https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 28 Apr 2026 03:03:32 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633459 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 02:29:35 +0000 celia 1633459@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For me the 90's were really the best and the worst of times.<br /> I loved the era ( especially the early 90's )although it was a very difficult one personal wise.<br /> Fashion related the early fashion liberated me from the shapes of the 80's that were not flattering for me.<br /> Granted, grunge wasn't that flattering either but somehow I was more in the mood for it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633423 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 01:56:48 +0000 rachylou 1633423@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That's a good way to put it: impotence v. indifference. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633420 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 01:52:34 +0000 Jenn 1633420@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I never felt like my cohorts in the 90s generation didn't care. I was involved in all sorts of activism in college, and we just failed to affect any change. The baby boom generation was at its prime, and we were a such a tiny youth contingent, we got knocked down at every turn. At some point, you learn to expect failure. So yeah, it was kind of a bleak/angry era, but it came from impotence and frustration rather than indifference.&nbsp;</p> <p>And yet, there was joy there too. Fiddling while Rome burns, as rachylou said.</p> <p>True story: I worked hard all through college to change the Native American mascot at my school. A lot of us did. All our efforts came to zilch until 2007, when the millennials finally got it done. Figures. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633410 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 01:42:49 +0000 rachylou 1633410@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That's true about the 90s - $100 DMs. But I think kids were probably right in their despair: they were following the rules and knew it was a doomed venture. But so rude to kick the gift horse, so...</p> <p>On a tangent, except for Bill Gates, it seems to me a blue collar is a leg up in the make your own big money lottery. You know how things WORK, if you're awake. A large salary is no competition for large profits. Also, on another tangent, I note that six figures is not enough to buy a house in my area these days. I think the phrase is, 'who moved my cheese?!' Lol. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633399 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 01:13:19 +0000 Gaylene 1633399@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The real irony was seeing punk/nihilism embraced by students coming from upper middle class backgrounds whose uni was funded by their doting parents as opposed to students from blue collar backgrounds who chose the trades and apprenticeship programs. Looking grungy took money--Doc Martins, leather jackets, and deliberately torn clothes were too expensive for the trades kids. </p> <p>It's even stranger that it was these no-nonsense, Carhartt-wearing, trade students who ended up with six-figure incomes from owning their own businesses. At least the students who were in my classes in the late nineties were honest about being at university to make connections and get jobs. Cynical, but rather refreshing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633363 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 00:31:27 +0000 rachylou 1633363@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well...this gets even more interesting. College was never an option for the original punks. But then you get into the growing disenfranchisement, where The System leaves out not only the poor but also starts showing the middle class the door. And the middle class comes down with an identity crisis. Everyone is half pretending they're still in the game, but they're not even in the stadium. Everyone *knows,* starting with Gen-x, the retirement plan is work until you drop dead, paying off those student loans. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633355 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 00:10:00 +0000 Aida 1633355@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gaylene that's the feeling I got from a lot of alternative stuff, too. The punk I was most into raged AND offered the types of change they could see. Mainly the idea not just to <i>question </i>but to <i>understand </i>and then <i>change</i>. Because how would anything they're angry about change if nothing is done? EDIT: I suppose that even if some the bands themselves didn't expressly suggest solutions, it still encouraged me to develop that question-understand-change approach. Must be the optimistic scientist in me ;)</p> <p>Nihilist business grads hoping for 6-figures is an amusing image ^^</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633344 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 23:52:19 +0000 Gaylene 1633344@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm out of step from the 90s nostalgia because I was waving my first born off to university at the start of the decade. What struck me the most about his cohort, at least the ones in my uni classes, was the depressive nature of the punk rebellion--railing against The System but not being inspired to do anything except focus on individual angst. Punk style wasn't about looking for a new, or better way as much as it was just angry emotion directed at everything and everyone. The irony of seeing all my middle class students try to look like nihilists while enrolling in business programs so they could find high paying jobs struck me as ludicrous. </p> <p>I think every generation rebels against the previous one, but what struck me the most about the 90s group was the grayness that seemed to permeate the era--in fashion and in spirit. So, no, not fond memories of that time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633330 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 23:31:09 +0000 rachylou 1633330@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ja (!!) