plateform sneakers! I wear them ONLY when I need to feel a bit taller! I’m shrinking- really.. used to be 5.6 and now am 5.5!
Skidz. Those pants were called Skids, and they were typically plaid, at least where I was from. My mom made ours for us. I still secretly like them.
When I think back to all of my 90’s clothes I think “Why isn’t anything I have figure flattering?” I had several Elaine dresses . . . not a good lookon me.
During this time period, I had a boss who asked me if I had scars on my legs! I asked why would you think that? He said all of the dresses you wear are so long and I was wondering if you were hiding something!
Fantastic post @tyna!
I was guilty of pretty much all of these 90s trends. LOL. Also, anything Angela Chase or Rayanne from My So Called Life wore I wanted as well. I loved the combat boot/flowery sundress combo but I too suffer from the short stumpy legs so it never looked good on me.
I admit it, I’m guilty- I kept the trend of sundresses with Doc Martens alive. I’m lucky to have been blessed with good legs for combat boots, LOL!
Scrunchies can go DIAF! Pretty much the only thing I really want to come back from the 90’s is the awesome music. Great roundup @Tyna !
Great post! oh Steve Sanders…the man with no sleeves.
I lived a lot of the early/mid 90s in Doc Martens – til there were holes in them!
Thank you for the memories @Tyna!
Ugh, I hate Elaine. But the babydoll/combat boot craze that Courtney Love created would be a welcome comeback for me. I loved the kinder-whore look.
The thought of hipsters in scrunchies makes me gag a little though.
@lucylemonade – I’m with you on the Courtney Love look. Actually when @tyna said she was including it I said “Oh, I still like that one!”
And I know scrunchies are horrible. But people, they’re SO COMFY! I wouldn’t wear them out in the hipster world. But in my house? Viva la scrunchie!
@stef- I totally still rock the scrunchie at home. They are the only things that really work without falling out or ripping my hair out. I just wish that there was a truly great alternative for outside the home.
I do hear that scrunchies are hot in Japan right now.
Glad you enjoyed this trip down 90’s fashion memory lane ladies!
I admit, I like the look of the combat boots and dress – it just doesn’t work for me. Boo. The look is definitely back – and maybe with a dark pair of tights (that match my boots) I can create the illusion of a longer line?
Ha – @friendofpyrez – I almost mentioned in my post that I knew a few people that just-finally- tosses their 90’s scrunchies (or wear them around the house like @stef). I believe they are comfortable, just so obnoxious looking – and they don’t work with my fine hair, the hair just slips out.
uhg… I’ve never been a fan of 90s clothes. Even though I wore nothing but leggings and big t-shirts all through my growing up in the 90s. But I don’t want it back.
Oh…in addition to the scrunchies, does anyone remember the big bows and hair barrettes people wore? Woof!
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, I wore those platform sneakers with PRIDE as a seven-year-old! I felt older in them. Mine were bright white Sketchers with hearts on the rubber. I could even play jumping rope with them on (confession: I’m a master at double dutch and regular jump rope).
You aren’t allowed to diss the Spice Girls either. They were 10x better than Hansen. Yay to Spice Girls, nay to Hansen!
I can’t comment on the dress with combat boots thing. My parents forbid me from combat boots as it wasn’t honoring the Military Kid Code of Ethics (a set of unwritten rules that nearly every military kid in my time honored). In terms of shoes, I was big into Mary Janes, platform sneakers, platform shoes (I had a pair of Mulan ones), and light up shoes. My mom got me a pair after my legs were casted three times to make sure I was walking and running correctly (I was a toe-walker; coincidentally, the shoes only lit up when I went heel-toe and not toe-heel and I loved the light up shoes). I went through four pairs at least!
Ooooooooooo, scrunchies. That reminds me, I need to buy one. @tyna – I have fine hair too. Scrunchies stay in place when you tie them around more tightly (it was normally four turns for me).
Ohhhhh my gosh this made me laugh. I am a child of the 90’s so these things really hit home for me. I have a first day of school picture in one of those floral dresses and Doc Martens with a little backpack. I had platform tennis shoes and an amazing collection of scrunches.
Of all of these, I really find the worst to be the scrunches. Oh YUCK. That picture really did make me throw up in my mouth a little!
I really shouldn’t admit this…just last week I finally took four 39-gallon bags of clothes to Salvation Army…in them were about 15 Elaine dresses! But I agree with @friendofpyrex, I wouldn’t mind seeing them back at all – but I would hope they’re much better fitted!
Great post, @tyna! I loved being a 90’s kid. Good times. Scrunchies can stay dead and those itty bitty backpacks.I confess that I was a scrunchy addict and had an itty bitty backpack. I hope fashion is inspired by the 90’s and not a carbon copy.
I love the 90s for many things, but those trends are pretty bad :) Especially the elaine dresses. There’s nothing flattering about them for anyone.
I love leggings though so I can’t hate too much on those!
I also had a pair of sketchers that looked like converse sorta with a platform sole. Ugh, I wanted them so bad and made my parents get them for me because I whined so much.
Ha! What are platform sneakers for? The sporty Frankenstein?!
And I’m with @irene, Elaine looks like a lollipop in that picture.
Thanks #DixieQuahog for that answer! And seriously, Skidz?! Hee – I know I’m 12 but that makes me go right to skid marks.
I really hated the 90s fashions and hope they never come back! I was totally into baby doll Ts and dresses, Doc Martens, platform sneakers, and all sorts of other horrible trends.
Is it wrong that I have never stopped wearing combat boots with dresses?! Oh well, at least I gave up the scrunchies back in the mid 90’s.
Wow, all of those are terrible… I also had a pair of platform shoes. I tripped frequently in them (while sober!) And I had a little backpack too. I bought it from Claire’s, when I was in middle school. Some things are better laid to rest.
I think Doc Martins will always be in style… I have a pair in the closet I wear in winter with jeans and cords and turtleneck sweaters. LOVE THEM. That’s about it. Hated the look of Elaine’s wardrobe (and that poufy hairdo YIKES!) She’s a beautiful woman but the character’s style was awful and I hope it NEVER comes back!
My name is Krista and I’m a scrunchieholic. I love scrunchies! Okay, so I probably wouldn’t wear them in public (okay, maybe the gym), but I love wearing them around the house and to sleep in…
I also used to rock the small backpack back in the day—that thing was great for smuggling sodas and pretty much anything you could fit into the movies…
One fad I don’t need to see is babydoll dresses w/ bike shorts. I also seem to recall colorblock clothing where you look like a walking Partridge family bus…and leggings w/ lace cuffs at the ankle that you would wear with shorts or mini-skirts…YIKES…
I do kinda miss the Sam & Libby flats w/ the giant bow at the toe…I had them in every color. I was so cool.
The funny thing about this post is I am currently watching Seinfeld on DVD and thinking how great it would be if 90’s fashion made a substantial comeback.
I did a Google search to see if anyone else felt similarly, and found your post; and, to my surprise, there was Elaine at the top!
In the 90’s there was still some semblance of class. Let’s get real, the notion of class has LONG left fashion.
Women think it is fashionable to wear as absolute little as possible and men walk around wearing clothes that fit too tightly or too large. Business professional has been replaced by Business casual and that, my friends, is a shame.
I’m all for the comeback of the 90’s. The NYC hipsters have the right idea, I just think, overall, they lack the wherewithal to execute the idea well.
cb