15 ’90s School Trends That Were Weird in Hindsight
Here's a nostalgic look back at the quirky and questionable school trends from the 1990s that somehow defined our childhood.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
The 1990s were a time of flannel shirts, boy bands, and school trends that now make us scratch our heads. From fashion fads to bizarre classroom habits, students back then embraced some seriously odd behavior. Let’s rewind and unpack 15 of the strangest school trends from the ’90s that only make sense if you were there.
1. Slap Bracelets
Wrinehart on Wikimedia Commons
Colorful, noisy, and just a little dangerous — slap bracelets were everywhere. They wrapped around your wrist with a satisfying snap, but they didn’t always stay safe.
2. JNCO Jeans
Brooke Balentine on Unsplash
These absurdly wide-leg jeans made it look like kids were swimming in denim. JNCOs were more about attitude than practicality, dragging on the floor and soaking up rain like sponges.
3. Tamagotchis in the Classroom
COSMOH LOVE on Unsplash
Digital pets were like training wheels for real-life responsibility — if that responsibility beeped every 30 minutes. Kids snuck them into classrooms and tried feeding them behind textbooks.
4. Frosted Tips
Halcyon Styn on Flickr
Thanks to the boy band explosion, bleach-dipped hair became the ultimate fashion move. It wasn’t just for celebrities — middle schoolers with DIY kits were going blonde on top, brunette underneath.
5. Overstuffed Backpacks
RDNE Stock project on Pexels
Backpacks in the ‘90s weren’t just for books — they were survival kits. Kids crammed in binders, lunchboxes, Discmans, and entire wardrobes.
6. Chain Wallets
Pavel Ševela on Wikimedia Commons
The wallet-on-a-chain look gave off hardcore skater or punk vibes, even if you’d never stepped on a board. It was more about the aesthetic than security.
7. Butterfly Clips
Leeloo The First on Pexels
These tiny plastic hair clips were peak ’90s girl fashion. Worn by the dozen, they turned heads with colorful sparkle and gave every hairstyle that “effortlessly fun” vibe.
8. Starter Jackets
zaid mohammed on Pexels
Oversized, team-branded Starter jackets were the status symbol of playground royalty. Whether or not you actually watched sports didn’t matter.
9. Pencil Toppers and Scented Erasers
Jeff Sandquist on Flickr
School supplies weren’t just functional — they were collectibles. Pencils with fuzzy toppers and strawberry-scented erasers made writing way more fun.
10. The Macarena at School Dances
Joe Shlabotnik on Flickr
No school dance was complete without a crowd doing the Macarena in unison. Simple moves, repetitive beats, and somehow, it slapped.
11. Beanie Babies as Desk Decorations
Dominic Sagar on Flickr
What started as a collectible craze turned into a classroom invasion. Kids brought their rarest Beanie Babies to show off or swap during recess.
12. Mood Rings
Moodman001 on Wikimedia Commons
Who needed real emotions when your finger could tell you how you felt? Mood rings were the “science” of feelings, supposedly changing colors with your vibes
13. Baggy Cargo Pants with Too Many Pockets
Thomas Helmke on Pexels
Why did we need so many pockets in middle school? Cargo pants let you carry everything, from snacks to mini-disc players, right on your legs.
14. Temporary Tattoos from Vending Machines
Kindel Media on Pexels
A quarter and a twist got you a bold, sometimes glittery temporary tattoo. Whether it was a dragon, heart, or tribal design, it gave you instant cool points.
15. DIY Duct Tape Accessories
yazz davis on Pexels
Belts, wallets, notebook covers — you name it, we made it from duct tape. It was the ‘90s version of crafting meets rebellion.