The idea of having a “90’s Summer” has been floating around the last few years, and I think it comes from two things: a longing for the nostalgia of our own childhoods now that so many millennials are parents, and a bit of an overcorrection to the iPad generation many kids are growing up in. At the same time, 90’s style influence is still going strong, and we’re seeing it all over fashion trends and embraced by the next generation, too. Personally, I’m all in on this 90’s love, and I’ve been adding touches of “90’s prep” to my wardrobe, as well as doing small things to help myself and my kids experience a 90’s style summer.
Five ways I’m adding 90’s style to my current wardrobe:
Crew socks are a total 90’s staple, and I’m fully on board. I found a few great pairs with stripes that give that throwback look and are functional. I’m mostly wearing them with tennis shoes, and if I’m feeling bold I’ll pair them with boat shoes.
Dad sneakers have been back for a while, and if you haven’t tried the trend, I highly recommend grabbing a pair of New Balances ASAP. I got the New Balance 327s (my favorite!) last year, and I’m honestly shocked at how they’ve become my most-worn shoes by a mile.
Bike shorts are comfortable, flattering, and can be styled both inside and outside the gym. I tend to wear my inside the gym mostly (with crew socks!), but I love the Princess Diana style of pairing them with an oversized sweatshirt for errands as well.
What’s 90’s prep without a good polo? I’ve gone through many versions over the years, but lately I’m into looser fits and wearing one under a sweatshirt for a retro layered look. I especially love the ones from Land’s End as they’re affordable, can be monogrammed, and I love their sleeveless version for layering.
Embracing 90’s color palettes has been so fun. I’m loving primary colors for that old-school summer Ralph Lauren vibe, and also pairing jewel tones with brights for a more playful throwback style. I saw this Lilly Pulitzer top in a store last week and the 90’s colors were catching my eye so much so I ended up ordering it.
Bonus Tip: How you style these pieces matters. Throw a sweater over your shoulders or around your waist, layer a white tee under a button-down, go for looser fits, add a headband or bucket hat, etc. For summer, I’ve been sometimes swapping in a rugby shirt over the shoulders instead of a sweater for some added interest.
How I’m embracing the spirit of a 90’s summer:
Limiting TV. Back in the spring, I got so tired of how much TV we were watching that I ranted about it to anyone who would listen. So I decided to ditch streaming networks for the summer. That said, I’m not an “all or nothing” kind of person, as we still have the (free) PBS Kids channel for occasional watching. But I just didn’t see the point of paying for every subscription. Joe and I have been reading before bed instead and honestly don’t miss it. After summer, we’ll reassess and maybe pick one streaming service to keep. For now, the break has been refreshing for the whole family.
Embracing 90’s hobbies! When I went to camp as a kid, I remember being taught how to make those little beaded gecko keychains and having no idea what I was doing. Fast forward to now, I hosted a girls’ night recently where we relearned how to make them, and it was so much fun. I had beads left over and started making more keychains during my downtime to give to friends and family. Even Free People is selling them now, so naturally, I made my own dupe. It’s been really enjoyable making something with my hands and having my older daughter make them alongside me.
Lots of time outdoors. I have the 1000 Hours Outside movement to thank for this, but honestly, my best childhood memories are of spending endless, unstructured hours outside. I grew up in the country with ponds, land, and animals, and I used my imagination to fill the days. Now, I’m trying to give my own kids that same experience. We’re outside all day long, and I’m letting my older daughter ride around the block with friends or hang in backyards without me hovering quite so much.
Taking Fewer Photos (And Being Okay With That). With an iPhone, it’s easy to snap so many photos and never miss a moment of your kid’s life. But what if we did miss a few? I’m working on not documenting everything. If I take a cute picture, I’m letting myself put the phone down and soak in the moment. Still a work in progress, but I’ve been loving the rise of digital cameras. I’ve also started bringing out my Polaroid when the kids are playing with friends, and it’s been such a fun way to capture memories.
Slowing Down Time
Time flies when we’re both busy and glued to our phones. So I’m doing what I can to make summer feel slower: keeping the calendar lighter, staying off my phone when we’re outside, and taking things at a slower pace. It’s brought me a lot of joy and made the days feel longer. Old me loved a packed schedule, but now, I love having nothing on the calendar but whatever we feel like doing.
Whether it’s in how I dress or how I parent, leaning into a 90’s summer has brought back a sense of simplicity and fun that I didn’t realize I missed. It’s not about recreating the past perfectly, it’s about pulling the best parts of it into the present. If my kids look back and remember this summer as one where we played outside all day, wore cool socks, and made bead keychains at the kitchen table, I’ll consider that a huge win.