There is no doubt about it, the 90's are in. Whether its fashion, music, film or television, the decade before the turn of the millennium is providing inspiration for many people. Fashion pieces that have clearly made a comeback include choker necklaces, floral "babydoll" dresses and crop tops.
The Spice Girls, TLC, and Destiny's Child were among the most successful girl groups of the 90's, whose popularity was influenced by their standout fashion choices. Their members continue to enjoy popularity today, both as individuals (like Beyoncé and Victoria Beckham) and when the groups reunite.
Let's take a closer look at these groups that provide fashion inspiration for the present.
The Spice Girls
Made up of 5 group members Emma Bunton, Mel B, Melanie C, Victoria Beckham, and Geri Halliwell, each member had a distinct fashion identity that corresponded with her nickname. As a result, the look of each Spice Girl is discussed separately below.
From Mel B, also known as "Scary Spice", take note of her penchant for wearing leopard print. Leopard print not your cup of tea? You can switch up your look by wearing a floral or geometric print instead.
"Posh Spice" Victoria Beckham often wore black clothing, including little black dresses. The color black is a fashion choice that never seems to go out of style, and the little black dress is considered by many to be a fashion staple. If wearing all black everything isn't your style, add a pop of color with your accessories.
Melanie C frequently wore a variation of track bottoms, sneakers, sports bras, and halter or crop tops, which reflected her nickname "Sporty Spice." The current incarnation of this style could involve yoga pants. As sportswear has grown in popularity over the years, there are a lot of sporty options to choose from. Not only are these clothing pieces in style, they can also be comfortable to wear- a big plus!
Emma Bunton was known as "Baby Spice." Probably her most memorable look consisted of pigtails, a light blue dress, and platform shoes which are also called creepers. Statement footwear would be a way to be influenced by this look. Keep in mind that to have standout footwear, you don't have to use heels, as "Baby Spice's" creepers show.
Geri Halliwell and the Union Jack dress. Get inspired by "Ginger Spice" and show pride for your country through your clothing. If you're not into the idea of wearing the image of a flag, you can wear clothing of the flag colors. In "Ginger Spice's" case, it would be red, white, and blue.
TLC
Crazy. Sexy. Cool. That was the name of a TLC album, and it also described their style. All 3 members had their own "look", but they would coordinate their outfits; following a particular aesthetic made it clear that Chili, T-Boz, and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes were a group. Baggy shirts and pants, midriff baring tops, and overalls were some of the pieces that made up TLC's image which you can incorporate into your style now.
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child shared a similarity with TLC fashion-wise, in that they frequently coordinated their outfits around a particular aesthetic but didn't wear identical clothing. The style choice to take note of, from the looks that Kelly Rowland, Beyoncé Knowles, and Michelle Williams wore, is a monochromatic color scheme. You can wear different pieces that work well together, and are made up of different shades of the same color. This fashion choice definitely catches the eye.
For current examples of 90's inspired fashion, look no further than singers Charli XCX, Rihanna, and Little Mix. Have the 90's inspired your style? Maybe you prefer a different decade? Share your thoughts in the comments.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: MARIELA S.M.
A 2015 graduate from Boston University with an M.A. in International Relations and International Communications, Mariela holds a B.A. in Humanities from the Universidad del Turabo in Puerto Rico. She's passionate about writing and enthusiastic about contributing to Women's iLab. For more information about published works or to contact Mariela, you can find her at Linkedin.