Building a ’90s-Inspired Capsule Wardrobe? Here’s Where to Start

When we talk about the 1990s, many things come to mind: NSYNC, Friends, grunge culture… But for me, the fashion tops the list. Specifically, '90s minimalism. Personally, I can take or leave the jelly shoes and neon parachute pants that dominated certain aspects of the decade, but there's something about the pared-back ensembles from those 10 years that just hit right—and still do.

As someone who looks at grainy paparazzi shots with a pang of envy for the effortlessness on show, I started wondering what a '90s capsule wardrobe would look like in 2025. By this, I mean a selection of pieces that work seamlessly together, can be mixed and matched and aren’t tied to a specific moment in time, but have the air of my favourite fashion decade. So, whilst my selected pieces might have originated in the '90s, they feel just as wearable now.

Some pieces are obvious go-tos (hint: light-wash denim) that feel just as relevant today as they did back then; when a design defines an entire decade, it’s usually for good reason. But there are also a few nearly forgotten gems making a quiet comeback, and I couldn’t be happier to see them return.