The 6 fashion trends from the 90s that are returning this fall 22 with a renewed spirit

The new season comes loaded with different trends from the nineties, a look back to the past to face the new times.

The fashion cycle never stops and, for this reason, it is not surprising that trends from different eras are renewed and gradually adapted to our era. There are several factors that help this to happen, from the collections released by the big brands to the audiovisual content we consume. Currently, nineties fashion is making a strong comeback.

In recent years a movement has emerged, especially among the younger generations such as the Z or the millennials, which has helped to bring back the fashion of bygone eras: environmental care and up-cycling. Basically, these are trends based on recycling clothes, buying second-hand and trying to consume as little as possible. But, as we have explained, this is not the only factor promoting the comeback of nineties fashion. The rise of series inspired by the nineties or the style of the decade such as Pam and Tommy or Sex Education have contributed to the return of the decade’s trends, as have the new collections of brands such as Prada, which transform and modernise the most famous clothes of the nineties and adapt them to our years.

The fashion of the nineties adapted to our times

1-The white tank top and the crop tops.

One of the most basic garments – but one that we most associate with the nineties – is the white tank top. Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston were responsible for popularising it years ago, and now fashion brands have taken over the trend. We highlight Prada, which has designed a tank top with thick straps with the brand’s logo sewn on the chest that we have already seen on the catwalk, as well as the brand Bottega Veneta, which has also opted for this type of garment.

Similar to the basic tank top, we find the crop tops. This trend has been on the rise for a few years now, but it was born in the nineties. Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon and Kate Moss were some of the celebrities who made this garment fashionable thanks to their iconic looks. The trend continued until the beginning of the 2000s, and then came to the forefront again in the decade of the 2000s. The crop tops are characterised by being very easy to style: with jeans, with dress trousers, with a jacket, combined with trainers or with high heels, it is easy to achieve a beautiful look using these short tops as the main garment.

2-Straight jeans: a Must have of the nineties.

Nineties icons like Gwyneth Paltrow were responsible for making straight jeans fashionable, and now celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Kaia Gerber have brought them back. Jeans are a wardrobe staple for everyone, whatever their type, but this autumn they’ll be a winner in straight-cut jeans.

Similar to skinny jeans, these trousers are characterised by their straight silhouette, although they are not tight-fitting. They are low-rise or mid-rise and can be combined with all kinds of garments to achieve a casual and relaxed look.

3-Thin skirts reminiscent of the supermodels of the time

The influence of the nineties on our current times is undeniable, so it’s no surprise to see trends moving forward and being revived and reinterpreted. Tube skirts – both short and longer – are also making a comeback this autumn. This type of garment, easily combined with the white tank top, evokes celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker and allows us to give our outfit a very nineties touch.

Paired with platform loafers and a cardigan, it’s a look worthy of being in films like 10 Reasons To Hate You or Clueless. This type of garment allows for the perfect balance between a sophisticated, delicate style and the more grunge and punk movement present in nineties fashion.

4-The dresses: transparencies, sharp silhouettes and thin straps.

Although grunge style grew a lot in the nineties, dresses were also very popular. In particular, slip dresses, that is, lingerie dresses that remind us of nightdresses. In the nineties, we saw them both short and long and they were all characterised by thin straps. This type of dress, which is comfortable but at the same time formal, has made a strong comeback this season. It is a very versatile style as it can be combined with different garments and is suitable for all seasons of the year. In autumn you can wear it with a knitted jumper, tights and boots.

Following this line, we are seeing a trend that is sweeping the catwalks: the naked dress. During the nineties, we already saw this movement in the hands of super models like Kate Moss or Naomi Campbell, and now it is back with a vengeance. Brands are going one step further than transparencies and some brands such as Jean Paul Gaultier have designed dresses with a woman’s body printed on the fabric, creating an optical effect of total nudity. The naked dress means much more than a passing trend, it is a symbol of the vindication of the female body and the opposition to a system that wants to keep women’s figures hidden.

5-The biker style and high boots: an explosive combination.

During the nineties there was a boom of the biker style: leather trousers and jackets, denim garments, biker shorts and leather boots. Now fabrics such as leather or leather are back in fashion and, in particular, we see it in boots. For many years now, brands such as Dr. Martens have been promoting this style with their grunge boots.

Now, brands like Miu Miu have decided to experiment and mix trends by combining high boots with leather. This way, we find the acclaimed biker boots that are going to be a hit next autumn. Both with skirts and trousers, these flat shoes easily become the stars of any look.

6-The most 90s accessories: high knitted socks and baguette style bags.

Just like the clothes, the accessories don’t escape from the return to the nineties either. We highlight, first of all, the high knitted socks, perfect for the winter season. This trend is not only part of the nineties, but it has been around since the eighties until the beginning of the twenties. Now, it is making a strong comeback in the form of socks or leg warmers. This garment, promoted by brands such as Prada or Miu Miu, connects us to past decades and to other trends such as the preppy style – a mix of casual and university with traditional tailoring – or balletcore, that movement that looks at classical dance through tulle skirts and dancers.

In a completely different style, we find the baguette bags. These accessories have been around since the end of 2021 and throughout 2022, although with the return of nineties styles, we will probably be seeing them for much longer. They are characteristically small and functional, crescent-shaped bags that hang over the shoulder and sit just under the arm. In 1997, Fendi created its iconic baguette bag and, from then on, many brands decided to create this type of bag. They allow an endless number of different textures, prints and colours, and you can even play with the shape, making them larger or smaller.

The cycle that never ends

Trends and fashion are constantly evolving, so we see inspiration from the nineties, but also from the eighties and even the 2000s.

It is a cycle that never ends and trends, although renewed, come and go as the years go by. The fashion of the nineties, with its carefree and unrestrained styles, is part of today’s fashion, which adapts old trends and turns them into designs for the future.