The '90s are back. Again. Still! It's the decade that just won't die, and thank god for that! But looking '90s-hot doesn't have to mean dressing like you've just stepped out of a time machine. Six of the '90s biggest trends have returned for Spring 2014, and if you wear them right, they're guaranteed to leave you looking very now.
1.Chokers
Chokers were the accessory of choice in the '90s. There were plastic tattoo chokers, neon raver chokers, candy chokers, and if you were Princess Diana, even pearl-and-diamond-encrusted chokers. Well, guess what? They're back, and they're so much better this time around. Now chokers often rest at the base of your neck, instead of on your throat, and the pendants that hang from them aren't just dinky little hearts and "hope" medallions — they're bigger, heavier, and more abstract. In a word: badass!
They look great with high crew-neck tops, but they work even better with deep plunging Vs. And they're perfect for bringing a cool, sexy edge to blazer or tuxedo jacket. Also, because they're so short, they're great for framing your face, and unlike with longer necklaces, you'll never have to worry about them getting lost in your cleavage when you wear them with something low-cut.
The future former Mrs. Johnny Depp, Vanessa Paradis, in 1992.
Clockwise from the top left: Choker Pendant Necklace, PAMELA LOVE, $255; Black Blazer, JOHN LEWIS, $200; Silver Ankle Booties, SOLES, $160; Gunmetal Watch, MARC BY MARC JACOBS, $275; Black Asymmetrical Leather Skirt, ALICE & YOU, $45
2. Destroyed, High-Waisted Denim
In the '90s jeans were high, tight and often ripped up. I'm not just talking about a little distressing at the knees. These jeans were wrecked, and they looked all the better for it.
Back then it was all about wearing those high, tight jeans with a tight, usually cropped, top, but these days the look is a bit more relaxed. The jeans are boyfriend cut, so they're a little looser and sit lower on your hips (sort of like sagging — another oh-so-'90s trend), and you should wear them with something loose and slouchy, like an oversize T-shirt, or stiff and boxy, like a neoprene sweatshirt. Dress them up with high heels and sparkly jewelry, and add a little extra '90s flavor with fun prints and neon.
Halle Berry flashing her booty in LIFE Magazine in 1992.
Clockwise from the top left: Stone Statement Necklace, BAR III, $38; Fuchsia Top, J BRAND, $195; Floral Cap, ACCESSORIZE, $23; Black-and-White Pumps, JEFFREY CAMPBELL, $135; Distressed Denim, ONE TEASPOON, $145
3. Baby Tees
Back in the '90s it was all about showing off your stomach with low-cut jeans and a high-cut top, but nowadays wearing a tiny tee doesn't necessarily have to mean flashing your belly button. The chicest crop tops now come with matching skirts that usually sit at or just below your natural waist, so that just a slice of skin is visible instead of your whole stomach. They come in every imaginable color, texture, and shape, and they're pretty much the sexiest things happening for spring 2014.
Reese Witherspoon just kidding around in her baby tee in 1996.
Clockwise from the top left: Mint Jacquard Crop Top, BCBGMAXAZRIA, $198; Mint Jacquard Peplum Skirt, BCBGMAXAZRIA, $198; Cream Biker Jacket, RIVER ISLAND, $120; Gemstone Stacking Rings, ACCESSORIZE, $16; Nude Crossbody Bag, DANIELLE NICOLE, $58; Black Lace-Up Booties, STEVE MADDEN, $139
4. Slip Dresses
These barely-there spaghetti-strapped dresses were all over the spring runways, but this time around, you don't have to be Kate Moss-skinny to pull one off. The new slip dress is softer, less clingy, and sometimes even pleated. You can wear it on its own with a nude strappy shoe, which is also very '90s. Or you can have a little fun with it and go more boho — a flat leather sandal, some stackable rings, and a jacket or oversize cardigan covered in one of spring's other major trends: fringe!
Clockwise from the top left: Nude Pleated Dress, RIVER ISLAND, $60; Gold Stacking Rings, JULES SMITH, $98; Navy Embroidered Shawl, FREE PEOPLE, $298; Gold Studded Sandals, DUNE, $99
5. Fanny Packs
They're calling them belt bags now, but you get the gist. Karl Lagerfeld sent them down the runway at the spring Chanel Couture show, and Cameron Diaz said she's designing a few for the next Pour La Victoire collection, so, yes, they're making a comeback.
It's not just the name that's different, though. It's the styling too. While fanny packs are bulky and usually made of nylon or cotton, belt bags are sleek; they're leather and they've got real metal hardware, not just some big plastic buckle. You can wear them around your waist or across your back like a messenger bag. They also look totally cool with a miniskirt and coordinating accessories.
Tiffani Amber Thiessen looking very Kelly Kapowski in 1990.
Clockwise from the top left: Yankees Cap, 59FIFTY, $35; Washed Denim Button Down, AEROPOSTALE, $30; Black Belt Bag, NASTY GAL, $25; White Striped T-Shirt, SANCTUARY, $44; Chain and Stud Earrings, RACHEL RACHEL ROY, $26; Black Open Toe Booties, BCBGENERATION, $83; Red and Blue Floral Skirt, HOUSE OF HOLLAND, $177
6. Overalls
You thought you were through with them forever after elementary school, but they're back with a vengeance — this time in denim and leather — and there's definitely a trick to pulling them off. First, the fit. A good pair of overalls should be a little slouchy, but still skim the body — none of that TLC-JNCO-jeans nonsense. The shirt, too, should be a little loose, but not so big that it sticks out the sides of the overalls. A cool leather jacket over your shoulders is never a bad idea, and high heels or a dressy pair of flats is a must. And one more thing: One strap undone might have been the thing in the '90s, but in 2014 it's two straps all the way. Condom pins, however, are still optional.
TLC doing whatever it took to get the word out about safe sex in 1994.
Clockwise from the top left: Overalls, CITIZENS OF HUMANITY, $330; Lizard Print Clutch, REBECCA MINKOFF, $295; Black Moto Jacket, VILA, $300; Red Pumps, SHOE CULT, $130
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