How To Wear The Nineties Trend Today
Another easy way to go grunge is one of Cobain’s signature mohair knits. A cardigan can be thrown over an open shirt and band tee, or paired with corduroy for truly tactile comfort. To finish, just add the DGAF attitude.
Preppy
It’s not unusual in menswear quarters today to consider Carlton Banks a subversive style icon. Everyone knows they were supposed to idolise his cooler cousin Will, but looking back, it’s Carlton’s quiet collegiate style that grabs more than the Fresh Prince’s low-slung dungarees.
The buttoned-up Ivy League look has endured (since the fifties, in fact) largely because it is made up of timeless staples: think cashmere jumpers, navy blazers and leather boat shoes.
To adopt the trend in a way that doesn’t scream fancy dress, mix one or two preppy pieces with contemporary sportswear. A cable knit jumper with slim-fit navy chinos looks modern when worn with gleaming white tennis shoes and a well-fitting bomber. Similarly, varsity jackets can be layered with rugby shirts or polos in an all-American palette of red, white and blue. Just be sure to keep your collars turned down.
Double Denim
Acid wash. Dungarees. JNCO. It’s fair to say that denim came in for a rough ride during the nineties. Despite it all, one trend that has managed to persevere is denim-on-denim.
The Canadian tuxedo isn’t an easy look to pull off, but by and large, double denim is a look that works for all shapes and sizes if you remember to keep things simple.
The general rule of thumb is to aim for contrast between pieces. Then again, this is the nineties, no one follows rules. Though darker denim usually works well on your lower half when paired with a mid-wash jacket up top, don’t be shy about going all out on lighter shades. Those wary of the full Timberlake might consider wearing an indigo chore jacket with mid wash jeans, or a chambray shirt tucked into navy chinos.