20 School Supplies Every ’90s Kid Wanted
Every ’90s kid had a dream list of school supplies that were as much about style and status as they were about schoolwork.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 6 min read
Back in the ’90s, school supplies weren’t just tools; they were personality statements. From gel pens that made notes sparkle to Trapper Keepers that kept everything (kind of) organized, having the coolest supplies mattered. These were the must-haves that made school just a little bit more fun.
1. Lisa Frank Everything
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Owning Lisa Frank folders, notebooks, and pencil cases was like carrying a rainbow explosion in your backpack. The neon colors and glittery animals made even math homework feel exciting. If you had one, you were instantly cooler. If you had a whole set, you were basically royalty.
2. Gel Pens
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Notes were never boring when you had a full arsenal of neon, metallic, and glitter gel pens. They wrote smoothly, looked amazing, and dried just slow enough to leave ink smudges on your hands. The more colors you had, the more powerful you felt. Bonus points if you had the black paper to go with them.
3. Trapper Keeper
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This was the ultimate organizational flex, even if half the time it was filled with doodles and random papers. The loud Velcro sound when opening it in class was a badge of honor. Some had cool designs, while others had sports or cartoon themes, but all were a must-have. Losing one was basically a catastrophe.
4. Scented Markers
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These markers didn’t just color; they smelled like cherries, grapes, and other questionable but amazing scents. The black licorice one was always a risk, but the rest made notes more exciting. Every kid had a favorite, and fights broke out over the best-smelling ones. Sniffing them too much? It is a total power move.
5. Mechanical Pencils
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Regular pencils were for amateurs. The click of a mechanical pencil made you feel fancy and high-tech. Bonus points if you had the ones with different color grips or scented erasers. Running out of lead mid-class is a tragedy.
6. Gelly Roll Pens
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These were gel pens but on steroids, with thicker ink, shinier colors, and a cult following. Writing with them felt luxurious, even if your teacher couldn’t actually read what you wrote. The gold and silver ones were the real MVPs. If you had these, your notes were a work of art.
7. Milky Pens
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Pastel ink that actually showed up on dark paper? Revolutionary. These were a staple for writing secret notes or decorating notebooks. The light blue and pink ones were absolute gold. You never let anyone borrow them because they never gave them back.
8. Pencil Grips
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These little rubber grips were supposed to help with handwriting, but they mostly made pencils look cool. The best ones were squishy or spiral-shaped. Some kids even collected them like trophies. If your grip matched your pencil, you were on another level.
9.Eraser Toppers
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Basic pink erasers were boring, so everyone upgraded to fun, shaped erasers. They came in the form of animals, food, or wacky designs that never actually erased anything properly. Most of them ended up as collectibles instead of tools. The more ridiculous, the better.
10. Multicolor Click Pens
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The pen that let you switch between red, blue, green, and black ink with a simple click felt like owning a gadget from the future. The only downside was when all the colors got jammed at once. If you had the jumbo version with even more colors, you were a legend. Taking notes in multiple shades? Game changer.
11. Fuzzy Pencil Cases
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A pencil case that felt like a stuffed animal? Essential. This pencil case was soft, colorful, and impossible to clean if you spilled ink inside. If it had an incredible zipper pull, it was even better. Carrying one meant you had a taste.
12. See-Through Rulers
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A regular ruler is boring, but a clear one with colorful edges is a status symbol. Bonus points if it had glitter inside or one of those wavy edges for fancy lines. If you smacked one on your desk, it made the most satisfying sound.
13. Metallic Notebooks
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These shiny, reflective notebooks made regular paper look like a thing of the past. The covers came in silver, gold, and holographic shades that practically blinded you in the sunlight. They were the best for doodling in class. If you had one, you probably also had matching metallic folders.
14. Yikes! Pencils
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These funky, colorful pencils were chunky, striped, and always in high demand. Sharpening them was an adventure since the weird shape made it nearly impossible. But that didn’t matter because they were cooler than any regular pencil. Just owning one made you feel special.
15. Troll Pencil Toppers
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These tiny, wild-haired trolls sat on top of your pencil, silently judging your math homework. The neon hair made them impossible to miss. If you were lucky, yours had a gem belly. Spinning them during class was half the fun.
16. Plastic Book Covers
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If you weren’t wrapping your textbooks in brown paper, you were using stretchy, neon plastic covers. They protected books and made them look way cooler than they actually were. Some even had fun textures like velvet or holographic prints. Teachers loved them, and kids used them as an excuse to be creative.
17. Mini Staplers
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Having a tiny stapler in your pencil case made you feel like an office executive. It was mostly useless, but it looked impressive. If yours had colored staples, you were automatically cooler. The real challenge was not losing it.
18. Liquid Paper Pens
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Whiteout in pen form felt like actual magic. It dried faster, made fewer messes, and felt way fancier than using the regular one. The real pros used it to doodle on their binders. It also doubled as an emergency nail polish.
19. Sticker Sheets
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Having a collection of stickers was like having currency in school. The best ones were holographic, puffy, or smelled like candy. Trading them was serious business. If you had a Lisa Frank sticker sheet, you were basically untouchable.
20. Secret Message Pens
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These pens were used to write invisible messages, only revealing their secrets under a special light. They were essential for passing notes without getting caught. Every kid swore they were spies when using them. The only problem was actually finding a reason to use them in class.