KEY ELEMENTS OF THE ERA:
Colour palettes
Greys, black, beige and navy dominated this era. Its the ideal mix for minimalist wardrobes that allows for capsule collections and mix and matching. Think monochrome looks for the win and complimentary colours. Pair this light grey rib knit from Materiel with pretty much anything in your wardrobe and elevate your look.
Clean and simple silhouettes
Square necklines, spaghetti strap tops, slip silk dresses and straight leg pants for the win. Remember watching Rachel Green in Friends and wondering how she always looked so perfectly put together yet casual and functional? Its all in the shapes of the clothing. Tailored, fit to your body and flattering was the magic formula. Less is more like this chic silk slip dress from Materiel
Fabrics
Out with the eights shell nylon suits and embellished items and in with the functional and timeless materials such as cotton, linen and wool. And don’t forget the number one lover of the 90s’…denim! Nothing feels as good as finding your dream denim, a forever staple for every woman. We love this pair from Autonomie, perfect for day to night looks and that dark denim is dreamy for any look.
Accessories
Functional, understated and no logo’s. The bags, the jewellery the shoes. Even the makeup and hair- simple, scrunched tied pony’s, sleek no-make up makeup- think Carrie Bradshaw first date with Mr Big in THAT infamous naked Calvin Klein dress, the simple shaped shoulder bags like this beauty from Marina C. It doesn’t get more timeless than this. Its a elegant complimentary addition to an outfit without overwhelming your overall look.
Layering
When wearing simple plain items, a common technique is to add interest by materials and layers to create that effortless and polished look. If you’re wearing simple straight cut jeans and a white shirt, a leather blazer would instantly elevate the look because of the mix of textures. You don’t need prints, loud colours or stand out materials. All you need is a winning formula mix to bring the eye to the different textures.
Gender neutral items
Many items in the 90’s had an androgynous style. Gender neutral fashion with minimal styles dominated- oversized, boxy shapes and tailored separates were favoured by both men and women. If you look at iconic 90’s couples- Kate Moss and Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, David and Victoria Beckham. Their outfits always had a gender neutrality feel. Oversized leather jackets, simple tees. It had that ‘I'm wearing my boyfriend’s jacket’ feel and instantly gave a feeling of cool and understated. Not forgetting the Calvin Klein Ad’s that fuelled the shift to a more gender fluid movement.
The icons
The designers that come to mind when thinking of 90’s simple fashion are the pioneers of the look. Helmut Lang, Donna Karen, Calvin Klein. Their influential runway looks had a huge part of the 90’s aesthetic to this day. They truly embodied the sleek understated look that was flattering and elegant to this present day. This backless rib turtleneck embodies the Helmut Lang vibe perfectly.
The 90’s- a minimal approach to ADPT the world of fashion from excess, drama, extravagance and moving towards celebrating and emphasising natural beauty. It will forever be timeless and practical, and flattering for every type of body and shape. You can still see the influence in todays contemporary fashion brands in 2024, where less is always more and classic never goes out of style.