The 90s: babydoll dresses, crimped waves, grunge eyeliner, and Wu-Tang Clan. I. Am. Obsessed. 

I have every Tupac album downloaded, half of my Spotify-liked playlist is Outkast songs and my Pinterest account has an entire group of boards dedicated to the decade. And, while my closet is scarce, the few non-uniform pieces I own are very much inspired (or from) the 90s. 

If you couldn’t tell by now, I’m kind of a 90s whiz. 

The way the music of the time revolutionized the music industry is CRAZY. The rise of hip-hop and rap brought young, creative and fresh voices into the music industry. Never before had Hollywood heard so many stories of growing up in rough neighborhoods and facing constant oppression in such a funky and talented way. The lyrics in songs like ‘Juicy’ and ‘Dear Mama’ by the Notorious B.I.G and Tupac respectively blow my mind and take my breath away every time they pop up while I listen to music (which is all the time). Every time I listen to modern music of any genre I can see the influence of the 90s on modern artists like Jhene Aiko, M.I.A, Janet Jackson and Nas. 

The fashion of the 90s was so gorgeous and creative. It drew upon the 80s love of denim and mixed it with  70s colorful style to create a fashion Frankenstein of baggy jeans, brightly colored tops and denim jackets. The 90s daring mix of fabrics, textures and colors can be seen in the fashion trends from the 2000s, 2010s, and even from this year. I can see the 90s influence in the recent revival of bomber jackets, oversized street style, and sweater vests (which I’m obsessed with.) 

Even with all of these positive things to look to, I’ve seen lots of people still critique the decade and push it to the back of their minds with the rest of history. I often see people bring up the eye-melting fabric clashes, questionable hairstyles and cringe music videos. And while yes, some of the trends were less than impressive (looking at you middle-part bowl cuts), what decade doesn’t have embarrassing moments? The culture and style of the 90s is something that I think is unique and honestly beautiful. It brings me a sort of nostalgia for my childhood, even though I was born six years after it ended. The clothes and styles that were popular during the time give me the confidence to dress how I want in ways I think are cute, and the music just makes me happy. I love analyzing the little details in lyrics and appreciating how music’s progressed through time. The idols and icons of the time inspire me and truly make me appreciative of the life I have. Before I go, I want to leave you with the lyrics from one of my favorite Tupac albums; “Tomorrow I wake with second wind and strong because of pride. I know I fought with all my heart to keep the dream alive.”