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- 25 Celebrity Fashion Moments That Defined the '90s
25 Celebrity Fashion Moments That Defined the '90s
From biker-chic leather jackets to sensual slip dresses, the ’90s were an exciting time for fashion on the red carpet. Stars like Winona Ryder and Gwyneth Paltrow defined the culture by elevating casual looks. Sexy and daring silhouettes were aplenty throughout the decade that preceded Y2K. Who could forget Princess Diana’s sleek, off-the-shoulder gown that became known as “the revenge dress” or Mariah Carey‘s high-slit skirt? And along with eye-catching cuts, punchy prints also defined the decade, from preppy plaids to wild animal prints.
In honor of this edgy time in fashion history, we walked down memory lane and rounded up 25 iconic celebrity ’90s looks that continue to influence style to this day.
Madonna in 1990
Madonna infamously passed by the Plaza Hotel in New York wearing this stylish black outfit like a true material girl. Here, she played around with textures, contrasting fishnet details with a shiny vinyl jacket. To top it off, effortless brown, round sunglasses and a dark-red lip gave her look a pop of color.
Julia Roberts in 1990
Julia Roberts went to the Golden Globes in 1990 in this boxy Diane Keaton-esque suit and returned home with a win for her role in Steel Magnolias. Completed with a purple jacquard tie, the androgynous outfit went down in history as one of Roberts’s most iconic looks.
Cindy Crawford in 1991
Model Cindy Crawford debuted this iconic deep-plunge red Versace dress at the 63rd Academy Awards in 1991.
Winona Ryder in 1991
Rivaling Beetlejuice fashion icon Lydia Deetz, Winona Ryder embodied ’90s grunge with this edgy ensemble, styling a leather jacket with a graphic tee and fitted jeans while attending the premiere of The Commitments.
Geena Davis in 1992
Geena Davis gave us ’90s princess vibes at the 64th Academy Awards with a long, ruffly dress train. The Thelma and Louise actress complemented her outfit with pearls, sheer tights, white gloves, and whimsical black shoes for a glam-punk look.
Halle Berry in 1992
Halle Berry‘s fitted strapless red dress in 1992 embodied pure elegance. The Boomerang actress wore the gown at the 24th annual NAACP Image Awards with chic drop earrings and classic black heels.
Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell in 1993
Models Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell were a stylish force to be reckoned with at London Fashion Week in 1993. Moss paired her statement fur-trimmed coat with a white blouse and gray miniskirt, while Campbell punched up her plaid dress with electric-blue thigh-high socks and platform shoes.
Selena in 1994
Just a year before her tragic death, Selena wore this dazzling crystal-covered white halter dress to the 1994 Grammys, adding a pop of color with her signature red lips.
Princess Diana in 1994
Princess Diana’s Christina Stambolian gown has infamously been dubbed “the revenge dress,” as she wore it after separating from Prince Charles. The people’s princess elevated this outfit with a pearl choker and sheer tights for an effortlessly sexy look.
Janet Jackson in 1994
Janet Jackson celebrated her sold-out concert tour in 1994 by pairing a timeless cropped turtleneck with distressed jeans for a street-chic look.
Drew Barrymore in 1995
Drew Barrymore tapped into a classic Hollywood glamour style by wearing a black dress with a sweetheart neckline at the VMAs in 1995. For a whimsical touch, she added two pretty daisies in her hair.
Alicia Silverstone in 1995
The Clueless star’s black blazer, plaid skirt, and high white socks still have us totally buggin’ decades later.
Gwyneth Paltrow in 1996
A casual-chic fashion icon, Gwyneth Paltrow matched a stylish animal-print jacket with an all-black ensemble and laid-back sneakers at the From Dusk Till Dawn premiere.
Lisa Bonet in 1996
Lisa Bonet attended The Aristocats‘ 1996 video release premiere in both an edgy and laid-back look of a brown maxi skirt paired with a silk onyx blouse. It’s clear that Zoë Kravitz gets some of her stylish sensibilities from her mom!
Mary J. Blige in 1996
Mary J. Blige wore leopard print from head to toe for her 1996 Grammys look. She accessorized in neutral black sunnies, gloves, and shoes to balance her wild ensemble.
Reese Witherspoon in 1996
Long before she launched her charming Southern fashion brand Draper James, Reese Witherspoon donned a couple of edgy outfits back in the ’90s. At the Two Days in the Valley premiere, she turned heads by pairing this red leather jacket with an all-black ensemble.
Sharon Stone in 1996
Sharon Stone kept it sleek and simple with a beautiful velvet Armani coat (and a Gap shirt) at the 1996 Academy Awards, accessorizing with a white flower and pair of earrings.
Nicole Kidman in 1997
Nicole Kidman exuded elegance with this satin chartreuse dress at the 69th Academy Awards. The intricate floral detailing and side slit added even more allure to this dazzling outfit.
Jennifer Aniston in 1997
Thin straps defined this sleek and quintessentially ’90s little black dress look that Jennifer Aniston wore at her Cosmopolitan cover party in 1997.
Mariah Carey in 1997
Mariah Carey‘s black two-piece outfit stunned at the 1997 VMAs. The thin straps on her top and heels paired beautifully with her high-slit skirt for a memorable look.
Jada Pinkett Smith in 1998
At the Return to Paradise premiere, Jada Pinkett Smith made a statement with this bold, long leather jacket, completing her look with sexy strappy heels.
Jennifer Lopez in 1998
Cowgirl chic was the main vibe of this edgy look Jennifer Lopez wore to the VMAs; it consisted of an oversize blazer, crop top, and, of course, wide-brimmed hat.
Angela Bassett in 1998
Angela Bassett looked divine in this green satin one-shoulder dress at the How Stella Got Her Groove Back premiere in 1998. The thin orange accents added a pop of contrast, and she finished the outfit with effortless strappy sandals.
Lucy Liu in 1999
The fur trimming on Lucy Liu‘s red suede coat at the Go premiere was simply iconic. The actress kept it sleek with a neutral black outfit underneath her statement outerwear.
Elizabeth Hurley in 1999
Actress and model Elizabeth Hurley walked in this stunning pink leather outfit at the Mickey Blue Eyes premiere so Elle Woods could run in Legally Blonde.