Why Versace, Valentino and Balmain looked to the 1990s for their spring/summer collections
Bella Hadid donned 1990s-inspired looks on the catwalk for Off-White, a green dress akin to Jennifer Lopez’s 2001 frock was a Versace show-stopper and Balmain packed vintage references into shows
Just a few years ago, it might have seemed like heresy to suggest fashion from the 1990s would ever make a comeback. Grunge plaid, pleated skirt suits, crushed velvet, T-shirts under slip dresses, overalls – all of these styles ran rampant back then. The inspiration came from fashion icons who ranged from glam first-name-only supermodels to the personality-infused Spice Girls, whose associated fashion statements veered from simple white button-down shirts to Union flag-emblazoned rompers. And yet, as the spring runway shows proved, the 1990s are definitely back.
This season, the 1990s tribute reached critical mass. There were polka dots and plenty of leather, lingerie-inspired slip dresses and body-con numbers, as well as frocks cut on the bias and draped oh-so-artfully.