First dates are often nerve-wracking, but when you add teenage hormones, first-time experiences, and young love into the mix, it’s safe to say that first dates in the '90s were among the most terrifying of them all. Sure, dating was way simpler back then — one of your biggest concerns was likely calling to confirm your plans and risking your date’s cool, older sister answering the house phone — but it was also fraught with anxiety.
You probably worried whether your energetic date would get bored traipsing through the mall. You grew paranoid that they might have written your number down incorrectly. Heck, you didn't even know if you were on a date at times. It could've all been a friend hang. I mean, did a make out session at a mutual friend’s house really class as a date?
Amidst all the stuff you couldn’t control regarding your 1990s dates, there was one thing you definitely had in the bag: your outfit. You had basically been planning your perfect first date look since you were in seventh grade, so at least you knew you’d look mighty fine, even if all else went wrong and you got stood up outside the movie theater.
Your style icons were the preppy Cher Horowitz, the fashion-savvy Hilary Banks, and of course, Buffy Summers. With these stylish gals as your guides, nothing could go wrong... Right? So here’s a snapshot of all the things you probably wore on a first date in the ‘90s.
1. A Strappy “Cher” Dress
Cher was a fashion goddess and most of us wanted everything in her virtual closet. Take, for example, the bodycon Calvin Klein dress that her dad almost banned her from wearing. That piece was everything.
2. Lashings Of Lipgloss
Lancôme Juicy Tubes, MAC Lipglass, the free gloss that came with Sabrina's Secrets Magazine – whatever lipgloss made your pout look blindingly shiny and more "kissable," you had to have it. You'd spend the whole date reapplying your gloss, counting down the seconds until you could excuse yourself to the bathroom again, just to make sure you could see your reflection in your lips.
3. A Myriad Of Butterfly Clips
If your barnet didn't look like it was harboring a swarm of butterflies, you had to go back to the drawing board in an attempt to cram even more of those comb-toothed critters onto your scalp.
4. A Push-Up Bra
If you were a late bloomer like me, you probably just wanted your body to hurry up and develop so it could match your totally mature brain. Some of us needed a little help to appear more "womanly" — and we usually thought boobs were the most important factor in attracting a mate. We'd later learn that the kind of guys we attracted via this method didn't always make the best boyfriend material.
5. Strappy Sandals
When Laney Boggs strode down that staircase wearing those strappy sandals, my heart skipped a beat. She's All That taught a generation of young women that you had to completely forgo your personality and wear a pair of shoes you could barely walk in if you wanted to attract a popular guy. As much as I hate to say it, I would have been willing to wear anything if it meant a date with Freddie Prinze, Jr.
6. Low Rise Jeans
Christina Aguilera wore them, they showed off your belly button piercing, and your mom hated the look: Low rise jeans were the coolest item to wear on a '90s first date.
7. A Thong
When you put on your lacy thong — the super sexy one that you hid from your mom in the back of your sock drawer — you felt invincible. You were a young woman who wasn't afraid of her sexuality! And you were going to express this by sitting uncomfortably through your entire date. When you arrived home, you'd secretly shove your thong deep inside your jeans pocket before putting both items in the washing machine. You were a mastermind.
8. Brown Lipliner
Brown lip liner was once the norm. A brown lip in the '90s, was akin to wearing a smoky eye nowadays on a night out. If you lost your brown lip liner before a first date, this was a bad omen.
9. A Tattoo Choker Necklace
If your date was even remotely alternative, you had to bring out the tattoo choker necklace. This was cool because you secretly loved the whole '90s teen witch vibe anyway.
10. Body Glitter
After seeing Drew Barrymore resembling the queen of the fairies at the ball in the amazing Cinderella-inspired movie Ever After, glitter became a basic feature of a '90s teen girl's beauty routine.
11. Too Much Perfume
Teens of the '90s more or less bathed in CK One, Gap Dream, or Thierry Mugler's Angel. We wanted people to know when we walked into a room.
In 20 years, we'll probably look back and marvel at the things we once wore on dates. But for now, let's just call '90s date attire a total win.
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Images: Paramount Pictures; Archie Comics, Hartbreak Films, Finishing the Hat Productions, Viacom Productions (2); Flower Films; Stan Rogow Productions, Disney Channel Original Productions; Touchstone Pictures; FilmColony (2); Peter Engel Productions, NBC Productions
