Melodie Jeng/Getty ImagesFrom the moment Cher Horowitz stepped onto the big screen in that yellow plaid blazer and mini skirt, Clueless had us totally buggin'.
The '90s have influenced your closet more than you know, and it's time you were brought up to speed. Own a choker, denim jacket, slip dress or all three? Enjoy the education below.
Plaid Skirts
Grunge was still in its heyday come the early '90s, but as Cher beautifully put, "I don't want to be a traitor to my generation and all but I don't get how guys dress today. I mean, come on, it looks like they just fell out of bed and put on some baggy pants and take their greasy hair—ew—and cover it up with a backwards cap and like, we're expected to swoon? I don't think so."
And thus a new wave of preppy minimalist style was created by the cult classic's director and costume designer, juxtaposing the direction fashion was actually going off set. It was a true trailblazing moment—Jourdan Dunn, you now know who to thank for that skirt.
Next!
Velvet
In the '90s, most of fashion's influence came from movies and music—since street style dressing wasn't yet a thing. Velvet (crushed and uncrushed) became a big part of grunge dressing and, therefore, everyone was wearing it. (If you need an example, Google Gwyneth Paltrow at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards and you'll get an eye-full of the Tom Ford-designed Gucci suit she wore.) So thanks to the decade's revival, you'll be seeing velvet a lot this coming fall/winter season...just look at Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's gorgeous dress above.
Chokers
By now you've seen everyone from Bella Hadid to Beyoncé wear chokers—and lots of 'em. In the '90s they were mostly made of plastic (because children wore them and you don't gift gold to children), but today's options are endless. They're made with richer materials (precious metals, leather, etc.) and with embellishments like gems, studs or pendants. Whether you're for them or against them, there's no denying they'll give any outfit a more powerful, edgy and elevated look.
Baggy Denim Jackets
Denim jackets never really went away, but the specific styles of the '90s are popping back up with a vengeance—from short, cropped variations to grunge-tastic oversized types like Kim Kardashian's. Celebs and street style stars alike are taking cues from '90s icons and bringing back the piece that, at least in part, defined the decade. And just in time for fall!