The Bryce Style

This issue’s inspiration is Bryce Sandoval, a senior who describes his style as focused on comfort. Outside of Winter Formal Spirit Week, you can often find Bryce in baggier clothing. His staple pieces include a variety of jeans, loose-fitting pants, crewneck sweatshirts, graphic T-shirts, and an assortment of shoes.

Bryce stated that he does not base his outfits on specific trends or people; instead, he opts for a laid-back style reminiscent of the 1990s. “Sometimes I’ll come across random clothes and think, ‘Oh my God, that looks good!’” His wardrobe primarily consists of  fabrics such as cotton, polyester, denim, and linen. While Bryce mostly shops at Gap and American Eagle, he also enjoys thrifting.

Bryce spends his free time rehearsing for Lakewood Project concerts or preparing for the current musical at LHS, “Les Misérables.” When he’s not in school in casual outfits, he dresses up for each Lakewood Project concert. Trust me, his concert outfits are fire. You’ll need to attend the next Lakewood Project concert to see them for yourself—no spoilers here!

A brief introduction to teen wear in the 90s
In the 1990s, there were no ads on Instagram or TikTok pressuring teens to buy the latest micro-trends as there are today. Micro-trends are fleeting styles that last about two weeks before fading away and potentially resurfacing. For example, once popular in the 2000s, low-rise jeans attempted a comeback last year but ultimately failed, as high-rise styles remain the favored choice. To stay trendy back then, teens had to visit the mall, where they would see fellow shoppers each weekend. The primary sources of influence included the latest issue of teen magazines like Seventeen, Teen Vogue, J14, Cosmo Girl, Teen People, and Delia’s Clothing, along with episodes of popular shows or beloved movies such as Clueless, Boy Meets World, She’s All That, Beverly Hills 90210, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, as well as news about celebrities like the Spice Girls, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Britney Spears, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Will Smith.

Fast Fashion in teen wear in the 90s

Fast fashion was once built to last, not disposable. In the 1990s, teens frequently shopped at the mall, fueling a market where clothing was designed to endure. According to the  the Penn Environmental Innovations Initiative, the shift to lower-quality fabrics has driven down the cost of fast fashion items. However, inflation has also pushed prices upward. This trade-off is evident: You generally get what you pay for in clothing. In the 1990s, a $40 pair of jeans, equivalent to around $96.60 today, was made to last for years, a testament to the higher quality of fashion items at the time.

The Trends of teen wear in the 90s

When it comes to shirts, baby tees were—and still are—the go-to choice. Much like the cropped, form-fitting styles popular today, baby tees were all the rage among teenage girls. Graphic tees also gained popularity, featuring beloved childhood characters like Strawberry Shortcake or fun shapes and sayings. Sweaters and sweatshirts remain timeless staples. In the ’90s, layering a white shirt underneath so the collar peeked out was a significant trend. While this look has fallen out of favor among teens in 2025, I say we bring it back. Today, influencers recommend layering a white or black turtleneck under sweaters or sweatshirts. Additionally, wearing jackets over sweaters was a popular trend for added warmth during the colder months.

Pants trends included khakis, denim jeans, rip-away Adidas pants (a surprising throwback), and sweatpants. While khakis and rip-away pants were popular among teens in the ’90s, they have since fallen out of favor. Flared pants, inspired by the ’70s, have made a comeback in the form of jeans. Another staple from the past is JNCO jeans, which are known for their massive pockets. Although pants styles haven’t changed much in the last 30 years, our accessorizing has evolved. A notable trend in the ’90s was attaching wallets to belt loops with chains, which has since diminished in popularity and is now mainly seen only in gothic and grunge fashion.

Accessories
Butterfly clips were any teen girl’s go-to hair look in the 90s. They were a simple way to add a bit more color to an outfit and provide a bit more youthfulness. Glitter eyeshadow was a big trend for formal events or even just going to school. Yet another fun pop of color that made a teen stand out.

Musical Influences
Celebrities weren’t the only ones that influenced the fashion scene in the 90s. Music genres such as punk, rock, hip-hop, and British pop heavily influenced the fashion of the 90s. Rock and punk music contributed to the grunge style. The grunge look often comprised a flannel or overshirt, a patterned shirt underneath, and black, grey, or dark-wash jeans. This look eventually evolved into various versions of emo, alternative, and edgy fashion trends. Meanwhile, hip-hop and R&B paved the way for athletic fashion that continued from the 1980s, making biker shorts, windbreaker jackets, and scrunchies popular throughout the decade.

How 2025 Fashion Relates To 90s Fashion
Since the 30-year rule applies today, many trends from the 1990s—like slip dresses, baby tees, bucket hats, and baggier jeans—have made a comeback, making it easy to see similarities between now and then. However, one key difference between the two decades is the color palette. If you’re as interested in fashion as I am, you’ve likely noticed that since the 2020s began, colors have become significantly more muted, and the range of available colors for clothing has drastically diminished. Recently, there has been a focus on assembling a complete wardrobe of “basic” clothing items, typically available in neutral tones to facilitate mixing and matching within your collection. These basics often offer limited color options unless you shop at mass retailers like SHEIN, You’ll notice that many fashion photos from the 1990s appear more colorful—and that’s because they were!

Whether embracing bold colors, experimenting with layering, or sticking to minimalist neutrals, remember that fashion is ultimately about self-expression. Trends may come and go, but staying true to your own style—just like Bryce—never goes out of fashion.

As always, if you have suggestions for future articles or would like to be featured in one, please contact: [email protected].