8 Ugly Fashion Trends From The ’90s & 8 We Desperately Want Back
The 1990s was a wild era for fashion, giving us everything from grunge flannel to platform sneakers. Some of these trends were truly questionable, making us cringe when we flip through old photo albums.
Others, however, had a certain charm that’s making us wish they’d make a comeback in today’s style scene.
1. Ugly: JNCO Jeans
Remember those ridiculously oversized jeans with leg openings wide enough to fit a small child inside? JNCO jeans were the epitome of ’90s excess. Each pair used enough denim to make three regular pants!
I still recall my cousin Tony showing up to Thanksgiving dinner wearing a pair so wide he tripped over them twice before reaching the table.
While they offered plenty of pocket space, these denim tents made everyone look like they were walking around with parachutes attached to their legs.
2. Ugly: Frosted Tips
Bleached blonde spikes atop otherwise dark hair created the infamous ‘frosted tips’ look that plagued ’90s boy bands and high school heartthrobs alike. This hair disaster required serious maintenance and often resulted in damaged, straw-like strands.
The style screamed ‘I spend hours on my hair but want it to look effortless.’ Usually paired with puka shell necklaces and sleeveless shirts, this hairstyle belongs firmly in the past, along with dial-up internet and floppy disks.
3. Ugly: Wallet Chains
Nothing said ‘my wallet is more important than your eyesight’ quite like the jangling metal chains that connected wallets to belt loops. These impractical accessories were supposedly designed to prevent theft but mostly succeeded in catching on doorknobs.
The first time I wore one to school, I set off the metal detector and had to explain to the principal why I needed a three-foot chain to secure my velcro wallet containing exactly seven dollars.
The longer and chunkier the chain, the cooler you supposedly were—until you sat down and the metal dug painfully into your thigh.
4. Ugly: Overly Plucked Eyebrows
Pencil-thin eyebrows dominated the ’90s beauty scene, with celebrities and teenagers alike tweezing their brows into submission. These barely-there lines above the eyes gave everyone a perpetually surprised expression.
The aftermath was brutal. Many who participated in this trend spent years trying to regrow their natural brows, only to discover some follicles never recovered.
Drew Barrymore and Gwen Stefani were poster children for this regrettable look that thankfully gave way to today’s fuller, more natural brow aesthetic.
5. Ugly: Bowl Cuts
Bowl cuts reigned supreme as the most unflattering haircut of the decade. Parents placed actual bowls on their children’s heads and cut around the edges, creating a mushroom-shaped helmet of hair that flattered absolutely no one.
My brother sported this look for three painful years. Mom claimed it was practical, but school pictures tell a different story. The style somehow managed to make everyone look simultaneously 5 years old and middle-aged.
6. Ugly: Platform Sneakers
Spice Girls-inspired platform sneakers added unnecessary inches to everyone’s height while simultaneously increasing the risk of ankle injuries. These clunky shoes featured massively thick soles that made walking feel like balancing on stilts.
Fashion victims wobbled down school hallways in these orthopedic nightmares, pretending the discomfort was worth the style points. Buffalo and Skechers dominated this trend, creating shoes that resembled orthopedic footwear disguised as fashionable sneakers.
7. Ugly: Fanny Packs
Fanny packs—those awkward pouches strapped around waists like personal kangaroo pouches—were the ultimate tourist uniform. Usually made of nylon in neon colors, they created unflattering bulges exactly where nobody wanted them.
The worst part wasn’t even how they looked, but how people wore them. Positioned front and center like some sort of utilitarian fashion statement, they became targets for pickpockets rather than deterrents.
Parents particularly loved storing snacks in them, pulling out squished, lint-covered treats at inopportune moments.
8. Ugly: Overalls With One Strap Undone
Farmers everywhere were baffled as teenagers co-opted their workwear only to deliberately break its functionality. The one-strap-undone overall look suggested you were too cool to properly fasten your clothes.
This asymmetrical style statement made zero practical sense. The dangling strap would catch on doorknobs or dip into your lunch. Despite being endorsed by Will Smith in Fresh Prince and TLC, this trend revealed a fundamental misunderstanding of how suspenders work.
