Ah, the grunge era – Nirvana, Pearl Jam… the movement was so much more than just gritty music. Those of us who lived once through this horrible era of misshapen tops, odd hemlines and clunky footwear knew that 90s fashion was little about making an appearance, but more about, you know, tossing a flannel shirt over the entire ensemble, somehow resorting to a look that’s a cross between your ex-boyfriend’s closet and dad’s work uniform.
For as much angst as we encountered that decade – both in and out of Seattle – we survived on apathy. We didn’t care about anyone or anything. Or obviously… how we looked.
1. Plaid
Photo Credit: Junxs
Each and every outfit in the 90s seemed to circumvent around plaid. Thankfully, the crosshatched pattern is found in more than just men’s flannel shirts – cute dresses, long tunic tops and winter outwear all exclaim its multi-colored vibrancy in a decade definitely more “look at me” that “stop looking at me.” Eternally proud for private schools and trendy enough for those too young to remember its dowdy and depressing place in history.
2. Doc Martens
Photo Credit: joannabethpdot
Owning a pair of REAL Doc Martens would thrust you into epic-awesomeness in the 90s. The chunkier, the better – it’s as if we, because we were female, had something to prove by bulking up (ahem, remember shoulder pads in the 80s?). In high school – holy crap, is that aging me? – I owned green and burgundy lace-ups and some heavy-soled signature black loafers. Another great fashion find was a knock-off pair with clear uppers and glow-in-the-dark soles. Seriously. But these stomp-worthy shoes are back, paired with ultra-feminine outfits (like floral dresses, also found on this list).
