Life
25 Things Every '90s Cool Girl Wore To School If She Was Really Fly
You know how mom always said to hang on to your clothing because trends will likely come back again? Mom was right. The '90s are currently making a comeback and the things every '90s cool girl wore to school are on trend once again. The '90s saw the rise of the supermodel, and girls like me did everything in their power to be like them. But the '90s also saw grunge gain popularity, which couldn't be more different than a Versace-clad Linda Evangelista. As Complex reported, hip-hop and skate culture were becoming more mainstream, and these trends were reflected in the wardrobes of teen girls across America. In short, there were so many looks to choose from, how could you not have fun getting dressed as a cool girl in the '90s?
And because, as a teenage girl, there was a limit on places you could go to express your signature style, school was like your very own fashion show. Peacocking your look was just as important as acing your physics exam and getting your crush to notice you. So whether you're looking to add a little nostalgic flare to your wardrobe, or just want to take a trip down memory lane, check out these 25 things every cool girl wore to school in the '90s. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry, and others will inspire your next outfit.
1Overalls
These True Religion Katie Cropped Overalls are trending now, but they were super fly in the '90s.
2Quirky Hat
All the cool gals had the brass ovaries to don a funky hat.
3Flannel Shirt
Is flannel ever out of style? In the '90s, it was the cool girl's uniform.
4Anything From Kim Gordon's X-Girl Clothing Line
Femme street style was born with Kim Gordon's X-Girl line. With Chloë Sevigny as the line's muse, you couldn't get any cooler than rocking X-Girl gear.
5Plaid Skirt
An empowered reclaiming of the schoolgirl uniform happened when cool girls wore plaid skirts to school by choice.
6Big Hoop Earrings
There was no bigger '90s accessory than big hoop earrings. And the trend is still on fleek.
7Baby Doll Dress
The baby doll dress is another '90s trend that's in style now, like this ASOS Contrast Trim Baby Doll Dress. I wore mine over jeans in the '90s.
8Platform Mary Janes
While Cypress Hill might've been talking about something different in the song, "I love you Mary Jane" everybody loved Mary Janes (the shoes) back in the day. The platform made them so totally '90s.
9Crop Top
If you got it, flaunt it! And Kelly Kapowski definitely had it. Heck, every cool girl rocked a crop top in the '90s, probably driving the guys nuts.
10Crocheted Bell Bottoms
I so had these pants, and I wore them every chance I could. My teachers probably had a good chuckle over them. But, hey, they're back in style, and for sale on Etsy by Saldana Vintage.
11Doc Martens
Whether or not you listened to Bikini Kill, you laced up your Doc Martens to stomp to class.
12Baby Barrettes
Nothing said I partied all weekend at a rave like a baby barrette in your hair. And yes, the kind you buy for toddlers, like these from Amazon.
13Skater Gear
You didn't have to ride a board to rock the skater style.
14Choker Necklace
You could fashion one out of ribbon or raid Urban Outfitters for the '90s necklace of choice. Chokers were popular in the Victorian era, but were on fire in the '90s.
15Calvin Klein Bra
I wore #mycalvins underneath overalls with a flannel shirt to finish the look. I still rock the Calvin Klein Women's Modern Cotton Bralette.
16Angora Sweater
The fuzzy angora sweater paired with some Doc Martins captured '90s grunge, but the look could also be super glam for when you wanted to impress your crush.
17Suspenders
Suspenders were a '90s staple accessory. Super cute!
18Timberlands
These were the jam in the '90s.
19Bucket Bag
Pretty much every cool girl in my school carried her books in this J.Crew Bucket bag. The price was steep for a teenager, but that's what babysitting money was for.
20Vintage Bracelets
While rubber bracelets were an '80s thing, vintage beads were super on trend in the '90s.
21Leggings As Pants
This trend is still going strong, and why shouldn't it? Leggings as pants is like wearing a sweatsuit to school. Except the look is way more stylish, like these American Apparel Shiny Nylon Tricot Leggings.
22Baby Tees
The smaller the tee, the better.
23Scrunchies
Come on, you know you wore one too. And hey, American Apparel is selling scrunchies to the kids these days, so who's laughing now?
24Stan Smiths
Decades before Kayne West's shoe dropped for Adidas, the cool girls wore Stan Smiths to school. These were big in the '90s, but talk about a classic.
25Blazer (Preferably In Yellow Plaid)
The power suit to top all power suits.
