The fashion

Fashion in the 90’s was an eclectic mix of grunge, Goth, neon and preppy styles. The earlier part of the decade saw parachute pants and florescent colors. However, the most memorable trends came from the alternative grunge scene, when most of America’s youth preferred plaid flannels and jeans — in stark contrast to the big, glamorous fashions of the 80’s. Teens also began wearing baggy jeans, beanies, baseball hats and tennis shoes — a look that echoed an easy-going, casual style.

For the 20-something, Tommy Hilfiger brought a fresh preppy look with navy blazers, straight-legged blue jeans and crisp white t-shirts. With denim a staple, designers created several types of jackets and jeans in a variety of washes — from sandblasted and acid to stonewash — all of which remained popular throughout the decade. Many also experimented with the Goth look by coloring their hair in bright colors, such as fuchsia, green and blue and wearing dark makeup and black clothing.

A friendly phenomenon

Look of the 90’s: Jennifer Aniston’s character, Rachel Green, from the sitcom Friends, created a frenzy with her shoulder-length, bouncy, layered locks. Women all over the world requested the “Rachel” cut, and the style was even compared to Farah Fawcett’s famous feathered do from Charlie’s Angels.

Recreate it today: These days, the Rachel lives on with women continually asking for the layered look. To get this classic cut, request the Rachel with short and long layers, especially pieces framing the face. In order to maintain the look at home — which showcases tons of shine and volume — hair products are a must.

For an extra, all-day lift, work Oscar Blandi Volume Spray throughout damp hair, especially at the roots. Loaded with amino acids and wheat protein, this product will add a bouncy lift and fortify the hair follicles, creating long-lasting fullness.

To secure your layers, try Alterna Hemp with Organics Sheer Pomade. This nutritious product is enriched with hemp seed oil and a special enzymetherapy complex that hydrates the hair and protects it from breakage. Add a nickel-size drop to the palm of your hand and work it through the ends of your layers to create a defined and textured result.

The Rachel wouldn’t be the same without sleek shine to finish the look. For a natural polish, use the Alterna Hemp Spray Shine. Made with sweet orange peel and healthy amino acids, this lightweight spray will help to manage and maintain your layered locks.

Back to beauty basics

Look of the 90’s: The era exhibited an understated, natural kind of beauty with neutral shades and a tiny touch of color for a healthy glow. Makeup palettes were simple, offering two to three shades instead of today's five or six. Foundation and powder commonly came in a matte-neutral, almost porcelain-like formula. Blush arrived in a liquid-to-powder form (a new product of the era) and was lightly painted on the apples of the cheeks for a rosy, subtle glow.

Minimal and muted shadows like earthy green, blue, charcoal and brown were highlighted with thin black eyeliner. Some women added a hint of shimmer or glitter to the corner of the eye. Lips — the only part of the face that received vibrant, bold colors — wore shades of red or mauve.

Recreate it today: For today’s modern beauty, offset the eyes and lips with a smooth pressed powder that creates a matte finish. Apply it evenly to face and neck for full coverage.

To mimic the muted, earthy shadows of the 90’s, try Stila Eye-Shadow Duos in Seafoam, Golden Nude and Mara Samba. Remember to keep the eyes defined, yet subtle. Start by covering the entire eye with a lighter shadow; complete the look using a darker color in the corners and then smudge for a smoky effect. Finish with black eyeliner and two coats of mascara.

To translate the bold look of the lips, consider similar shades in a gloss. Try Philosophy Supernatural Lip Gloss in Mauve, an ultra-moisturizing gloss that's bright and fresh looking, but soft and simple at the same time. Also try Colorscience Lip Candy Glaze in Chocolate Covered Cherry, a lightweight formula that adds a deep red luster to the lips. It even has a gold sparkle to it, staying true to the 90’s discreet use of shimmer.