I'm a Child of the '90s, and These 25 Dresses Make Me So Nostalgic

Raise your hand if, when you were younger, you wanted to be just like Rachel Green when you grew up. I still do, if I'm honest, and I'm exactly the age she was in the pilot episode of Friends. Besides her quick wit and signature hairdo, Rachel's outfits alone deemed her worthy of icon status. Her dress sense captured exactly what was great about 1990s fashion. Think simple, flattering silhouettes and a moody palette of chocolate brown and black punctuated with brighter neutrals.

If you hadn't heard, '90s minimalism has been solidified as one of the biggest autumn/winter trends by designer labels like Bottega Veneta and Etro, so now is the perfect time to look to our fashion-savvy sitcom friend for style guidance. And dresses feel like an obvious place to start, given that Ralph Lauren's finest protégé was partial to a form-fitting midi.

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(Image credit: @sophiabrenn)

I love the addition of the pendant belt here.

There are a few telltale signs that a dress has been influenced by this era. First, there's the neckline. If you spot spaghetti straps, a cowl-neck or a racerback, let the feelings of nostalgia commence. A dress that hits the 1990s minimalism mark will be light on the details and embellishments (think of the iconic slip dress), so the less fussy, the better. That being said, check prints, velvet and chiffon ruffles have a place here, too.

But why describe the aesthetic when I can show you exactly what I mean? I've picked out the best '90s-inspired dresses you can buy now—scroll on to see and shop.

Shop '90s-Inspired Dresses

Next up: The 9 Most Expensive-Looking Pieces on the High Street This Week

Freelance Fashion Editor

Bébhinn Campbell is an Edinburgh-based fashion and lifestyle writer and editor. She started her first blog at age 14 and went on to intern at print and digital publications in Berlin and London, including Dazed Confused and Indie magazine.

A job at a fashion startup took Bébhinn from Ireland to Scotland in 2019, where she now works as a freelance journalist and copywriter covering everything from travel and interiors to styling advice. As a contributor toBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , Bébhinn always keeps her eyes peeled for emerging trends and looks worth writing about. She prides herself on her ability to cut through the noise and identify solid investment buys, exciting new brands and fresh takes on classic design.

In her spare time, Bébhinn enjoys perusing Edinburgh’s best vintage shops, working through her out-of-control book collection and watching dog reels on Instagram.