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633329 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 23:30:30 +0000 Aida 1633329@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Anger with suggestion vs. anger with apathy? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633328 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 23:29:24 +0000 rachylou 1633328@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree that's the story, Aida. Punks were conscious of 'the problem.' And they had fight in them. Early Gen-X I think also understood. But punks lost the battle, and little sib was dropped off beyond nihilism.</p> <p>So...but that's why I'd rather go back to the 70s and 80s. I dislike the hazy stupor. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633327 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 23:22:53 +0000 Aida 1633327@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>True about the alternative/punk clothing uni. But I feel like the punks were a lot more conscious of it (it was an Important Thing) and the alternative kiddos just didn't care (or certainly cared a lot less) -- of course that could've just been in the circles I was around. Either way both a bit of response to "A Lot", whether that's late 70s or late 80s. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633322 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 23:20:30 +0000 rachylou 1633322@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Aida, I can see that. I do have a sense of the 90s as being 'neo-con.' It was high flying actually, but plain in appearance, reigned in in terms of display and attitude - and for all the money that was rolling around...well, it was accounting tricks. A desperate attempt to revive, hold on (also reminds me of Rome). But that plainness, I feel it started in the 80s. Grunge was what I called punk out of uniform in the 80s. Same elements, but more drab in colours. The defeat of the late 70s settling in for good... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633284 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 21:56:41 +0000 Aquamarine 1633284@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was pregnant or breastfeeding during the 90s and I am sure I didn't think about fashion at all. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633266 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 21:15:32 +0000 SecretSquirrel 1633266@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have really enjoyed reading all the responses.</p> <p>I am a 90's girl! It was the teenage years. Light jeans, plaid shirts and Docs. I am still wearing them now, just in different ways. I bought a pair of black knee high boots from Camper recently that are so 90's, it is funny. I will find a pic of them and post it later. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633263 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 21:01:20 +0000 Sal 1633263@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love your photos Diana!! &nbsp;They are very evocative of that time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633262 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 20:59:43 +0000 RoseandJoan 1633262@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The 90's marked my high school, college and uni years. I loved at uni you could walk into a charity shop and lay your hands in the most amazing 70's leather jackets and faux fur galore.</p> <p>I loved Damon Albarn and Justine Frischman, Pulp, dance music, Brit pop and grunge. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633261 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 20:57:00 +0000 Aida 1633261@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hah Rachy, I recall the 90s as feeling very bleak after the vibrant, big, OTT, and colorful 80s stuff; felt like a huge swing in the other direction and I severely lamented that I was a decade off what was, to me, Super Big Fun Fashion. </p> <p>Even though I spent ages 9-19 in the 90s, the 80s had a MUCH bigger impact on me. I don't really love nor hate 90s fashion. Like Una there are things I enjoy in all decades! And, just like now, back then I picked the bits that resonated with me and skipped the rest (or appropriated the things I didn't especially like as standard in some other lateral way, e.g. my flannels and work shirts were <i>very </i>colorful). I also kept seeing so many parallels with 90s fashion and 70s fashion at the time that I tended to incorporate "my version" as more in line with 70s style. Still consistent with that today, I guess! </p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633259 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 20:51:53 +0000 Jenn 1633259@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Xtabay</b> - That photo of Kurt with the baby bottle breaks my heart! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633243 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 20:03:33 +0000 Jules 1633243@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I turned 16 early in '90 as well. Definitely the style moment I am most grateful for was that I could wear flannel and docs, and later a striped tee, baggy jeans and sneakers, to concerts and out dancing -&nbsp; and that was cool and attractive. I have wobbly ankles and would have had a really hard time doing all that dancing in heels. <br />In fact, left to my own devices I would happily revert to baggy jeans and sneakers every time, it's the look that feels most me. </p> <p>Other aspects of the 90s were not that kind to me, for example, Club Monaco or Calvin Klein minimalism - not the kindest cuts for larger hourglasses. