'90s fashion icons: then and now

Gwen Stefani

Known for her colored hair, bikini tops, bejeweled forehead, and cargo pants, the No Doubt singer was the '90s answer to punk fashion.

She's been a solo artist for years, but briefly reunited with No Doubt at Coachella in April 2025 for their first performance together in nearly a decade.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Almost better-known as Carrie Bradshaw from 'Sex and the City,' Parker was known for sporting little strappy heels with fluff over the toes, along with tulle skirts, wild prints, and satin slips. She taught viewers that it was fun to get risky with fashion.

Backstreet Boys

From colorful outerwear and a mix of leather and denim, to that iconic all-white look, the Backstreet Boys were the stuff of '90s dreams.

Christina Aguilera

This pint-sized princess delivered her debut album, with signature hits like 'Genie in a Bottle' and 'What a Girl Wants,' at the tail-end of the decade, however she fully embodied the '90s in her crop tops and cheetah prints.

Spice Girls

Sporty, Ginger, Posh, Scary, and Baby each had their own style—from spaghetti-strap dresses and PVC skirts, to sporty crop tops and chunky platforms—inspiring a generation of young women to embrace "girl power."

Courtney Love

The singer and actress was the quintessential grunge goddess with a splash of glamour.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

The '90s had twin fever, particularly with these two 'Full House' tots going on to create a billion-dollar empire that included clothes, video games, movies, and makeup. From tiny, colored sunglasses, to satin spaghetti strap dresses and chokers of all kinds, they were the epitome of '90s fashion to the younger crowd.

Will Smith

'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' embodied bold looks, bright patterns, and mass amounts of swag.

Karyn Parsons

You can't mention 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' without mentioning Hillary Banks' miniskirts, church hats, and beautiful curls. She mixed flirty with refined, and made a statement for the decade.

Gabrielle Union

Though Chastity Church in '10 Things I Hate About You' wasn't a huge role, Union stood out in her baby-doll dresses and platform Mary Janes.

Lisa Bonet

Denise Huxtable in 'The Cosby Show' was the original hipster, wearing cool headbands, afro-styled hair, and purposefully oversized shirts. Her freewheeling fashion choices inspired a generation, and are still influential today.

Alicia Silverstone

Silverstone started out in the '90s as an Aerosmith video star before landing her breakthrough and iconic role as Cher Horowitz in 'Clueless,' almost single-handedly making plaid the hottest pattern.

Brandy Norwood

Brandy broke through as one of the biggest teen singers of the decade, before branching into TV and movies thanks to her titular role as 'Moesha.' She donned bold prints, box braids, and burgundy lipstick, and there's remnants of her style everywhere today.

Drew Barrymore

The actress not only defied the standard Hollywood cut-out, but her leather jackets, brown lipstick, spaghetti-strap slips, velvet shirts, and patent leather platforms were signature Barrymore.

*NSYNC

There was never anything uninteresting about this boy band's ensembles, and they definitely pushed the envelope for men's style in the late '90s.

The boys have all grown out of shimmering outerwear and tinted sunglasses, but they've got a legacy to uphold and, though no longer making music, they each carry that undeniable boy band flare.

Naomi Campbell

It's no surprise that one of the original supermodels was also a fashion icon, but Campbell's style was particularly fun to watch because she was so connected to the high fashion world and wasn't afraid to step out in more daring outfits.

This very recent photo proves that Campbell, too, is a vampire (and never ages), but more importantly she's still got her finger on fashion's pulse.

Liv Tyler

Tyler loved wearing Converse and sundresses on red carpets, plus her cropped sweater and pleated plaid skirt, paired with riding boots, from 1995's 'Empire Records' became instantly iconic.

She's kept a relatively low profile, being a full-time mother to three children, but Tyler remains an undeniable beauty icon.

Madonna

The '90s could be distinguished alone using Madge's continuous changes of image, one particular highlight being the cone-shaped corset designed by Jean Paul Gaultier for her Blond Ambition Tour.

Her style continues to evolve and change, with some hits and some misses, but this diva is certainly not afraid to make a statement.

Winona Ryder

Ryder's uncomfortable look on the red carpet was part of her charm, along with short cropped hair, slip dresses, battered leather jackets, sweetheart necklines and grunge style pieces. She was effortlessly cool for one of the biggest actresses of the '90s.

She's starred in many movies, and most recently in the wildly popular series 'Stranger Things.’ In 2024 she reprised the role of Lydia Deetz in the 'Beetlejuice' sequel, and is still weaving her gothic charm into the fashion world.

Jennifer Aniston

Besides the 'Friends' actress's hairstyle that made history, Aniston's low-waisted bottoms, layered tops, and her many forms of denim are all the '90s nostalgia you need.

Jennifer Anniston

She went on to star in many films and she's never left the steady gaze of the public eye, with most wondering how she still looks so fantastic.

Uma Thurman

With the release of films like 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Gattaca,' Thurman became a hot topic of the '90s for a hot minute, making sweeping fashion statements with red carpet ensembles like this.

She's never lost her effortless cool, and after furthering her fashion influence with the 'Kill Bill' series, Thurman remains an example for strong-willed women.

Christina Applegate

Previously known as Kelly Bundy on 'Married... with Children,' Applegate was an inspiration for teens who loved her leather skirts, turtleneck crop tops, big buckle belts, and snug minis. She made rebellion look very attractive.

Christina Applegate is turning pain into purpose, co-hosting the raw and unfiltered ‘MeSsy’ podcast with fellow actress Jamie Lynn Sigler, which focuses on their personal struggles with multiple sclerosis. Applegate embraces life’s curveballs with unapologetic honesty as she addresses her day-to-day life with the condition.

Claire Danes

No one could wear a flannel dress or oversized shirt like Angela Chase in 'My So-Called Life.' Danes also had 'Romeo + Juliet' and 'Little Women' drawing attention to her red-carpet style, which tended towards the simple but stylish.

It seems not much has changed!

Kate Moss

From her iconic slip dresses to her overwhelmingly large fur coats, Moss helped define the decade with her party-girl style. Note the martini and cigarette hanging nonchalantly from her fingers.

She's ditched both the tired "heroin chic" look and lifestyle, and is reportedly living a much healthier life as she continues excelling in the world of fashion.

Fiona Apple

The icon of post-grunge fashion, the singer inspired a whole generation of girls to wear long, unwashed hair, spaghetti strap dresses, heavy boots, and crop tops with baggy jeans.

She continues to expertly balance looking tough, fragile, rugged, and feminine all at once.

Janet Jackson

A fashion chameleon of the '90s, Jackson wore low rise jeans and spaghetti tank-tops, wild curls and brown lipstick, crop tops and head-to-toe leather like nobody else.