The 20 Best Hip-Hop Fashions From The ’90s
To this day, ’90s fashion continues to be a constant source of inspiration—from the resurgence of Doc Martens to Drake’s recent Dada Supreme steez in his “No New Friends” video. Whether you preferred the preppy style seen in 1995’s Clueless, or donned your baggiest jeans hoping to become the next member of Wu-Tang, it’s safe to say that the ’90s has officially made its way back around into our closets.
Here at Green Label, we’ve noticed the trend for a while now. That’s why we’ve decided to count off 20 of the most memorable trends in hip-hop of that decade—from brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Karl Kani, to staple pieces like overalls and neon Nike Air Max 95s. Just try to not get too nostalgic on us while reading this.
Oversized—Everything
In the ’90s, there was only one rule when it came to fashion: the baggier the better. Both guys and girls opted for the 2XL tee or 42x42 jeans when it came to shopping. Even though we’re currently in a “skinny jean era,” the added comfort and room to breathe that baggy clothes provide can’t be denied.
Lugz
Every WWF/WWE fan is familiar with those throwback Lugz ads. The brand was only second to Timberland when it came to reliably rugged boots that also doubled as a fashion statement. The thick, sturdy sole definitely was the attention-grabbing feature.
Ski Goggles
Although most people who rocked this style lived thousands of miles away from an actual ski slope, goggles were still a major cranium accessory throughout the ’90s. Functionality-wise, we’re not sure what people were thinking back then. However, they did have a sort of cool factor—especially if you had a pair of polarized lenses.
Bandanas
Bandanas catered to both the city and the suburbs. Are they best look? No, but they will come in handy if you work up a sweat.
Hair Picks
All the bros with ’fros can relate to this one. Back in the ’90s, the proper hair pick mattered just as much as finding that perfect pair of sneakers to match your fit. Although it’s not seen as much now, we wouldn’t be surprised if Questlove brought them back.
Windbreaker Sweatsuits
Granted, you could never be low-key when moving around in the swishy material of a windbreaker, but the athletic appearance it gave you made that a minor barrier to get over. The right color—or rocking your favorite team—made it cool to be a walking noise machine.
Starter Jackets
There was no better way to show love to your favorite team in the ’90s, as well as gain major style cred, than with an ill Starter jacket. If the satin finish wasn’t enough to reel you in, the overall varsity appeal did the job.
Snapback Caps
Snapbacks are probably the biggest trend from the ’90s to make a current comeback. Before everyone and their mom started rocking these recently, only hip-hop heavyweights like Tupac—and members of your local Junior PeeWee baseball team—were up on this trend. The next time you throw on your latest purchase, pay a little homage to the generation that inspired that style of headgear.
Nose Rings
While ladies were borrowing trends from men’s fashion, the guys were also dipping into their girl’s stuff—particularly their jewelry chest. Tupac was the main dude who made it acceptable for guys to get parts of their face pierced, other than their ears. The nose piercing was cool-yet-subtle, but definitely not for everyone. As with anything, all trends come back around though. Take Chris Brown’s current nose piercing for example.
Cross Colours
Marketed as “clothing without prejudice,” Carl Jones’ Cross Colours brand helped create a fashion platform that was bold in both color and social outreach. The brand will forever be remembered for their powerful messages through fashion—as well as some pretty dope African-inspired urban apparel.
COOGI Sweaters
Whether it was Bill Cosby or The Notorious B.I.G. who put you on, there’s no denying that if you wanted a high-quality sweater, COOGI was the brand you wanted. The eclectic woven pattern gave it massive appeal, but the associated street cred was also a pretty cool incentive as well.
Nike Air Max 95
As far as sneakers are concerned, the 95s will forever hold a special place in the minds of those who were hip to the Air Max collection. Designed with the human anatomy in mind (yes, that’s why the back panel resembles a human spine), the Air Max 95 will go down as one of the most stylish, and comfortable, sneakers of the ’90s—maybe even of all time.
Menswear—For Women
TLC, Aaliyah, and Mary J. Blige all made it cool to rock boyfriend jeans—even before they had an actual name for them. Providing added comfort, as well as a way to not be objectified by men by wearing tight-fitting apparel, women rocked menswear sometimes better than the dudes! Major shout-out to the ladies on that one.
Flannel
Alternative kids know exactly where we’re going with this one. From the Nirvana-obsessed fans to the skate crews all the the way to hip-hop heads, you weren’t official unless you owned at least one flannel shirt in your closet. There was also a specific style you had to follow: Never ironed, preferably tied around the waist, and always worn unbuttoned.
Nike Air Force 1
Call them “White-on-Whites” or “Uptowns”. Either way, you’ll probably never find quite an iconic sneaker silhouette. Only a selected few sneakers can be considered a classic. These are one of them, for sure.
Karl Kani
Call it “The Originator.” From Pac to Puffy, Karl Kani ads featured some of the decade’s biggest power players in hip-hop—which in turn influenced an entire generation. As the first clothing company to successfully merge hip-hop and fashion on a grand level, Karl Kani will forever go down as an icon in ’90s urban fashion.
Overalls/Jumpers
Overalls proved that “onesies” weren’t just for toddlers. The coolest thing about these, however, was the various ways you could rock them. One strap on or one strap off? The possibilities were endless, and provided a platform for individuality. Overalls definitely need an updated comeback for 2014.
Tommy Hilfiger
No brand in the ’90s had more of a global appeal than Tommy Hilfiger. From prep to sport, Hilfiger had all bases covered. Even R&B music heavyweights like Usher and Aaliyah were brought on to broaden the range of Hilfiger consumers—and it worked.
Jordan Brand
Look down at your feet. There’s a 90 percent chance you have on a pair of Jordans. Since the beginning days of Tinker Hatfield’s iconic Air Jordan III design—and over a dozen other releases as well—Jordan Brand has continuously given us a sneaker that has proven to stand the test of time. Simply put, there’s a retro pair of [INSERT JORDAN HERE] waiting to be made for your grandson’s son.
Timberland
Consider these the premiere boot to ever grace the footwear market. The design of Timberland boots—particularly the 6-Inch Premium—made it easy for dressing up or simply flexing on the block. Even today, the appeal of a good pair of Timbs has yet to die down, and seems to just be getting better with age.
To this day, ’90s fashion continues to be a constant source of inspiration—from the resurgence of Doc Martens to Drake’s recent Dada Supreme steez in his “No New Friends” video. Whether you preferred the preppy style seen in 1995’s Clueless, or donned your baggiest jeans hoping to become the next member of Wu-Tang, it’s safe to say that the ’90s has officially made its way back around into our closets. Here at Green Label, we’ve noticed the trend for a while now. That’s why we’ve decided to count off 20 of the most memorable trends in hip-hop of that decade—from brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Karl Kani, to staple pieces like overalls and neon Nike Air Max 95s. Just try to not get too nostalgic on us while reading this.