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s/page/2#post-1633232 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 19:34:48 +0000 Sal 1633232@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had a lot of fun in the 90s. I had my first proper boyfriend, went to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America, moved to Australia, bought a house, got married, had a wide range of hairstyles. But I didn't nail my fashion sense until about 2000 or maybe later. I spent a lot of time with little money working professionally, scraping by. I wanted to be taken seriously as a young tall blonde woman so dressed with that in mind.</p> <p>I think very fondly of that time but not about my wardrobe. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s#post-1633215 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 19:21:30 +0000 milehighstyle (Linda) 1633215@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was 23 in 1990.&nbsp; I don't remember&nbsp;wearing trendy clothing to work - I&nbsp;wore pencil skirts and trousers and blouses.&nbsp; For play, jeans and tee shirts, ribbed turtlenecks in the winter.&nbsp; In the mid-90's I did wear a lot of plaid flannel shirts over leggings.&nbsp; I had a denim overall dress that I loved.&nbsp; I wore corduroy shorts and minis over tights.&nbsp; Didn't do the babydoll dresses, but the longer shapeless printed dresses.&nbsp; I didn't have actual Dr. Martens, but similar boots.&nbsp; I had a huge Birkenstock collection by the end of the 90's.&nbsp; I think the 90's was a no makeup phase for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s#post-1633196 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 18:57:59 +0000 Jenn 1633196@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am loving reading all your analyses. Totally fascinating.</p> <p><b>Mochi</b>, there is definitely something about having a small child that erases your awareness of the world around you for a while. I feel the same way about the 00s. I did dress myself during that time, but my awareness of trends was pretty negligible. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s#post-1633185 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 18:17:04 +0000 Mochi 1633185@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't really remember the 90's (which kind of took place concurrently with my 30's). Just Clinton, and having a little kid. What happened with that decade? Post-college, pre-9/11, nothing emblematic for me at all. I do like the floral dresses with the stompy boots. Oh, and on edit, I live in a grungy, hipster-y neighborhood where all these different decades converge. Sometimes I feel like I'm back in college, in an alternate universe.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s#post-1633183 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 18:12:28 +0000 catgirl 1633183@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have always worn brown lipstick. MAC Chestnut is a fave - I stocked up before they discontinued the lipstick, although they still have the lip liner. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s#post-1633181 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 18:09:44 +0000 Anonymous 1633181@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The only thing I remember about shopping in the '90s was going to Chico's a lot.&nbsp; It was still fun to shop there, and the styles were much different than now (a more fun, funky look rather than bedazzled and blinged-up).&nbsp; The rest of the '90s is just a hazy blur, although I think I may have had a plaid shirt or two in the mix.&nbsp; </p> <p>Jenn, I loved the photos -- esp the one with Kurt Cobain holding the baby bottle. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s#post-1633176 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 17:57:07 +0000 rachylou 1633176@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ok. So this is fascinating to me. I'm Gen-X and I totally agree with Az's characterization of Gen-X, but I don't mark it as a 90s thing. I think the time of Gen-X was the 80s, which was excessive but in a decadent, depressive way. The 90s, to me, was this stuff winding down and giving way to something even starker: the reality of Millenials, which is post-apocalyptic bleak, IMO. I'm thankful I'm not a Millenial, to be honest. Gen-X was fiddling while Rome burned. Millenials, it's the Dark Ages. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s#post-1633169 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 17:45:56 +0000 Anonymous 1633169@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's funny what we remember , isn't it? &nbsp;All of the looks you listed and pictured? &nbsp;I wore not a single one of them, yet I was there too (albeit quite a bit older than you but still...) . &nbsp;I can't remember my frame of mind nor thoughts about clothing from that time, but I can bet I found it hard to dress in that time. &nbsp;None of that stuff appealed to me, still doesn't really. &nbsp;I am about the least authentic grunge-er and Doc-wearer ever- lol. &nbsp;However.......YES to brown lipstick! &nbsp;That was my introduction to Bobbi Brown's first foray into makeup : her initial lipstick line, only sold at Bergdorf Goodman in the US. &nbsp;I actually went there to buy that lipstick - and still have a secret tube of the classic Brown in my stash today . Ah, the good old days &nbsp;But the clothing ? &nbsp;ugh. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s#post-1633165 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 17:32:29 +0000 Diana 1633165@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I still love raisin lipstick too.&nbsp; Brownish purples are actually a lot better match for my skin tone than pinks or reds.&nbsp; A lighter shade is actually kind of nude-but-better on me.&nbsp; </p> <p>ETA: but NOT the visible dark lip liner.&nbsp; That one can stay in the 90's.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-love-the-90s#post-1633164 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 17:28:41 +0000 Aziraphale 1633164@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Uh, I still wear it (the lipstick). Or, rather, I wear it again. I just found a new shade that reminds me of the 90s. </p>