Back in the 90's, before everyone had access to the internet (gasp!), before smart phones and before social media (we know, it’s hard to imagine but those days did exist), TV, movies, music videos, and print magazines were the top influencers. Well, they were pretty much the only major mainstream and widespread sources of influence and inspiration for fashion and pretty much everything else.

Movies like Empire Records, Clueless, and Poetic Justice, alongside TV shows, including Beverly Hills 90210, My So-Called Life, Friends, and Sex and the City dictated what was cool and fashionable. The styles of the popular characters became the must-wear 90's fashion.

Of course, aside from what was on the big and small screens, musicians were also major influencers with their music videos and performances inspiring the 90's fashion choices of fans across the world. From Nirvana to No Doubt, Boyz II Men to *Nsync, Janet Jackson to Britney Spears, TLC to the Spice Girls, music and fashion went hand in hand. When it came to fashion, the tastemakers of the 90’s were no less than the likes of Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford for Gucci, and of course, Calvin Klein (or nothing at all).

From these sources of entertainment, fashion, and media emerged what became the look of the 90s: grunge, minimalism, hip-hop culture, and basically every aesthetic that each Spice Girl represented. Thirty years later and 90’s style is back in full fashion force. Now you don’t have to be a millennial or older to know exactly what to wear. We’re here to help.

Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and partner Courtney Love made it cool to dress like you just rolled out of bed and made zero effort. Unkempt hair, oversized clothes, band shirts, and dirty wash jeans were the go-to clothes to create the quintessential grunge look that epitomized a part of 90s fashion. Take it from the young Claire Danes and Jared Leto in the 90s hit show My So-Called Life. Their characters represented teenage angst and high school drama in mismatched outfits, dark-toned prints and patterns, and an overall style that looked like they were wearing someone else’s clothes or bought them from an underground vintage store. Luckily, you don't have to waste hours scouring the racks of vintage stores. We've got all that you need for the best 90's grunge vibe.

While indie and rock bands popularized the grunge look, hip-hop culture, and pop music created an aesthetic that was, altogether, at the other end of the 90’s style spectrum. Forget blending in, looking lowkey and as if you made no effort. Boyz II Men, the Fresh Prince, TLC, and Aaliyah are just some of the 90’s icons who made it all about being bold, loud, and proud.

Boyz II Men borrowed from the preppy aesthetic but made it all their own, transforming the conservative style of the collared sport shirt by wearing it oversized, in bright colors, and bold stripes. Instead of chinos, they paired Ralph Lauren’s iconic polo shirt with baggy jeans or cargo shorts and urban boots.

In Living Color wasn’t just the name of a popular 90’s TV Show. It also described the fashion choices of many of the decade’s top artists because 90’s style included show-stopping colors. T-Boz, Left Eye, and Chili aka TLC were far from Unpretty in overly saturated, coordinated outfits. The one and only Aaliyah also went for color-blocking. As the Tommy Hilfiger It girl, she was the poster child for sexy hip-hop in two-toned baggy pants, bra tops, and oversized jackets.

By the mid-90’s, there’s no denying that female pop stars and girl bands rose to the top, not only of the pop charts but of the 90's style summit. Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera transformed from Mickey Mouse Club cuties to sexy singing sirens. Of course, there was also the trio of Beyoncé, Michelle, and Kelly, better known as Destiny’s Child. Their eye-catching coordinated outfits were always 90’s fashion favorites. The key takeaway from these ladies’ looks? Embellished jeans, low-rise leather bottoms, bustiers, and crop tops.

Of course, there’s no denying or even downplaying the global influence of the Spice Girls and the 90’s style of Posh, Scary, Sporty, Baby, and Ginger. Everyone had their favorite or favorites because everyone could relate to at least one of the ladies and her style.

