Fashion cycles are the process by which trends rise, peak, decline and fall to obsolescence. Heavily influenced by the music and film industries, ‘90s fashion featured the class and angst of the decade, sidelining the leg warmers and neon that ruled the ‘80s.

Now ‘90s fashion trends are more noticeable than ever, making a comeback in present-day style.

“I think it happens every decade—we tend to go back and recycle something from a previous decade,” said World Languages teacher Jylan Maloy. 

Take a look at the ‘90s fashion trends dominating the hallways of Summit this 2023-2024 school year.

Dying for Denim:

Baggy jeans (Hammer pants) rose to popularity when MC Hammer’s breakthrough single “Can’t Touch This” was released in January of 1990. Baggy jeans, derived from the hammer pants, were adopted into everyday life alongside dance and skate culture, demonstrating functionality in a stylistic manner. Worn by fashion icons Princess Diana and Tony Hawk, baggy jeans are now re-rising in cultural relevance.

“I choose what I wear because I feel confident in what I’m wearing. I like to look like a cool guy,” said Summit sophomore Egan Fridae, an avid skateboarder and hammer pants enthusiast.

All the Buzz:

The Buzzcut brings back the nostalgia of the late ‘90s and early 2000s. Sanjay Green, a junior at Summit, urges those in search of a low maintenance, ‘fire’ look to consider the buzz. Popularly worn plain, bleached or dyed, the buzzcut is closely associated with Eminem during the Slim Shady era. Adopted by mainstream pop culture, this classic has an easy upkeep and is a canvas for expression.

Crawling Back to the Baby Tee:

Pop culture icons of the ‘90s such as Kate Moss and Paris Hilton frequently rocked baby tees plastered with anything from sarcastic banners and brand names to the classic plain. 

The baby tee, a shrunken spin-off of a classic slipover, is easy to style and comfortable—what more could you ask for? The return of the baby tee started with high-end, age-inclusive brands like Unif and Heaven by Marc Jacobs, then quickly moved mainstream, appealing to the teenage girl in Urban Outfitters and Brandy Melville. 

Appearing in classics like “Friends” and “Clueless,” this versatile staple is sneaking its way back into Gen Z’s pop culture, now making its debut on adolescent-oriented shows such as “Euphora.” Before taking your next baby tee to check out, ask yourself: Would a Spice Girl wear it?

Veer to Sheer:

Transparent, hardly-there sheer and lace fabrics were prominent in the ‘90s alternative subculture. Making appearances in TV shows popular at the time such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Clueless” and “The Craft.” 

Strikingly noticeable in music culture at the time, Destiny’s Child and Dolores O’Riordan frequently rocked numerous sheer numbers on and off of stage. Now in Vogue’s “18 fashion trends to know” for Fall/Winter 2023-2024, it’s clear sheer isn’t going anywhere.

Back to the Blowout:

The staple of supermodels of the last decade is back and better than ever! Cindy Crawford, Alicia Silverstone and Jennifer Lawrence single handedly brought fame to the name of the ‘90s blowout. 

Gen-Z and millennials are now adopting this recycled trend loved for its versatility. Kinsey Barnes, a sophomore at Summit High School, loves the sleek and shiny look of this particle hairstyle. Rocketing in popularity on social media platforms, this voluptuous doo is the most popular women’s hairstyle of the 2023-2024 school year.

Samba Propaganda:

Originally created as an indoor football shoe, the Adidas Samba has become a crucial trademark in today’s fashion. 

Retiring from its field career, the Samba and its sister in shape, the Gazelle, find themselves in the center of returning Y2K fashion. ‘90s skaters sought out the sneaker for its durability; these sidewalk surfers alone made Sambas the most prominent shoe in skate culture. The lifeline of this trend are Adidas’s numerous desirable collaborations with celebrities and brands. 

Making an appearance on Lyst’s “hottest products of the year,” it’s clear that we’ll continue to see those three stripes up and down the Summit halls.