90s hip hop fashion began in city neighborhoods across the USA. People wore baggy jeans, soft velour tracksuits, and large sports jerseys with Timberland boots. Gold bling, bucket hats, and loud tees showed their style. This style changed how people dressed everywhere and still shows up in clothes today.
In the 1990s, hip-hop stars wore big Timberland boots, baggy sweatpants, warm hoodies, and loose dungarees. Musicians like Run-D.M.C., Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, N.W.A., Biggie Smalls, Ice Cube, and Aaliyah showed these clothes in their music videos and on stage.
In New York City, fresh sportswear flooded the streets, creating enviable looks seen in films like 8 Mile, All Eyez On Me, and Straight Outta Compton. Young fans watched these movies and proudly copied the distinctive bold silhouettes and bright colors, turning 90s hip-hop fashion into a worldwide trend.
Hip-hop fashion for women during the 90s
In the 90s, Hip Hop fashion for women was cool and bold. Girls like Da Brat wore baggy jeans and strong boots like Timberlands. They added lip gloss to keep it a bit girly. This style mixed tough and soft in a fun way.
In the 90s, hip-hop fashion for girls had two styles. Kimora Lee Simmons wore a fancy and feminine look. But Eve and Lauryn Hill kept their clothes simple and conservative. Both styles had a big influence on how girls dressed in hip-hop.
90s Hip Hop Fashion: The Essentials
All you want to learn about 90s hip hop fashion, from famous styles to hidden gems.
Timberland Boots
In the 1990s, the Timberland boot was a staple shoe with its classic tan colorway. People saw that New York’s drug dealers wore the Timberland boot because it was sturdy, warm, and dry for long street nights in cold weather.
Then rappers started wearing them, and soon everyone did too. Biggie, Tupac, and Aaliyah wore them in shows and music videos.
Dungarees
In the 90s, dungarees became a cool fashion choice. Stars like Will Smith, Tupac, TLC, and The Fugees wore these denim looks in shows and videos. Dungarees were made for work, but later people wore them for fun and style.
Bucket Hat/ Kangol hats
In the ’90s, hip-hop fans loved Kangol hats. LL Cool J made them cool by wearing them on camera. The hat gave a nice finishing touch to his clothes. It was a big success and became a cool fashion trend.
In the ’90s, LL Cool J made Kangol hats a popular trend in hip-hop fashion by wearing them with PUMA shirts and gold chains. Many fans copied his look after seeing him in music videos. Even Ice Cube talked about how strong this style was.
Bucket hats were a cheaper and fun version of Kangol hats because they had an affordable price tag. Now, people wear them with tracksuits and cool streetwear.
You can also explore the vibrant and expressive world of 90s rave fashion that influenced many hip hop looks of the decade.
Plaid Shirts and jackets
Plaid and flannel shirts were loved in the ’90s. These oversized styles were a staple piece in hip-hop fashion. Rappers like Snoop Dogg wore them a lot, and kids started wearing them too because they were comfy and looked cool.
In 2021, flannels came back in style and became popular again. People now style them with jeans or wear them over hoodies to stay warm and look cool.
Luxury Tracksuits
In the 90s, people started wearing tracksuits made by brands like FILA, Kappa, and Sergio Tacchini. These tracksuits were soft and shiny, made from velour and silk. Big branding on the front made them look cool.
Dapper Dan was a designer from Harlem who made fake outfits that looked like Gucci and Versace. He made shiny tracksuits for rappers that looked like real expensive ones.
Puffy Jackets
In the 90s, people wore insulated jackets from The North Face and Helly Hansen to stay warm while living the street life in chilly cities like New York. These jackets were thick, warm, and looked cool. Many kids and rappers wore them as part of the hip-hop style.
Down jackets were made to stay warm, not to look cool. In the 90s, East Coast rappers wore puffy jackets, Timberland boots, and Champion hoodies.
In the 90s, people wore Timberland boots, Champion hoodies, and beanies as part of their everyday style. But with hip-hop’s help, they made it look good, turning simple clothes into cool fashion.
Clarks Wallabees
In ‘90s fashion, the Wu-Tang Clan made a big impact on hip-hop fashion by wearing Clarks Wallabees. These shoes had a moccasin shape and were made of soft suede. Their understated style looked simple but became very cool.
In hip-hop fashion, the Wu-Tang Clan wore Clarks Wallabees when they made their album Enter the Wu-Tang. Their style was simple but unique. They rocked these shoes and changed how people looked at dress in music. This new look redefined fashion in the ‘90s.
Baggy T-shirts & graffiti
In the 90s, kids in NYC wore baggy T-shirts, oversized pants, and a big chain to look cool. They loved wearing strong boots like Timberlands. Bright graffiti on the walls made the streets full of color and style.
Graffiti and printed T-shirts were ways hip-hop showed art. They used bold colors, fun patterns, and cool styles to stand out. It was a simple way to share their feelings without speaking.
In hip-hop, people used to wear baggy T-shirts, but now they wear loose ones that aren’t too big. Chains are still part of the style. This shows hip-hop fashion keeps changing but stays strong.
Air Jordans
Air Jordans became very popular and started a big sneaker culture. When a new colorway comes out, it sells fast, and people resell it for more money. Today, even luxury sneakers follow this cool fashion, and everyone loves the big drop days.
In 1984, Michael Jordan and Nike made the first Air Jordan sneaker for basketball. It was his special signature shoe, and many people loved it. The shoe became super popular and changed how people saw sneakers.
Nike made the Air Jordan shoes, and they became super popular in sneakerhead culture. A cool ad with Spike Lee made the shoes even more iconic.
Conclusion
The bold and creative spirit of 90s hip hop fashion changed how people dressed, mixed styles, and expressed themselves. From baggy jeans and flashy jewelry to sneakers and signature looks, 90s hip hop fashion continues to inspire trends and street style all over the world today.