Teenagers tend to be more adventurous than the rest of us when it comes to experimenting with fashion and following trends. It was a decade defined by casual, and teens took their fashion cues from musical artists. Some 1990s styles stuck around, like the slip dress whereas others, such as combat boots, went away only to make a comeback.
Here are 19 fashion trends from the 1990s mentioned in Sexual Awakening and Mr. Right is a Myth.
When I got out of bed, I pinned it up with a butterfly clip and that’s how it’ll stay. – Sexual Awakening, Chapter 2
When Cassandra puts back her waist-length hair, she either uses the scrunchie or a butterfly clip. While girls today still use scrunchie, the butterfly clip declined in popularity although you can still find it sold in hair-accessory aisles. The clips – two combs on a hinge – resemble a butterfly from the side.
1990s Fashion Trend 2: Keds
She puts on her Keds, nice and practical compared to my sandals with chunky heels. – From Chapter 2
A popular brand among girls and young women, Keds sneakers were all the rage until the late 1990s.
“The big boom happened especially after the 1987 movie Dirty Dancing,” fashion blog Outsons says of the style. “Most teenage girls tried to copy Jennifer Grey, which is why they wore Keds. It was a new look with a ton of popular, practical, and common favorite features that teens could pull off, no reason to stick to heels.”
1990s Fashion Trend 3: Chunky heels
She puts on her Keds, nice and practical compared to my sandals with chunky heels. – From Chapter 2
Cassandra comments on the stability of the style. Chunky heels could be found on everything from sandals to dress shoes.
“They certainly weren’t dainty, but they were cute and a little scholastic,” 90s Fashion says.
1990s Fashion Trend 4: Grunge
She makes a face. “Whatever. The grunge look is on the way out, ya know. Maybe at some point you’ll learn to dress better.” – From Chapter 4
The style emerged in 1993 and was categorized by flannel, torn jeans, band t-shirts and oversized sweaters or skirts.
“Teenagers everywhere were seen growing long hair and wearing tattered flannel shirts a la Pearl Jam and Nirvana. Even the preppiest kids were sporting the new ‘grunge’ look,” fashion website Retro Waste says.
1990s Fashion Trend 5: Fanny Pack
Shawna digs through her fanny pack and pulls out $3. – From Chapter 11
Fanny packs are pouches worn around the waist, designed to keep the wearer’s hands free while keeping essentials within reach.
“By the end of the 1990s, wearing a fanny pack was no longer cool,” Mental Floss says. “It was an act that invited mockery and disdain.”
1990s Fashion Trend 6: Combat boots
I untie my combat boots and toss them on the floor in front of the passenger seat. – From Chapter 13
Inspired by the grunge, teens wore combat boots with everything from jeans to dresses.
“In the ’90s, the boots were common stock among members of the Seattle grunge scene,” Footwear News says. “They had their first brush with high fashion at the Perry Ellis spring ’93 show, which infamously got then-vice president of women’s Marc Jacobs fired.”
1990s Fashion Trend 7: Jeans
I stand and wiggle out of my jeans. I always have a tough time getting them over my hips. – From Chapter 14
Jeans early on in the decade were worn ripped while they became low-rise by decade’s end. Bellbottoms also made a comeback, and boot cut styles became popular.
“The 1990s’ most iconic fashion trends are simply not going anywhere anytime soon,” Who What Wear says of ’90s jean trends that have survived the passage of time.
1990s Fashion Trend 8: Blue Nail Polish
Shawna paints her toenails cornflower blue and without looking up says, “At least you’ll get away for college. I’m going to beauty school, and I’ll be stuck in Sterling forever.” – From Chapter 22
Teenage girls broke away from traditional nail polish colors and embraced blue in particular. Blues of all shades.
“The ’90s did not exist without dark metallic blue nails,” The Talko says.
1990s Fashion Trend 9: Guy’s Hair Styles
I shake my head, running my fingers through his gorgeous dirty blond hair. Most guys have short hair, but Jason still wears his on the longish side. – From Chapter 26
Guys fashion trends were casual, often disheveled, and their hairstyles were no exception. The trend was for longer hair mid-decade that gave way to shorter hair near the decade’s end.
“Influenced by the fashion, pop culture and music scene of the decade, ’90s hairstyles were bold and unique, allowing guys to express themselves with different types of styles,” Men’s Hairstyles Now says.
1990s Fashion Trend 10: Glittery Eyeshadow
“I had a dream about it the other day.” She smiles, her glittery eyeshadow shimmering in the light. “You are definitely getting married.” – From Chapter 23
Young teens still sport glittery eyeshadow as do women going out on a special occasion, but the look got its start in the 1990s.