Mel B was known for her animal-print, form-hugging ensembles. It should come as no surprise that leopard was her animal print of choice. Today, you can channel your inner Scary Spice in your own leopard outfits, though they need not be as tight-fitting as Mel B’s. Go for leopard print jeans, skirts, or even a leopard print hoodie.

A fashion icon then and a fashion icon now, it seems only natural that Posh Spice’s style would transcend decades. As her nickname suggested, Posh frequently donned luxury designer threads from Gucci to Versace. Although these days she’s most likely to wear her own Victoria Beckham designs, the singer turned designer’s 90’s style is still a hit today. Just ask the other Mrs. Beckham.

Daughter-in-law Nicola Peltz Beckham slipped into the original motorcycle jacket that Victoria wore nearly 30 years ago. The 90’s style lesson here? A moto jacket is a Posh 90’s style that will never go out of fashion, and is especially on trend now.

The Spice Girls’ Mel C aka Sporty Spice made the sporty look play a major role in 90s style – way before women’s sports became the growing industry that it is today and female athletes attracted the spotlight. Sporty Spice proved that tracksuits, sports bras, and athletic tank tops aren’t just meant for working out. They could, in fact, be worn anywhere and everywhere, including some of the world’s biggest stages. 

Today’s biggest stars have caught on. Bella Hadid and Blake Lively are just two of today’s fashion darlings who have both sported coordinated red tracksuits. Follow their 90's style playbook by stepping into your own sporty looking tracksuit, whether you're heading to the airport, heading out for lunch, or actually heading to stadium.

We can’t possibly talk about 90’s style, fashion, and pop culture without including Cher from Clueless. Like, duh! There’s a reason why Cher and her 90’s style remain iconic all these years later. You don’t have to spend on an Alaïa dress or go on a shopping spree on Rodeo Drive to replicate Cher’s 90’s style. In fact, you need not look any further than Boogzel!

Among Cher’s and best friend Dionne's fashion go-to’s were plaid outfits. Plaid blazers, miniskirts, and coats were among the key elements that made the duo standout in their high school crowd. While Cher liked to strut in coordinated sets, pairing a yellow plaid blazer with a matching pleated mini skirt or a red and black plaid skirt with a matching coat, she also used plaid prints as an accent. You can do the same by wearing a matching plaid crop top and mini, a full plaid dress, or pairing a plaid skirt with a sweater or vest in a coordinating color.

Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Christy Turlington, were just some of 90’s style stars that made red carpet headlines in barely there, simple slip dresses. As they have remained, not only relevant celebrities but also style mavens all these years later, so has the popularity of the slip dress. Follow their stylish footsteps in your own mini slip dress, whether you prefer an understated white version, a bold red number, or a little black slip dress, you can't go wrong in this 90's style staple.

A thin, loose summer dress was also 90’s style must-have. Short, flowy, flirty, and preferably in a cute floral print, the summer dress wasn’t only meant for the summer season. The quintessential 90’s dress could be paired with sneakers, sandals, Mary Jane's, or clogs for a casual, girly look. It could also be worn with combat boots or doc martens for a more grunge-leaning, rebellious vibe. As temperatures dropped and the air got chilly, the 90’s style guide would be to throw a moto or denim jacket over the dress or to wear the dress over a simple t-shirt or tank top. Those ways are still exactly how you could wear the summer dress today. Bring the heat in a little strappy summer dress or choose a summer dress that buttons all the way up the front.

As many will attest, accessories make the outfit. While the 90’s style pendulum swung from grunge to hip-hop, plaid to color-blocking, and plain slip dresses to floral summer dresses, accessories were a whole other matter. Perhaps a remnant from the over the top style of the 80’s, big and bold accessories were also the 90's style of choice. Today, complete your 90’s style inspired fits with a pearl choker, gold chain belt, large gold earrings, chunky rings, and big bangles.

What are you waiting for? It’s time for you to channel your favorite 90’s It Girls and pop stars in the best of 90’s style. Time machine not needed.