Though the year is only halfway through, I think it's safe to say that 2016 has been a time for throwbacks. From '70s fashion taking over the runways to grunge coming back in a very real way, we've been all about those repeat looks. And because of that, there are some revived '90s trends you should be freaking out over. While the majority of us have been enjoying mom jeans and worn-in plaids for a couple of years now, the look has been slowly updated over the past couple of months to include exciting new details for the upcoming fall collections.
And good thing, too. No matter how much you love black lipstick and stone-wash jeans, the aesthetic can get a little old if it's the only option around.
Not to rush summer out the door or anything, but there are a lot of cool new looks rolling out for the upcoming chillier months. From a twist on floral grunge dresses to a new style of pinafores taking over clothing racks, there's hopefully going to be a sense of freshness when you pick your way through your favorite stores this fall. So are you excited yet? Below are 11 old but new '90s trends to shop next season.
1. Retro Stripes
Lost Ink Off Shoulder Knitted Sweater In Stripe, $49, ASOS
Striped Sweater, $20, Eloquii
Big, colorful, grungy stripes are back in, boasting clashing and highly pigmented hues across the spectrum. This look always had a vaguely snowboarder hint to it, bringing with it the aesthetic of cargo maxi skirts and thermal shirts of the '90s. Get ahead of the fun autumnal look by stocking up on sweaters now.
2. Tiered Maxi Skirts
Glamorous Tiered Maxi Skirt In Vintage Floral, $73, ASOS
Black Maxi Rara Skirt, $75, Yours Clothing
Want to know how to make your floral maxi skirts even more grunge? Add jagged, flowing tiers to them like in these options. All you need is a slouchy beanie and a plaid thrifted shirt and you're set.
3. Pinafore Skirts
Reclaimed Vintage Low Strap Pinny Dress In Ditsy Floral Print, $35, ASOS
"Tiffany" Bow Back Dress, $119, Nordstrom
Pay homage to your inner '90s kid with these playful, long-strapped pinafore skirts. You can channel Nirvana and thrift culture with a darkly-hued floral one, or class up the silhouette with a sleek pencil skirt version.
4. Mix And Match Cami Dresses
Ditsy Mix & Match Midi Cami Dress, $49, ASOS
Smock Dress In Mixed Ditsy Floral Prints, $46, ASOS
It's all about the patchwork patterns now, and that rule extends to your cami and smock dresses. Rather than just picking out one floral print, the look du jour is to get greedy and mix a couple of patterns together. The end result is fun without feeling too busy.
5. Embroidered Jeans
Alice & You Embroidered Girlfriend Jean, $43, ASOS
"Mom" Floral Embroidered Jeans, $110, Nordstrom
How. Amazing. Are these?! Mom jeans got an upgrade this season in the form of tumbling, statement-making embroidered florals. Talk about jazzing up a casual staple.
6. Patch Jackets
Patch Jacket, $70, Zara
Oversized Distressed Jacket, $40, Soho Girl
I hope you saved all those mismatched patches from high school, because they're super on trend right now. Whether you buy a thrifted jacket and DIY a cluster of cheeky images onto it or buy one store-made for you, the look is equal parts playful and full of attitude.
7. Mesh Accessories
Mesh Backpack, $25, ASOS
Give your look an urban kick with a mesh backpack — and you get bonus points if you happen to have fun stationary and notebooks you can show off through the overlay.
8. Hologram Accessories
Mi-Pac Backpack in Hologram, $65, ASOS
Channel your inner Lisa Frank fangirl with hologram backpacks and purses. It doesn't matter how far down your 20s or 30s you are — there's always room for a pink rainbow in your wardrobe.
9. Patchwork Crossbody Bag
Mix And Match Mini Crossbody Bag, $60, Zara
I wasn't kidding when I said patches are huge this season — they're literally taking over the whole sartorial game. If you're not quite ready to rock them all over your denim, then dip a toe into the look with a compact crossbody bag.
10. Madonna-Inspired Tulle Skirts
Frilly Tulle Skirt, $40, Zara
Studio Layered Tulle Midi Skirt, $120, Eloquii
Channel your inner feminist material girl with a shredded tulle skirt. You can either wear it on its own or cheekily pop it underneath jeans for a truly '90s throwback look. You can be as bold or as demure as you want to be with this trend.
11. Wrap Denim Skirts
Wrap A-Line Denim Mini Skirt in Washed Black, $36, ASOS
Unfinished Business Denim Skirt, $68, Nasty Gal
You probably kicked around in these on the playground when you were little, and now you can reintroduce the girlhood staple into your grownup wardrobe. Keep it fresh and easy with a simple cotton tee, or move it over into autumn with a cozy knit.
While it seems like that '90s are still going strong in 2016, it's awesome to see the decade getting fun, new updates along the way.
Images: Courtesy Brands
