'90s Fashion Is Back: 8 Ways to Rock the Trends (2024)

These old pant styles are getting a fresh take—learn how to wear them now.

Written by Amy Moeller | Published on

Contents
  1. Wide Leg
  2. Flare Leg
  3. Cargo Pants
  4. Straight Leg

Clogs and claw clips. Chokers and metallics. Once more, everything old is new again in fashion—this time, 1990s styles (a few extending into the aughts). And while the return of some things—namely, low-rise pants and pencil-thin eyebrows—has sparked much debate (many women are simply not willing to over-pluck again), plenty of the former trends are worth embracing. We asked four stylists what they’re most excited to see return, and all said the same thing: non-skinny pants. In the following pages, these experts show how they’d update the throwback silhouettes—with some other ’90s inspo included.

The revival of ’90s fashion has brought back four styles of pants. Embrace the nostalgia—but with these expert tips.

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Wide Leg

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Wide Leg

Catherine Bushera of the personal-styling company Style by Rachel says fashion in the ’90s was about cool, edgy simplicity and oversizing. One of her favorite trends: wide-leg pants worn by such icons as Princess Diana and Julia Roberts—back this year but with more structure and shape.

How to wear them: Bushera says it’s important to create balance up top—say, a blazer over a ’90s-inspired graphic tee or, as pictured, a tucked loose blouse. For the most updated style, add a belt with bold hardware. For a dressier outfit, pair wide-leg trousers with a tucked loose blouse and colorful slingback heels. For denim, dark and navy washes, Bushera says, will go more easily with your existing wardrobe. Pair those with a cropped sweater and tank along with a fun sneaker.

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Ulla Johnson “Mattie” blouse

$317 at Farfetch

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“Marbeau” pants

$448 at Veronica Beard

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Rupert Sanderson “Denia” suede mesh slingbacks

$795 at Shoe Hive

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Cropped cashmere cocoon cardigan

$425 at Jenni Kayne

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Rib tank

$85 at Jenni Kayne

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“Madden” jeans

$295 at L’Agence

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Warren Court leather-and-suede sneakers

$250 at Vince

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Flare Leg

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Flare Leg

Attorney, fashion influencer, and stylist Thai Barker says it’s the mid- and high-rise of today’s flare denim that distinguishes it from the ultra-low-rise styles of the late ’90s and early aughts, and channels more of a ’70s vibe—the version, Barker says, we should never have messed with to begin with.

How to wear them: Barker suggests going full ’70s with a tucked-in button-down shirt and platform loafer. (Add an oversize cardigan or blazer for proportion.) For a more casual look: a white tee with a cropped leather jack­et, along with a heel with a pointy metallic toe.

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Ruffled satin shirt

$46 at Zara

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Washed-denim flare pants

$1,100 at Gucci

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Jessica Simpson “Blaton” platform loafers

$129 at DSW

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“Emma” cropped rider jacket

$199 at Storets

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Boxy-fit heavyweight T-shirt

$39 at COS

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Mid-rise horse-bit ’70s flare jeans

$128 at Express

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Leather shoes with metallic toe

$100 at Mango

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Cargo Pants

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Cargo Pants

Stylist Lindsey Evans recalls first seeing a celebrity wearing cargo pants when the late singer Aaliyah donned them in the mid-’90s. The trend continued into the early 2000s thanks to celebs such as Mel B of the Spice Girls and Christina Aguilera, who rocked orange para­chute cargos in her 1999 “Genie in a Bottle” video. While cargo pants eventually became anti-chic, they’re back.

How to wear them: For a more “of the moment” look, Evans suggests buying them in a color like pink or purple, which feels less utilitarian. The other keys: a fitted top, an oversize layer over that, and heels. If you’re concerned about drawing unwanted attention to the hips, Evans suggests sizing up and steering clear of pockets that pucker too much.

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'90s Fashion Is Back: 8 Ways to Rock the Trends (18)

Alice + Olivia “Westi” pullover

$350 at Revolve

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Alice + Olivia “Cay” denim cargo pants

$395 at Neiman Marcus

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Amina Muaddi “Sharon” neon- leather pumps

$780 at Net-a-Porter

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Attico “Friday” metallic-leather tote

$1,150 at Net-a-Porter

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Cat-eye sunglasses

$28 at Anthropologie

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“Long line shape” blazer

$57 at ASOS

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Off-White’s logo-print vest

$260 at Farfetch

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Satin cargo pants

$25 at Forever21

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Alexander Wang “Julie” scrunchie-embellished sandals

$850 at Bloomingdale’s

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Unisex “Diorxtrem MU” mask sunglasses

$650 at Dior

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Straight Leg

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Straight Leg

Stylist Naina Sing­la loves the minimalist feel of two ’90s-­inspired pants trends: straight-leg denim and leather.

How to wear them: Straight-leg denim—high-waisted and paired with a white tank or tee plus a blazer—harks back to the “off-duty model” look first made popular by supermodels such as Cindy Crawford. To update the outfit for 2023, Singla suggests skipping long layered necklaces in favor of a “statement accessory” such as a white-gold tennis choker necklace and opting for an open- or peep-toe heel. As for Singla’s other favorite throwback fashion—leather pants—today’s versions are high-­waisted and trouser-style, unlike the skintight ones of the ’90s. These days, she likes them in black, or even brown or khaki, paired with a neutral-­color sleeveless knit top. After that, choose your other pieces to complete the look: either a sweater draped over the shoulders, gold hoop earrings, and black ankle boots or a long belted trench, patent-leather loafers, and a gold-link necklace.

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Classic blazer

$550 at Anine Bing

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Khaite “Danielle” high-rise straight-leg jeans

$440 at Net-a-­Porter

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Manolo Blahnik “Callasli 90” leather sandals

$825 at Net-a-­Porter

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James Perse stretch-jersey tank

$180 at Net-a-­Porter

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Arch4 “Bexley” cashmere backslit crewneck sweater

$695 at Saks Fifth Avenue

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Chloé wool tank

$590 at Net-a-­Porter

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Rag & Bone Icons “Alex” leather straight-leg pants

$1,150 at Net-a-­Porter

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Vince “Maggie” bootie

$350 at Nordstrom

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'90s Fashion Is Back: 8 Ways to Rock the Trends (37)
Khaite “Beatrice” knotted leather tote

$1,200 at Net-a-Porter

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Photograph of Jackson by Featureflash Photo Agency/shutterstock.com.
Photograph of TLC by Pictorial Press/Alamy.
Photograph of Moss by Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch/Alamy.
Photograph of Spice Girls by PA Images/Alamy.
Photograph of Aguilera by Pictorial Press/Alamy.
Photograph of Berry by Everett Collection/shutterstock.com.
Photograph of Princess Diana by Amel Emric/Alamy.
Photograph of Princess Diana by David Parker/Alamy.
Photograph of Beckham by Bill Belknap / Alamy.
Photographs of clothes courtesy of retailers.
Photograph of Mel B by Trinity Mirror/Mirrorpix/Alamy.
Photograph of Paltrow by PictureLux/Hollywood Archive/Alamy.
Design by Jennifer Albarracin Moya.

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Amy Moeller

Fashion & Weddings Editor

Amy leads Washingtonian Weddings and writes Style Setters for Washingtonian. Prior to joining Washingtonian in March 2016, she was the editor of Capitol File magazine in DC and before that, editor of What’s Up? Weddings in Annapolis.

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