9. Want Back: Combat Boots
Heavy-duty combat boots stomped through the ’90s, bringing an edge to everything from floral dresses to ripped jeans. These sturdy shoes offered practical benefits—durability, ankle support, and protection from whatever the world threw at your feet.
Doc Martens reigned supreme, their yellow stitching instantly recognizable. I saved for months to buy my first pair in 1996, and they lasted through high school and college.
Beyond their practical benefits, combat boots sent a message: the wearer was tough, ready for anything, and not afraid to make some noise walking down the hallway.
10. Want Back: Flannel Shirts
Flannel shirts wrapped the ’90s in cozy, grungy comfort. These plaid button-ups served as the uniform for an entire generation rebelling against the excess of the ’80s, bringing Seattle’s signature style to the mainstream.
Tied around waists or worn oversized, flannels created an instantly recognizable silhouette. Kurt Cobain and the grunge scene made them iconic, but their appeal transcended music preferences.
11. Want Back: Brown Lipstick
Rich, earthy brown lipstick dominated ’90s beauty counters, offering a sophisticated alternative to bright reds and pinks. These warm, coffee-toned shades complemented the decade’s neutral fashion palette perfectly.
Drew Barrymore and Winona Ryder rocked these chocolatey lips with everything from babydoll dresses to leather jackets. Unlike today’s complicated lip routines with liners, plumpers, and glosses, brown lipstick was refreshingly straightforward.
One swipe delivered instant attitude with a touch of grunge-adjacent coolness that somehow worked for both coffee dates and mosh pits.
12. Want Back: Choker Necklaces
Hugging necks everywhere, chokers were the must-have accessory that added instant edge to any outfit. The plastic tattoo variety cost pocket change but delivered major style points, while velvet versions added a touch of Victorian-inspired gothic charm.
These neck-hugging accessories had democratic appeal—everyone from Gwen Stefani to the Spice Girls rocked them. During my eighth-grade year, I wore a stretchy black plastic choker every single day until it finally snapped during gym class.
13. Want Back: Scrunchies
Fabric-covered hair elastics known as scrunchies added instant personality to ponytails and buns. Available in endless colors, patterns, and materials, these hair accessories were both practical and stylish, preventing the breakage caused by regular hair ties.
From velvet to denim, scrunchies coordinated with outfits or made statements all their own. The bigger and poofier, the better! They stacked on wrists when not in use, serving as fashion statements even when not corralling hair.
14. Want Back: Windbreakers
Lightweight windbreakers in eye-searing color combinations protected ’90s kids from unexpected drizzles while making bold fashion statements. These nylon jackets featured geometric patterns and color-blocking that required sunglasses just to look at them.
The satisfying swish-swish sound announced your arrival before you entered a room. My teal and purple windbreaker was my prized possession in fifth grade—I wore it even on sunny days.
The hidden bonus? Many folded into their own pockets, transforming into tiny pouches perfect for stashing in backpacks.
15. Want Back: Babydoll Dresses
Short, empire-waisted babydoll dresses brought a touch of childlike innocence to ’90s fashion. These flowing, often floral frocks paired perfectly with chunky boots or sneakers for an iconic juxtaposition that defined the decade’s style.
Courtney Love and Hole popularized the kinderwhore aesthetic, while Alicia Silverstone in Clueless gave the style mainstream appeal. The dresses offered freedom of movement and flattering silhouettes for all body types.
Their versatility made them perfect for everything from concerts to class pictures, especially when layered over a simple white tee for added coverage.
16. Want Back: Butterfly Clips
Tiny plastic butterfly clips fluttered through the hair of every ’90s girl, adding whimsical pops of color to even the most basic hairstyles. These miniature hair accessories came in rainbow packs, allowing for creative expression through strategic placement.
Celebrities like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera sported them on red carpets and in music videos. I once wore seventeen blue butterfly clips to a school dance, convinced more was definitely better.
The tiny claws held surprisingly well, securing awkward growing-out bangs or creating face-framing twists that stayed put through hours of dancing to Spice Girls hits.