Ten 90s Fashion Trends Mentioned in Sexual Awakening

Teenagers tend to be more adventurous than the rest of us when it comes to experimenting with fashion and following trends.  It was a decade defined by casual, and teens took their fashion cues from musical artists.  Some 1990s styles stuck around, like the slip dress whereas others, such as combat boots, went away only to make a comeback.  Let’s look at ten 90s fashion trends mentioned in Sexual Awakening.

The Butterfly Clip

When I got out of bed, I pinned it up with a butterfly clip and that’s how it’ll stay. – From Chapter 2

When Cassandra puts back her waist-length hair, she either uses the scrunchie or a butterfly clip.  While girls today still use scrunchie, the butterfly clip declined in popularity although you can still find it sold in hair-accessory aisles.   The clips – two combs on a hinge – resemble a butterfly from the side.

Keds

She puts on her Keds, nice and practical compared to my sandals with chunky heels. – From Chapter 2

A popular brand among girls and young women, Keds sneakers were all the rage until the late 1990s.

“The big boom happened especially after the 1987 movie Dirty Dancing,” fashion blog Outsons says of the style.  “Most teenage girls tried to copy Jennifer Grey, which is why they wore Keds. It was a new look with a ton of popular, practical, and common favorite features that teens could pull off, no reason to stick to heels.”

Chunky heels

She puts on her Keds, nice and practical compared to my sandals with chunky heels. – From Chapter 2

Cassandra comments on the stability of the style.  Chunky heels could be found on everything from sandals to dress shoes.

“They certainly weren’t dainty, but they were cute and a little scholastic,” 90s Fashion says.

Grunge

She makes a face.  “Whatever.  The grunge look is on the way out, ya know.  Maybe at some point you’ll learn to dress better.” – From Chapter 4

The style emerged in 1993 and was categorized by flannel, torn jeans, band t-shirts and oversized sweaters or skirts.

“Teenagers everywhere were seen growing long hair and wearing tattered flannel shirts a la Pearl Jam and Nirvana. Even the preppiest kids were sporting the new ‘grunge’ look,” fashion website Retro Waste says.

Fanny Pack

Shawna digs through her fanny pack and pulls out $3.  – From Chapter 11

Fanny packs are pouches worn around the waist, designed to keep the wearer’s hands free while keeping essentials within reach.

“By the end of the 1990s, wearing a fanny pack was no longer cool,” Mental Floss says.  “It was an act that invited mockery and disdain.”

Combat boots

I untie my combat boots and toss them on the floor in front of the passenger seat. – From Chapter 13

Inspired by the grunge, teens wore combat boots with everything from jeans to dresses.

“In the ’90s, the boots were common stock among members of the Seattle grunge scene,” Footwear News says. “They had their first brush with high fashion at the Perry Ellis spring ’93 show, which infamously got then-vice president of women’s Marc Jacobs fired.”

Jeans

I stand and wiggle out of my jeans.  I always have a tough time getting them over my hips. – From Chapter 14

Jeans early on in the decade were worn ripped while they became low-rise by decade’s end.  Bellbottoms also made a comeback, and boot cut styles became popular.

“The 1990s’ most iconic fashion trends are simply not going anywhere anytime soon,” Who What Wear says of ’90s jean trends that have survived the passage of time.

Blue Nail Polish

Shawna paints her toenails cornflower blue and without looking up says, “At least you’ll get away for college.  I’m going to beauty school, and I’ll be stuck in Sterling forever.” – From Chapter 22

Teenage girls broke away from traditional nail polish colors and embraced blue in particular.  Blues of all shades.

“The ’90s did not exist without dark metallic blue nails,” The Talko says.

Guy’s Hair Styles

I shake my head, running my fingers through his gorgeous dirty blond hair.  Most guys have short hair, but Jason still wears his on the longish side. – From Chapter 26

Guys fashion trends were casual, often disheveled, and their hairstyles were no exception.  The trend was for longer hair mid-decade that gave way to shorter hair near the decade’s end.

“Influenced by the fashion, pop culture and music scene of the decade, ’90s hairstyles were bold and unique, allowing guys to express themselves with different types of styles,” Men’s Hairstyles Now says.

Glittery Eyeshadow

“I had a dream about it the other day.”  She smiles, her glittery eyeshadow shimmering in the light.  “You are definitely getting married.” – From Chapter 23

Young teens still sport glittery eyeshadow as do women going out on a special occasion, but the look got its start in the 1990s.

“Glitter was an integral part of the ’90s makeup – whether it be dusted on the décolleté, tapped onto the cheekbones, or, as J. Lo artfully shows us, worked into eyeshadow,” Harpers Bazaar says.

A Bonus Fashion:  Slip Dresses

While Cassandra doesn’t refer to any of hers or her friends’ dresses as “slip dresses,” chances are at least the summer styles were.  The dresses get their name because they look like slips, starting a trend of wearing undergarments as outerwear.

“Over time the slip dress has become almost synonymous with the 1990s, a focus of continued fashion fascination,” Vogue says.

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Which 90s fashion trends do you wish would make a comeback?  Leave a comment below.  Comments close after 90 days.

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Here’s the 4-1-1

This blog is a companion piece to The Rock Star’s Wife, a series about sex, family, and rock & roll.  The series has elements of chick lit, romance and erotica and is best compared to The Vagina Monologues for its frank talk of sex and its consequences.  The series follows Cassandra from her teenage years into her 40s as she navigates relationships (both romantic and platonic) — all with music playing a prominent roll.

Book one, Sexual Awakening, drops February 2023:  Teenager Cassandra Economos loves five things: Her awesome friends. Her big fat, dysfunctional, Greek family. Rock music. Her plan to move to Chicago. And Kurt Cobain.  Soon, she’ll gain another love.  Sex.  Stifled by her family’s rules, how will Cassie explore her sexuality?

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