How to Dress Like a '90s Teenager
Go grunge., Get dolled up., Wear plaid, and lots of it., Rock a pair of overalls., Layer a vest over a t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, or dress., Revisit the '70s and the Great Depression., Wear high-top, multicolored sneakers., Invest in black combat...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Go grunge.
Grungy style is an overall "sloppy" look that suggests you didn't spend very much time putting together your outfit, and yet managed to look awesome anyway.
To achieve the grungy look, opt for the triple threat: denim, band tees, and leather jackets.
Wear loose-fitting clothes.
Find cutoff, acid-washed, or otherwise destroyed jeans.
When possible, have holes or rips in your clothing.
Consider going faux rather than wearing genuine leather.
Keep your hair messy.
Ideally, avoid washing it for a few days to achieve a greasy look.
Try to find t-shirts of bands that were popular before and during the '90s like Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and The Doors. -
Step 2: Get dolled up.
Babydoll dresses were very popular in the '90s, and were usually short-sleeved and floral-print.
These babydoll dresses were variations of the flowered dresses that were popular in the 1930s.
They were often "dressed down" for the daytime with a pair of combat boots, sneakers, and/or a jean jacket.
Body-conscious velvet dresses (try maroon or black) were also in style at the time.
Wear crop tops.
Try pairing high-waisted jeans with a cropped t-shirt, tank-top, cardigan.
Tight-fitting tees (opt for a size or two smaller than what you would normally wear) were also trendy for women.
Wear butterfly clips in your hair.
These tiny, plastic, multicolored hair clips were popular among girls of all ages.
One trendy look was to pull back the front of your hair in one inch segments and pin each one with a butterfly clip.
The end result should look as though you're wearing a "headband" of butterflies. , Plaid button-up shirts, plaid skirts, and plaid dresses were '90s staples.
Try layering a plaid button-up over the rest of your outfit (leaving it unbuttoned), or wrap a plaid shirt around your waist. , Long overalls, overall shorts, and overall dresses were all the rage in the '90s! This was a common fashion for teenage women during the 1930s as well, especially for ones living in rural areas.
For extra authenticity, leave one of the clasps undone. , '90s vests came in every color and print imaginable; try a denim, crochet, or floral-print vest. , Remember that during the '90s, there was a revival of '70s fashion, which included many hippie and disco-inspired trends.
With the booming economy of the 90s, many teens and young adults had glamorized the "poor life" of the 1930s which includes the grunge fashion.
Wear anything with tie-dye, peace signs, or flowers on it.
Find a pair of bell-bottoms.
Bell-bottoms are pants that are fitted at the top and flare out dramatically at the bottom.
Try them in jean or corduroy.
Add a peace sign or flower patch to the pants for an extra flare! Wear platform shoes.
These disco-inspired shoes were full-throttle in the '90s.
Platform shoes are available in sandals, heels, wedges, and even sneakers, and come in a variety of colors. , Try Converse, Nike, Reebok, and Vans.
If you're going for a grunge look, then wear sneakers that have been worn down excessively, and that have mud stains and/or holes. , Doc martens, among others, were all the rage in the '90s for men and women like. , These shoes were available in every color imaginable: purple, pink, green, gray, blue, and even clear! , Find thick (about the width of two fingers), bright-colored headbands that match your top or dress, if possible. , Black fedoras and backward baseball caps were '90s essentials when it came to hats.
Women oftentimes wore hats with oversized flowers or bows attached to them. , The following were popular clothing and shoe brands in the '90s:
JNCO, Tommy Hilfiger, Hypercolor, Umbros, Calvin Klein, Roxy, Keds, Reebok, Guess, and Nike. , It can be hard to find authentic '90s clothes in modern-day clothing stores, so thrift shops are a good option.
Plus, you'll be saving loads of money by shopping second-hand. , These sites and others like them carry items that are vintage or vintage-inspired that may not be available in stores anymore. , Check out your parents' or older siblings' closets, or ask a friend if they have any '90s clothes that they no longer want.
Dig into the depths of your own closet (if you were around in the '90s) to see what clothes you have held on to! -
Step 3: Wear plaid
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Step 4: and lots of it.
-
Step 5: Rock a pair of overalls.
-
Step 6: Layer a vest over a t-shirt
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Step 7: long-sleeved shirt
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Step 8: or dress.