“Glitter was an integral part of the ’90s makeup – whether it be dusted on the décolleté, tapped onto the cheekbones, or, as J. Lo artfully shows us, worked into eyeshadow,” Harpers Bazaar says.
1990s Fashion Trend 11: Slip Dresses
While Cassandra doesn’t refer to any of hers or her friends’ dresses as “slip dresses,” chances are at least the summer styles were. The dresses get their name because they look like slips, starting a trend of wearing undergarments as outerwear.
“Over time the slip dress has become almost synonymous with the 1990s, a focus of continued fashion fascination,” Vogue says.
1990s Fashion Trend 12: Thin Eyebrows
“No problem,” I say, eyeing a tall, leggy, caramel-blonde wearing short shorts and sporting overly plucked eyebrows. – Mr. Right is a Myth, Chapter 1
The ’90s introduced the thin, barely there eyebrow.
“Taking a hard turn away from the big and full brow look of the ’80s, eyebrows in the ’90s favored a low-arched look,” the Lash Lounge says. “Thin and natural brows that were not overly filled were seen on models and in magazines across the newsstands.”
1990s Fashion Trend 13: Purple Lipstick
Kelly applies her purple lipstick, smacking her lips together. – Chapter 2
Purple was one of many bold colors worn in the 1990s.
“Just like cherry-red lips are indicative to the ’80s, a bitten red lip traces back to the ’90s,” Bazaar says. “From matte to glossy, this deep hue was worn by the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Gwen Stefani, and Reese Witherspoon. In true ’90s girl fashion, keep your base bright with a wash of pink blush.”
1990s Fashion Trend 14: Strappy Sandals
Leah returns with red strappy sandals and hands them to me with a smile. – Chapter 2
Strappy sandals were dress shoes with barely-there straps. The style made a comeback in 2019.
“The classic strappy sandal was spotted on women everywhere, from movie premieres to proms,” Footwear News says.
1990s Fashion Trend 15: Maxi Dresses and Skirts
Sarah appears in the doorway in a maxi skirt and crop top. ‒ Chapter 2
Maxi dresses and skirts reached the wearer’s ankle. They were worn with casual or dress shoes, even combat boots.
Sarah’s crop top also was on trend.
“These midriff-baring tops were an essential fashion item for ladies living in the ’90s and are on-trend once again,” The Trend Spotter says.
1990s Fashion Trend 16: Chokers
“Shut up,” Kelly says playfully and attaches a choker. – Chapter 2
I owned exactly one choker in the 1990s because they, well, made me feel like I’m choking.
“Chokers were the quintessential ’90s accessory,” Top Trends Guide says. “Popularized by celebrities like Christina Aguilera and Gwen Stefani and eventually adopted by Hollywood’s “it” girls, choker necklaces provided an edgy, yet sexy style. Tight around the neck, these collar-like necklaces boasted various designs. Some were made of stretchy fabric and came with charms, beads, and jewels.”
1990s Fashion Trend 17: Pleather
I guess they’re either fake or she put contacts in, but her unobstructed eyes isn’t want grabs my attention. It’s her pleather pants that are so tight it’s the wonder she doesn’t have camel toe. – Chapter 2
Pleather is fake leather. It was worn by young people who couldn’t afford the real thing. It was hot and heavy.
“Patent leather and vinyl were often used as fabrics in the ’90s for a futuristic look,” Insider says.
What future was that? The new Millennium.
1990s Fashion Trend 18: Men Dying Their Hair Blond
Since guys have started to dye their hair, there are more blonds to pick from nowadays, but I bet it looks ridiculous to see that the carpet doesn’t match the drapes. – Chapter 2
Cassandra is in her glory with so many blond men around. They’re just her type, especially Corey who is a bottle blond.
Some guys dyed their entire hair, others only the tips.
“For the uninitiated, this quintessentially ’90s hairdo [frosted tips] involved bleaching only the very tips of the hair, which was usually cut short and spiked up vertically with wet-look gel,” Ape to Gentleman says.
1990s Fashion Trend 19: Piercings and Tattoos
Kelly pierced each ear five times, ran out of fleshy parts and started piercing the cartilage, which she says is more painful. – Chapter 1
Kelly’s ears are based on numerous girls from my school years. So is April’s tongue piercing. The girl who sat next to me freshmen year of college in our English class clicked her piercing against her teeth throughout class. As for Cassandra’s naval piercing, I always wanted one but didn’t take the plunge.
“Folks who were teens in the 1990s would have had a whole different set of style icons, repping an array of way ‘edgier’ piercings, like tongue ones and cartilage studs,” Bustle says. “It’s safe to say that folks of all ages idolized the Spice Girls, though, who were known for pushing the boundaries with their style choices, including wearing trendy piercings that epitomized the time period.”
