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Even though it’s 2018, the ’90s are alive and well — what with the chokers, mom jeans, slip dresses, and fanny packs that are coming back with a vengeance. But we can thank a specific handful of women for those styles. Women who were the original fashion icons of that decade. They helped push those looks into popularity, and made them a permanent stape in the fashion bible.
From Naomi Campbell with her supermodel fashion sense, to Winona Ryder with her effortless grunge looks, to Selena with her bustiers and bolero jackets, ahead are the biggest ’90s style icons that are still inspiring fashion today.
Get the Look: ‘90s fashion trends that are making a comeback
Elizabeth Hurley
Elizabeth Hurley was one of the best-dressed celebrities of the 1990s, where her safety pin Versace gown especially made a splash in the era — and has been copied and reiterated by designers many times over.
Kate Moss
From her slinky spaghetti-strap dresses, to her overwhelmingly big fur coats, to her iconic slips, Moss helped define the decade with her party-girl style.
Princess Diana
The queen of fashion, Princess Diana expressed herself through her style in the form of dresses, pant suits, hats, and bold jewelry — sometimes pushing back against conservative royal etiquette rules and the royal family while doing so.
Sarah Jessica Parker
When Carrie Bradshaw took over our TV screens, we couldn’t get over her eclectic and fearless wardrobe. From her wearing the “naked dress” in 1998, to donning a designer fur coat with knee-high pink python boots, she taught viewers that it was fun to get risky with fashion.
Lisa Bonet
One of the most sought-after young actresses of the’90s, Lisa Bonet’s style mimicked who she was as a person: bohemian, free-spirited, strong in opinion, and just a little rebellious. She had a hippie-rocker vibe, and because of it her outfits were experimental and artistic.
Fiona Apple
The icon of post-grunge fashion, Fiona Apple inspired a whole generation of girls to wear long, unwashed hair, spaghetti strap dresses, heavy engineering boots, and crop-tops with baggy jeans, looking tough, fragile, rugged, and feminine all at once.
Alicia Silverstone
As for teenagers, you couldn’t get any cooler than Cher Horowitz and her knee-high stockings and colorful plaid skirt suits. Her looks were so popular that fast fashion stores are still turning out dupes and copies.
Gwen Stefani
From bikini tops, to low rise cargo pants, to cut up crop-tops, to studded leather belts, Gwen Stefani was the ’90s answer to punk fashion.
Janet Jackson
The low rise jeans and spaghetti tank-tops, the wild curls and brown lipstick, the crop-tops and head-to-toe leather — Janet Jackson was a fashion chameleon in the ’90s, and each outfit created a new trend.
Drew Barrymore
With her brown lipstick, spaghetti-strap slips, baggy denim barn jackets, velvet, chokers, and patent leather platforms and Mary Janes, Barrymore was one of the leading ladies of ’90s era style.
Fran Drescher
It’s been 25 years since “The Nanny” aired, and Fran Fine is still inspiring generations of fashion followers with her designer outfits and bold takes.
Selena
A champion of bustiers, bralettes, bolero jackets, and gold chains, we still copy Selena’s ’90s style today, nearly three decades later.
TLC
The defining woman group of the ’90s, TLC inspired a whole generation of hip-hop wear, championing looks like baggy jeans, overalls, crop-tops, and logo-print outfits.
Lil Kim
Lil Kim made it fun to express your sexy side, constantly sporting catsuits, little minis, bikinis as tops, and nipple pasties.
Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu became an icon with her towering head wraps, boldly colorful dresses, crochet wraps, and spaghetti-strap gowns. She made you want to play with fashion.
Mary-Kate And Ashley Olsen
Whatever these two iconic twins wore, a mass of tweens followed. From tiny colored sunglasses, to satin spaghetti strap dresses, to layered tank-tops, they were the epitome of ’90s fashion to the younger crowd.
Liv Tyler
Liv Tyler inspired one of the most iconic teenage wardrobes with her role in Empire Records: the plaid mini, sweater crop-top, and motorcycle boots. Unsurprisingly, we’re still wearing this look today.
Britney Spears
The Princess of Pop is a late ’90s fashion icon, with her dangerously low-rise jeans, teensy crop-tops, and flair-heavy belts.
Hilary Banks
Who could forget the sophisticated, power woman outfits of Hilary Banks on “Fresh Prince?” She was the epitome of class and high fashion elegance.
Spice Girls
Is there anything more iconic than the spaghetti-strap dresses, PVC skirts, sporty crop-tops, and chunky platforms of the Spice Girls?
Christina Applegate
Kelly Bundy was the hot girl next door that we all wanted to mimic. She made turtleneck crop-tops, big buckle belts, and snug minis staples in all of our closets.
Naomi Campbell
It’s no shocker that one of the original Supermodels was also a fashion icon in the ’90s, but Campbell’s style was especially fun to watch. With her being so plugged into the designer and high fashion world, she always stepped out in playful and risky outfits.
Courtney Love
The princess of grunge, Courtney Love put slinky slip dresses, cherry red lipstick, and babydoll dresses on the map in the ’90s.
Winona Ryder
Ryder was the spokesgirl for laidback ’90s grunge, constantly wearing battered leather jackets, plaid shirts, band tees, and high-waisted Levi’s 501s, looking effortlessly and impossibly cool.
Fairuza Balk
Fairuza Balk inspired a legion of teenage witches with her layered chokers, dark red lips, leather jackets, and mesh shirts.
Chloë Sevigny
Chloë Sevigny has been bringing fashion fans eccentric, alternative vibes since the ’90s.
Tia And Tamara Mowry
Tia and Tamara Mowry’s closet — both on air and off — was an inspiration to millions of teenagers. From their denim overalls, to their bucket hats, to their colorful turtlenecks and denim vests, they were junior-high-cool.
Mandy Moore
This picture says it all: peak ’90s.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiUtIf8Hey-/?hl=en&taken-by=mandymooremm
Jennifer Aniston
Rachel basically defined the ’90s, and the actress who played her had just as iconic of a wardrobe. Aniston has always been a minimalist, but it’s that simple, streamlined style of slip gowns, racerback tanks, high waist denim, and pastel pencil skirts that make her so unforgettable.
