Buzz
Fall 1993 was a pivotal time: Tupac Shakur faced charges for shooting two off-duty officers; Pearl Jam dropped their second album Vs.; Nirvana delivered a legendary MTV “Unplugged” performance; Dazed and Confused resonated with young audiences; Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Christina Aguilera began their rise on The New Mickey Mouse Club; Boy Meets World debuted; Beverly Hills, 90210 and Melrose Place kept teens hooked, and all these cultural moments shaped their attitudes, language, and style. Here’s a glimpse into early '90s youth fashion.
1. PLAID EVERYWHERE
Image provided by LOTHIAN
The grunge trend surged in the early '90s, with plaid flannel shirts becoming a unisex staple. Soon, the checkered pattern expanded to mini-skirts, dresses, pants, and sweaters. The key rule? Stick to reds, browns, blues, and greens—bright colors were a sure sign of a fake fan.
2. BABYDOLL DRESSES
Image provided by Cherry Bomb Magazine
Grunge fashion wasn’t just about flannel; it involved transforming classic pieces, like pristine jeans, into edgy statements. Courtney Love, Hole’s frontwoman and Kurt Cobain’s wife, mastered this style. Her iconic babydoll dresses, often paired with black tights and combat boots, became a trendsetter. While solid colors were her go-to, floral prints also gained popularity.
3. DOC MARTENS
Image provided by
When it came to combat boots, Dr. Martens reigned supreme in the '90s, with their iconic yellow stitching symbolizing cool. Whether high-top or low-top, black or brown, paired with a feminine dress or ripped jeans, Doc Martens were the ultimate versatile footwear.
4. FORM-FITTING DRESSES
Image courtesy of Cineplex/TriStar
Sharon Stone’s role as Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct popularized skin-tight dresses, embraced by women of all ages and sizes throughout the mid-'90s. Even teenage girls adopted the body-con trend, showcasing the era’s love for figure-hugging fashion.
5. BODYSUITS
Image provided by Totally Awesome Teen Pinups and Magazines
The second-skin trend also came in bodysuit form—a snug, leotard-style top, sometimes with snap closures, often paired with skirts or high-waisted jeans. These were usually accessorized with chunky leather belts (yes, it’s as cringe-worthy as it sounds).
6. MOM JEANS
Photo courtesy Kate-colored Glasses
Each generation has its iconic denim trend, and for '90s teens, it was high-waisted, baggy-fronted, snug-backside jeans that were far from flattering. It took Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, and Rachel Dratch on SNL to later label them “Mom Jeans.” But in the '90s, both boys and girls rocked this look, as seen on the trendsetting cast of Beverly Hills, 90210.
7. OVERALLS
Photo provided by Etsy
The denim obsession didn’t stop at Mom Jeans. Overalls were a teen favorite in the early '90s, with full-length styles for winter and shorter “shortalls” for summer. Bonus style points went to those who left one strap undone!
8. THE JEAN SUIT
Photo provided by Starcrush
Think we’re finished with denim? Not quite. For those avoiding the jean jumpsuit, there was the jean suit—a (typically) all-denim ensemble pairing jeans with a denim shirt, vest, or jacket. Even style icon Britney Spears embraced this look as a child. Yes, that’s Ryan Gosling beside her, who later revived a darker version of the jean suit in 2011’s Drive, somehow making it work.
9. CARHARTT JACKETS
Photo courtesy of Old Bailey
Originally created in 1889 for hunters and farmers, Carhartt jackets were built for durability and warmth. By the '90s, they gained unexpected popularity among urban youth, inspired by their use among street vendors. “They needed warmth and storage,” explained Steven J. Rapiel, a Carhartt salesman, in a 1992 The New York Times interview. “Soon, kids adopted the trend, making it a streetwear staple.”
10. LUXURY SNEAKERS
Photo provided by CounterKicks
The '90s saw sneakers become a major trend, with Air Jordans dominating the athletic scene and Converse All Stars appealing to the grunge crowd. Keds also made waves by introducing stylish sneakers designed to resemble baseballs, targeting young women. These sneakers even made a comeback in 2011 when Opening Ceremony reissued a limited edition of the 1993 design.
11. SKORTS
Photo courtesy of Etsy
Was it a skirt or shorts? No one could tell—until you turned around, revealing the shorts with a front flap. If the goal was to mimic a skirt, why not just wear one? It’s a rhetorical question, of course. This fleeting trend, which tried to transition a tennis court staple into everyday wear, didn’t seem to rely on much logic from its designers either.