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Step 9: Revisit the '70s and the Great Depression.
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Step 10: Wear high-top
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Step 11: multicolored sneakers.
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Step 12: Invest in black combat boots.
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Step 13: Find a pair of jellies.
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Step 14: Wear headbands.
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Step 15: Wear hats.
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Step 16: Shop the brands.
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Step 17: Scour your local thrift stores.
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Step 18: Shop on eBay
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Step 19: Etsy or other sites that carry vintage items.
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Step 20: Raid a closet.
Detailed Guide
Grungy style is an overall "sloppy" look that suggests you didn't spend very much time putting together your outfit, and yet managed to look awesome anyway.
To achieve the grungy look, opt for the triple threat: denim, band tees, and leather jackets.
Wear loose-fitting clothes.
Find cutoff, acid-washed, or otherwise destroyed jeans.
When possible, have holes or rips in your clothing.
Consider going faux rather than wearing genuine leather.
Keep your hair messy.
Ideally, avoid washing it for a few days to achieve a greasy look.
Try to find t-shirts of bands that were popular before and during the '90s like Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and The Doors.
Babydoll dresses were very popular in the '90s, and were usually short-sleeved and floral-print.
These babydoll dresses were variations of the flowered dresses that were popular in the 1930s.
They were often "dressed down" for the daytime with a pair of combat boots, sneakers, and/or a jean jacket.
Body-conscious velvet dresses (try maroon or black) were also in style at the time.
Wear crop tops.
Try pairing high-waisted jeans with a cropped t-shirt, tank-top, cardigan.
Tight-fitting tees (opt for a size or two smaller than what you would normally wear) were also trendy for women.
Wear butterfly clips in your hair.
These tiny, plastic, multicolored hair clips were popular among girls of all ages.
One trendy look was to pull back the front of your hair in one inch segments and pin each one with a butterfly clip.
The end result should look as though you're wearing a "headband" of butterflies. , Plaid button-up shirts, plaid skirts, and plaid dresses were '90s staples.
Try layering a plaid button-up over the rest of your outfit (leaving it unbuttoned), or wrap a plaid shirt around your waist. , Long overalls, overall shorts, and overall dresses were all the rage in the '90s! This was a common fashion for teenage women during the 1930s as well, especially for ones living in rural areas.
For extra authenticity, leave one of the clasps undone. , '90s vests came in every color and print imaginable; try a denim, crochet, or floral-print vest. , Remember that during the '90s, there was a revival of '70s fashion, which included many hippie and disco-inspired trends.
With the booming economy of the 90s, many teens and young adults had glamorized the "poor life" of the 1930s which includes the grunge fashion.
Wear anything with tie-dye, peace signs, or flowers on it.
Find a pair of bell-bottoms.
Bell-bottoms are pants that are fitted at the top and flare out dramatically at the bottom.
Try them in jean or corduroy.
Add a peace sign or flower patch to the pants for an extra flare! Wear platform shoes.
These disco-inspired shoes were full-throttle in the '90s.
Platform shoes are available in sandals, heels, wedges, and even sneakers, and come in a variety of colors. , Try Converse, Nike, Reebok, and Vans.
If you're going for a grunge look, then wear sneakers that have been worn down excessively, and that have mud stains and/or holes. , Doc martens, among others, were all the rage in the '90s for men and women like. , These shoes were available in every color imaginable: purple, pink, green, gray, blue, and even clear! , Find thick (about the width of two fingers), bright-colored headbands that match your top or dress, if possible. , Black fedoras and backward baseball caps were '90s essentials when it came to hats.
Women oftentimes wore hats with oversized flowers or bows attached to them. , The following were popular clothing and shoe brands in the '90s:
JNCO, Tommy Hilfiger, Hypercolor, Umbros, Calvin Klein, Roxy, Keds, Reebok, Guess, and Nike. , It can be hard to find authentic '90s clothes in modern-day clothing stores, so thrift shops are a good option.
Plus, you'll be saving loads of money by shopping second-hand. , These sites and others like them carry items that are vintage or vintage-inspired that may not be available in stores anymore. , Check out your parents' or older siblings' closets, or ask a friend if they have any '90s clothes that they no longer want.
Dig into the depths of your own closet (if you were around in the '90s) to see what clothes you have held on to!
About the Author
Anna Wright
Creates helpful guides on DIY projects to inspire and educate readers.
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