Somewhere between nostalgia and genuine good taste, the ’90s keep pulling the fashion world back in. Whether you call it the Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy effect, fueled in part by Ryan Murphy’s Love Story, or simply the cyclical nature of fashion, the internet has gone all in on ’90s nostalgia. The proof isn’t just on TikTok, either.
Nowhere was it felt more acutely than on the fall 2026 runways, where, after seasons dominated by early-aughts references, designers and style stars shifted their focus back to the decade that keeps giving. The interesting part is how many of these revivals trace directly back to specific actresses and the characters they played. Four looks, in particular, are impossible to ignore right now.
The Slip Dress, Courtesy of Kate Moss and Gwyneth Paltrow
Elegant, minimalist, and sexy without trying too hard, the slip dress is one of the most enduring ’90s fashion pieces, originally popularized by Kate Moss and Gwyneth Paltrow, with today’s versions coming in silk, satin, and sheer layers. It was never really a loud trend. It just worked, and that quiet authority is exactly why it’s back.
Slip dresses and lingerie-inspired pieces are once again gracing both runways and real-life wardrobes, with the ’90s favorite being reimagined with lace trims, bold colors, and modern layering techniques, making these dresses perfect for both day and night. Slip dresses were everywhere on the fall 2026 runways, appearing in latex at Loewe, paired with snakeskin gloves and ponyhair boots at Khaite, and shown under leather moto jackets at Zadig et Voltaire. The silhouette has gone from nostalgic to genuinely current, and the styling possibilities feel broader than they ever did the first time around.
Jennifer Aniston’s Minimalist Separates and the Rachel Green Effect
Jennifer Aniston was one of the ultimate ’90s fashion icons, and as Friends’ Rachel Green and one of the biggest A-listers in the world, she served up some of the hottest looks of the era, from denim overalls to cropped sweaters to plaid skirts. Her off-screen wardrobe was no less considered. Her style evolution mirrors her career, and unlike so many celebrities who cater to the changing whims of fashion, her enduring appeal lies in its relatability and consistency.
On duty as Rachel from Friends or off-duty as Jennifer Aniston herself, her look has been loved for decades, and a long sleeve top teamed with a matching maxi skirt, minimalist strappy heels, and a clutch bag is true to 1997 but could quite easily be an outfit from 2025. Jennifer Aniston still wears certain ’90s trends today that she loved back then, and stars like Naomi Campbell and Gwyneth Paltrow were ’90s icons who gave master classes in minimalist dressing that people are actively copying again. The knee-length skirt, the sheer blouse tucked into straight-leg denim, the tonal separates in grey or cream: all of it is back, and all of it reads instantly fresh.
Alicia Silverstone’s Clueless Plaid and the Coordinated Skirt Suit
The yellow plaid blazer and mini-kilt worn by Silverstone in Clueless was actually created by Jean Paul Gaultier for his Fall 1994 collection. That single outfit became one of cinema’s most referenced fashion moments. Today, whenever a runway designer even hints at a yellow check pattern, the headlines blare “Clueless Plaid Is Back,” which happened with Versace’s 2018 collection, Dior’s 2022 show, and R13’s 2021 collection.
The coordinated skirt suit is coming back to challenge the wide-leg trouser, and the look is very Ally McBeal meets Princess Diana – which is another way of saying it’s very much Cher Horowitz, too. The fall 2026 collections offered a modern take on the codes that made the Clinton-era aesthetic so recognizable, and Miu Miu decorated a majority of models with retro zigzag headbands – the same accessory closely associated with the Clueless era. When Alicia Silverstone herself stepped out on the red carpet at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards in a striking red look, immediate comparisons to Cher Horowitz followed.
Julia Roberts’ Oversized Suiting and the Borrowed-From-the-Boys Silhouette
The suit that Julia Roberts wore to the 1990 Golden Globes was a men’s Armani suit, and oversized silhouettes are huge for the current season, with fashion editors recommending browsing menswear for the perfect oversized fit. What felt effortlessly cool on Roberts in 1990 has since evolved into one of the defining shapes of contemporary dressing, proof that certain instincts age surprisingly well.
In the mid-2010s, the rise of androgynous brands like The Frankie Shop, The Row, and Toteme changed the way people thought about tailoring for women’s bodies, with blazers featuring big shoulders and boxier fits, trousers slouchier and puddling at the ankle. Whether it’s a Jennifer Aniston-style animal-print bag or slouchy suiting as seen on Julia Roberts, these are the ’90s throwback trends set to make a comeback in 2026. The key difference now is that the proportions feel even more intentional, with designers like Marc Jacobs citing the era directly. Marc Jacobs cited ’90s Helmut Lang, Prada, and Calvin Klein as references for his fall 2026 collection, which consisted of slim pencil skirts, button-down shirts, and jackets cut close to the body.
What’s striking about all four of these revivals is how little translation they require. The slip dress, the minimalist separates, the coordinated plaid suit, the oversized men’s blazer: none of them need explaining or updating to feel current. Fashion is cyclical, but the ’90s feel permanent, and whether you’re sourcing vintage at a thrift store or investing in modern reworks, these iconic looks aren’t just back – they never really left. That staying power, more than any trend cycle, is what makes them worth paying attention to.
