5 '90s Denim Trends That Have the Most Staying Power

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The '90s have come racing back into the spotlight recently, so much so that we're declaring the entire decade to be more relevant today than it was even then. When we look into what It girls like Noami Campbell and Julia Roberts were wearing 20 years ago, their outfits appear eerily similar to the ones you'd find all over Instagram in 2018, e.g., loads of straight-leg jeans, thin-strap sandals, and some of the coolest double denim looks around. Let's face it: The 1990s' most iconic fashion trends are simply not going anywhere anytime soon.

Sure, there are a good amount of styles we wore back then that we surely wouldn't be caught dead in today, but the trends that have stuck around have proved to be virtually immortal. The most everlasting of them all, though, has to be '90s jean trends. One glimpse at the denim sections of your favorite retailers would prove just how popular shapes like straight-leg jeans are right now—so popular, in fact, they've been giving skinnies a run for their money this year. It's not hard to come across even more of denim trends that have the decade to thank; they're just hiding in plain sight.

From the jean jacket style that dominated then and now to the denim wash that's recently undergone a complete revival, we're highlighting the five '90s jean trends that are only getting more popular these days. Ahead, see how celebs were wearing the styles back then and then shop the modern-day iterations of each one.

WASHED BLACK JEANS

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Not quite a true black but not gray either, this denim wash is a cool alternative to your blue pairs.

DENIM MIDI SKIRTS

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The '00s may have owned the denim miniskirt, but the '90s originated the style—only in a longer midi length.

CROPPED DENIM JACKETS

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Denim jackets have been around for every decade, it seems, but '90s kids loved their cropped fits.

THE NEW MOM JEANS

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These high-waisted jeans (more so now than then) have a looser fit throughout but a tailored waist and butt. Think of them as the more flattering update to ubiquitous "mom" jeans.

DENIM DRESSES

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Nineties girls loved a mood denim dress, especially pinafore styles that buttoned up the front.

Speaking of the '90s, get inspired by how It girls wore ankle boots back then.

Editor

Anna is an editor on the fashion team at Who What Wear and has been at the company for over five years, having begun her career in the Los Angeles office before relocating to New York, where she's currently based. Having always been passionate about pursuing a career in fashion, she built up her experience interning at the likes of Michael Kors, A.L.C., and College Fashionista before joining the team as a post-graduate assistant editor. Anna has penned a number of interviews with Who What Wear's cover stars over the years, including A-listers Megan Fox, Issa Rae, and Emma Chamberlain. She's earned a reputation for scouting new and emerging brands from across the globe and championing them to our audience of millions. While fashion is her main wheelhouse, Anna led the launch of WWW Travels last year, a new lifestyle vertical that highlights all things travel through a fashion-person lens. She is passionate about shopping vintage, whether it be at a favorite local outpost or an on-the-road discovery, and has amassed a wardrobe full of unique finds. When she's not writing, you can find her shooting street imagery on her film camera, attempting to learn a fourth or fifth language, or planning her next trip across the globe.