Piercings and tattoos went mainstream in the 1990s. During the decade, they went from a counterculture (or worse, a criminal) symbol to a fashion accessory.
In United States, 29 percent of people have at least one tattoo. For Millennials, that jumps to nearly half.
And for piercings, the number jumps even higher. A total of 12 percent of males and 72 percent of females have some sort of piercing. Most had theirs done before they turned 24. Excluding earlobes, the most common piercing location for women is the naval. For guys, it’s the nipple.
The body piercing trend began “when [model] Christy Turlington stepped onto the runway with a belly button piercing in 1993,” Marie Claire says.
Multiple Ear Piercings
Kelly pierced each ear five times, ran out of fleshy parts and started piercing the cartilage, which she says is more painful. – Chapter 1
Kelly’s pierced ears in series are inspired by my best friend who, like Kelly, ran out of earlobe to pierce and began piercing the cartilage.
Cartilage piercings are more painful because the area is firmer and denser than the fleshy earlobes. The piercings can take as long as a year to heal.
There are 20 types of ear piercings. Here are few:
- Daith: In the cartilage of the inner ear.
- Helix: In the upper cartilage of the ear.
- Snug: Along the inner cartilage closest to the outer rim of the ear.
- Tragus: At the front of the ear canal. One of more painful locations.
- Industrial: In the upper cartilage of the ear in two different places that are connected to each other with a small bar visible across the exterior cartilage.
Pierced Tongue
“I’m so sorry,” April says, turning pale and clicking her pierced tongue against her teeth. “I didn’t mean to be insulting. You know what they say about why you should never assume.” – Chapter 1
April’s pierced tongue is inspired by the girl who sat next to me in English class during my freshman year of college. She spent the entire class clicking the piercing against her teeth.
“Tongue piercing is now one of the most popular piercings people get. It’s shocking, provocative and fantastic for oral sex (for both sexes), but at the same time, no one need know you have it,” Inkism says.
Dentists caution against tongue piercing because they lead to dental problems including chipped teeth, bad breath and receding gums.
There are nine types of tongue piercings. Here are three:
- Midline: In the middle of the tongue.
- Snake-eye: In the tip of your tongue. Looks like one large piece of jewelry, but actually are two.
- Frenulum: In the small strip under the tongue.
Pierced Navel
Jen and I pierced our navels together. Her silver belly ring looks great against her skin tone. Mine’s just there. I suck in my stomach. Kelly says guys check me out whenever we go to the public pool, but I have my doubts. They check out the hot Latina. – Chapter 17
Cassandra and Jen’s pierced belly buttons are inspired by the piercing I always wanted but never got.
Navel piercing is the only type of piercing that does not have its origins in the ancient world.
There are 10 types of navel piercings. Here’s four:
- True Navel Piercing: Pierces an “outie” belly button instead of passing through the skin above the navel like all other types.
- Inverse: In the skin under the navel.
- Horizontal: Horizontally above the navel.
- Multi-navel: Multiple piercings to create a pattern out of body jewelry.
Tattoos
He pulls out a beer and straightens his posture. That’s when I notice he’s a tall bottle blond with spiked hair and piercings in his ears and nose. My heart skips a beat. Oh my God, he’s going to be the coolest English prof ever. – Chapter 27
“Butterflies and barbed-wire armbands were considered the height of fashion across America in the early ’90s,” Allure says of the fashion trend. “Fairies and butterflies grace[d] the lower backs of Gen X, framed by low-rise jeans and midriff-baring tops.”
In the early 2000s, any remaining stigma attached to tattoos disappeared thanks to the ability to get a tattoo risk-free and TV shows featuring tattoo artists.
“For the most part, employers no longer look at tattoos as a reason not to hire someone, so people of all walks of life are getting tatted, like pre-school teachers, therapists, and soccer moms who would have never gotten inked in decades past,” Inkbox says.
There are dozens of tattoo styles. Here are four:
- New School: Cartoon-like, pushes the limits of believability, bright color palette.
- Realistic: Looks like the person or object does in reality.
- Watercolor: Has same opaque look as watercolor paint on a palette.
- Geometric: Breaks design down into basic geometric shapes and uses shading to show light bouncing off the shapes.
There also are henna tattoos which are painted on the skin and begin to fade after a week or two. In Indian culture, brides receive henna tattoos before their weddings to offer luck and protection.
This article is part of the reader's guide for The Rock Star's Wife series by Melina Druga, a contemporary fiction series about sex, family, and rock & roll. The series follows Cassandra from her teen years into her 40s as she navigates relationships (both romantic and platonic) — all with music playing a prominent role.
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