1
Liz Hurley in a Versace safety pin dress
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When Liz Hurley arrived at the premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral arm-in-arm with then-boyfriend Hugh Grant in that Versace safety pin dress, it was undoubtedly one of the most iconic fashion moments of the ’90s, and 29 years later, the dress is still stunning.
2
Kate Moss in a see-through slip dress
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The second most talked about 90s fashion moment was Kate Moss in a completely transparent silver slip dress with only black panties underneath. Yes, Kate was dressing naked before it was trendy. A true fashion muse indeed.
3
The best of Spice Girls’ ’90s fashion
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Of course, you can’t talk about the ’90s without mentioning the Spice Girls. Not only did they bring us girl power, but Scary, Baby, Posh, Ginger and Sporty were major fashion inspirations too. They inspired chunky heels, mini dresses, crop tops, boob tubes, chunky sneakers and so much more. Alexa, play “Spice Up Your Life.”
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Four
Cindy Crawford in ’90s denim
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In the ’90s, denim styles were limited to two main styles: light wash and boot cut, and if you weren’t wearing mom jeans, you were probably wearing loose, low-rise jeans.
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Five
Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell in 1993
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It’s hard to talk about ’90s fashion without mentioning the names Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. The two spent much of the decade on runways and magazine covers, while their off-duty style shaped some major trends. A fur-trimmed coat and a miniskirt? We’d still wear that look today.
6
David and Victoria Beckham in head-to-toe leather
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This is the epitome of the ’90s. Matching leather, couples, outfits. Britney and Justin could never do this.
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7
Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green in Friends
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Want to perfect your ’90s style? Just copy Rachel Green’s outfits from seasons 1 to 6 of Friends. And for even more inspiration, check out Jennifer Aniston’s off-screen ’90s style. You can’t go wrong.
8
Princess Diana in her Revenge dress
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Yes, this was the era of Princess Diana’s Revenge Dress. Three years after splitting with then-Prince Charles, Diana broke royal protocol by showing up to the Vanity Fair party in an off-the-shoulder, form-fitting black silk minidress — the same night Prince Charles confessed to his affair with Camilla. Wow. We can’t think of a better dress to ask, “Who’s Charles?” Hence the nickname “Revenge.”
9
Tyra Banks in ’90s double denim
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Double leather, double denim… In a decade when minimalism was on the agenda, more of one fabric delivered a clean look and filled the bill. Modelled here by Tyra Banks, it was accessorised with a backwards baseball cap, a choker necklace (obviously) and cowboy boots.
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Ten
Britney Spears in a ’90s crop top
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During her Baby One More Time days, Britney epitomized ’90s fashion with her penchant for tube tops, crop tops, low-rises, and, of course, the Banshees. Emma Bunton wasn’t the only one rocking pigtails.
11
Claudia Schiffer in a ’90s slip dress
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Slip dresses were the shoulder pad of ’80s fashion: with spaghetti straps and a loose, draped skirt, it didn’t matter what print or color the dress was, as long as it was form-fitting, preferably floor-length (or at least ankle-length).
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12
Destiny’s Child in ’90s leather look
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Kelly, Beyonce and Michelle are *heavily* embracing 90s trends: chain waist belts, maxi skirts, leather, roll necks, etc. Colin Firth, wow.
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13
Gwen Stefani in ’90s outfit
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No Doubt-era Gwen Stefani was a true ’90s queen, and was often seen sporting space buns during the decade, which she styled to perfection here with a cropped, strappy top, low-rise maxi skirt, and chunky sandals.
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14
Lil’ Kim at the 1999 MTV Music Video Awards
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The MTV Music Video Awards (since renamed the Video Music Awards, a.k.a. the VMAs) are known for their outrageous fashion moments, and if there was one word to describe Lil’ Kim’s asymmetrical purple sparkly jumpsuit with nipple stickers, it would be outrageous.
15
Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee at the 1996 American Music Awards
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Pam and Tommy were the defining couple of the decade, and their fashion style made just as many headlines as their relationship. Pamela Anderson is still a style icon today, but we especially love her look at the 1996 American Music Awards. With her flowing silhouette, sparkly spaghetti strap mini dress, and glittering platform heels, it was so ’90s.
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16
Janet Jackson performing in the 90s
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Janet Jackson ruled the ’90s, showing off her ab-baring looks on the red carpet and channeling a grunge aesthetic onstage in oversized plaid shirts, light-wash denim, and combat boots.
17
Gwyneth Paltrow in ’90s outfit
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Perhaps wanting a break from the bright neon colours of the ’80s, many introduced a monochrome palette to their wardrobes in the ’90s, complementing a grunge aesthetic of loose silhouettes and oversized tailoring, as perfectly epitomised here by the baby-faced Gwyneth Paltrow.
18
Iman embraces the trend of wearing underwear as outerwear
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But that doesn’t mean color wasn’t included at all. Photographed in New York, Iman tapped into another big ’90s trend: underwear as outerwear. Lace detailing, sheer panels, and satin give the mini dress a negligee-like vibe.
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19
Jennifer Lopez on the red carpet in 1998
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While it’s almost unheard of to show up to a movie premiere red carpet in a cardigan and capris these days, Jennifer Lopez did just that in 1998. Her low-cut crop top and tie-up heels made it seem like she’d just stepped out of the office, making for a more evening look.
20
Halle Berry on the red carpet in 1998
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Halle Berry wore a floral-print black leather spaghetti strap dress to a film premiere in 1998. She completed the look with low-heeled sandals. The minimalist aesthetic contrasts with the “more is better” attitude of the ’80s.
Alexandria Dale is a digital fashion writer for Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health UK. She covers everything from celebrity hot looks to the latest fashion news and loves nothing more than finding high street dummies for must-have designer items. As well as discovering new brands, she’s also passionate about sustainable fashion and setting trends that are actually worth investing in. She has six years’ experience in fashion journalism, having worked for both digital and print publications such as Glamour and Ok!.
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