15 ’90s Fashion Fads That Won’t See a Revival
From frosted tips to inflatable backpacks, these ’90s trends are staying locked in the past — and for good reason.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
The 1990s were a wild time for fashion. While a few ’90s trends have made nostalgic comebacks, others are best left buried in time capsules. This list takes a fun look at the most unforgettable (and unforgivable) style choices from the decade that definitely won’t be trending again.
1. JNCO Jeans
Brooke Balentine on Unsplash
With legs wide enough to hide a small dog, JNCOs were denim gone rogue. These oversized jeans sagged, dragged, and defied logic. Popular with skaters and rebels, they made walking an extreme sport.
2. Bucket Hats (The Shiny Kind)
Brock Wegner on Unsplash
Fuzzy or metallic bucket hats topped heads everywhere in the late ’90s. Once rocked by boy bands and mall rats, they screamed “trying too hard.” The style felt more costume than cool.
3. Plastic Choker Necklaces
Ethan Haddox on Unsplash
These stretchy, tattoo-inspired chokers clung tightly around necks in every teen drama. Edgy but cheap, they were the default accessory for angsty teens.
4. Platform Flip-Flops
Ceddie2000 on Wikimedia Commons
Because tripping at the beach was clearly the vibe, these towering sandals made feet look like stacked pancakes. They were hot in pop culture but a chiropractor’s nightmare.
5. Inflatable Backpacks
Mitchell Griest on Unsplash
Clear, squeaky, and completely impractical, these plastic puff bags were peak novelty. They held basically nothing and popped if you overstuffed. Their only appeal was being “fun,” not functional.
6. Frosted Tips
Halcyon Styn on Flickr
Hair bleach was king, and guys everywhere rocked icy tips on spiked locks. It was part boy band, part midlife crisis — on a 15-year-old. The maintenance was high, and the fashion points were low.
7. Tear-Away Pants
Adam Davis on Unsplash
One pull and boom — shorts. These snap-button pants were great for gym class or dramatic exits, but not much else. They were breezy, sure, but also loud and awkwardly clingy.
8. Visors Worn Upside Down and Backwards
John Coley on Flickr
This trend defied both gravity and fashion sense. Worn by wannabe DJs and frat bros alike, it made heads look like they were trying too hard. It didn’t shade the eyes or serve a purpose.
9. No Fear T-Shirts
ThreeGArt on DeviantArt
These tees barked phrases like “2nd place is the first loser” in blocky fonts. They were supposed to be tough but came off try-hard.
10. Mini Backpacks
SPERA.de Designerschuhe, Taschen und Accessoires on Flickr
Cute but useless, these tiny bags couldn’t even hold a wallet. They dangled from shoulders more as decoration than storage. They were part toy, part trend, and all impractical.
11. Carpenter Jeans with Too Many Loops
Clothingphotoguy on Wikimedia Commons
You’d think everyone in the ’90s was a part-time handyman with all those side loops and hammer pockets. Worn casually, they added bulk with no real benefit.
12. Mood Rings and Color-Changing Clothes
rubygirl jewelry on Flickr
Fashion meets science — but only kind of. These items reacted to body heat and claimed to reveal emotions or “vibes.” They were fun for five minutes, then turned murky green forever.
13. Spaghetti Strap Tops Over T-Shirts
firman fatthul on Pexels
Layering gone wrong, this trend made it look like you dressed in the dark. It tried to be edgy-cute but ended up visually confused.
14. Overalls with One Strap Down
Rogerio Macedo on Pexels
Wearing one strap loose was the fashion signal that you were too cool for symmetry. The look was popularized by hip-hop icons and quickly adopted by teens trying to emulate the style.
15. Flame Shirts
Isaac Mitchell on Pexels
Thanks to Guy Fieri and bargain bins, flame-print button-ups became synonymous with over-the-top energy. They were supposed to be bold, but mostly just burned out fast.