Trends We Wish Would (Or Wouldn’t) Come Back From The 90’s


Matt Graves

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What's not to love about the 90's? There are many fads from that decade that we don't miss, but there are some that we couldn't get enough of. It was the decade before Y2K became a thing and cell phones were only for the elite.

If we could travel back in time to the 90's, maybe we could have a shot at redemption with the 2000s and 2010s. You better saved you TY toys and plenty of Zimas for this one!

Fila And Champion Shoes

Sportswear brands were well-marketed in the 90's. Many people were wearing shoes made by Fila and Champion. These brands were enjoying an incredible burst of nostalgia-fueled popularity, thanks in large part to runway partnerships and retro-style branding.

While we've come a long way since those days, both brands still hold some value today.

Hypercolor Shirts

These shirts came with a cool concept. The material would change color when it got warm or cold. The only issue was that the shirts could easily get damaged. You couldn't wash them in water if it was too warm or too cool.

If you did, that was the end of your shirt.

Windbreakers

Lightweight, wind-resistant, waterproof jackets are still worn today, but they're nothing like the ones from the 90's. Windbreakers were pretty cool, and they made a heck of a fashion statement. These bad boys are slowly making a comeback.

However, it seems as though today's generation has toned down the muted colors.

Bleached Hair

The idea was to show your dark roots on purpose to go with your frosted tips. This was largely a male trend, and it was soon the haircut for boybands like NSYNC and The Backstreet Boys.

Thankfully, this hairstyle is the one that died, and it will never, ever, make a comeback.

AOL Instant Messanger

There was a time when people sent text messages, but only from the computer. AOL Instant Messenger, or AIM, was before text messaging became relevant.

It was revolutionary because teens would come home and hog the phone lines, chatting with their friends online. Oh, how far we've come since then.

Zima

The alcoholic side of the "clear beverage craze." It also brought us Crystal Pepsi, but Zima was a carbonated lemon-lime malt beverage. It was popular in the U.S., and it's still popular in Japan too.

With the emergence of seltzer beverages such as White Claw, maybe Zima is ready for a comeback.

90's TV

Each generation had its share of TV classics. The 90's had Frasier, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and Seinfeld. But, the cartoons were up there too from shows like Rugrats to Hey Arnold and The Simpsons.

It may have been better TV, but maybe it's the nostalgia that's talking.

Beanie Babies

TY's cute little creatures were full of joy. There were a ton of different varieties, and, as a bonus of the excitement we got from these, some of the discontinued or manufactured ones are now worth a ton of money.

Hopefully, you still have some Beanie Babies lying around somewhere.

JNCO Jeans

For whatever reason, people thought it was a good idea to wear these. I'm not sure if they were comfortable or not, but they certainly weren't flattering or easy to clean.

Thankfully, they're gone now, and they've been replaced by something else. Skinny jeans are the new style of choice, and are the polar opposite in every aspect except for the material.

Scrunchies

This is one 90's trend that's slowly making a comeback. Girls had collections of scrunchies in a variety of colors and patterns. A great example is the Tanner sisters from Full House.

If you didn't get your fashion advice from the Tanner clan, did you even grow up in the 90's? Making a ponytail into a fashion statement is easy.

Polly Pocket

The new version of the classic dollhouse, but cooler. There were malls, apartment buildings, and more. Plus, they were tiny enough for you to carry around too, but that was before Mattel bought them out.

They had to grow a bit in size because apparently, they were a choking hazard.

Reebok Pumps

Reebok released the pump in 1989. The shoe came with an air chamber that you could pump up. Reebok really went out of the way to target the athletic audience, and made sure many NBA stars were seen wearing the shoes.

The company still makes these shoes today, and other brands have come out with their own version.

Troll Dolls

These dolls were unique toys that took the world by storm. They were easy to manufacture since they were just pieces of plastic. It's not a real shock that they were mass-produced.

But, the argument here is, are they cuter than Furby's? I think they're just as creepy, but luckily, the couldn't talk.

Erasers With Two Sides

These erasers were in every classroom. The red side got rid of your graphite mistakes, and the blue side erased ink stains. However, we all know that it didn't work at all. It just made one ugly blue botch on the paper.

The more you used it, the worse it got.

The Rachel Hair

It was the second season of Friends where Jennifer Aniston first sported this haircut. Women were going crazy for "The Rachel." The character and the hair became an icon for the decade.

Unfortunately, the look did not make it past the 90's, despite the show having a big fan following.

Tamagotchi

Raise your hand if you had these little digital pets? It sucked when one died now and then, but Tamagotchi's were a favorite toy. Today, there's a Tamagotchi app, so you don't have to worry about having your digital pet die.

They can be with you, just be sure to feed them!

90's Haircuts

90's hair was pretty bad, Google it. Every member of NSYNC had their interesting 90s haircut. But, Justin Timberlake was like the Golden God of the bowl cut and curly hair that looks like noodles.

Thank goodness this was from the 90's. JT has come a long way since then.

Pogs

These aren't coasters, they're little cardboard discs. Originating from Hawaii from a drink called POG, the caps were found inside of bottles of juice. They were so in-demand that companies sold them without juice.

Soon afterward, they were no longer cool and the juice was totally forgotten. We still have the slammers though.

Rollerblades

Or, maybe call them inline skates. We all know they're rollerblades, thanks to the company that made them a commodity in the 90's. Outside of hockey players or skaters, not too many people use them today.

Rollerblades are fun to use, and they're great for getting around the neighborhood too.

Furby

Released in 1998, the cute critters aren't your average owls or hamsters because they're a mix of both. They were so popular to the point where they were decommissioned in 2002. Luckily, they were manufactured again in 2005.

Hasbro has since released an updated Furby with LCD eyes and a mobile app.