What to wear to a 90s concert: How to pick the best 90s clothes for an amazing night out!

by Alice Browne

So, there I was, super stoked, right? I managed to snag tickets to this massive 90’s throwback concert – we’re talking all the big names I used to blast on my walkman. Pure excitement. Then it hit me, like a ton of bricks… what in the world was I going to wear? Seriously, a 90’s concert. My mind kinda blanked for a second.

What to wear to a 90s concert: How to pick the best 90s clothes for an amazing night out!

My First Awkward Thoughts

Honestly, my first thoughts went to some pretty cringey stuff I actually wore back then. I’m talking about those hypercolor shirts that changed color when you got sweaty – gross, right? Or those massive JNCO jeans that could hide a small family. Yeah, maybe not the vibe I was going for this time around. I remember one specific school dance, I think it was ’94, I wore this awful crushed velvet babydoll dress with chunky black shoes. Thought I was the bee’s knees. Looking back at the photos? Oof. Big yikes. So, this time, I really wanted to nail it without looking like I was trying too hard, or worse, like a total fashion victim from my own youth.

Figuring Out the Vibe

I started by just thinking about what the 90s felt like. It wasn’t just one look, you know? You had your grunge, your pop, your hip-hop. I wasn’t about to go full Spice Girls, platform boots and all, not my style anymore. And while I love me some Nirvana, head-to-toe grunge felt a bit much for a big outdoor concert.

So, I did what any sensible person would do. I dug through my own closet. Not gonna lie, I was hoping to find some long-lost gem. Found a few old band t-shirts, but most were pretty faded or had mysterious holes. Classic. Then I thought about hitting the thrift stores. Sometimes you can find some real gold in those places, but I was a bit short on time.

Putting My Outfit Together

Okay, here’s what I started pulling together as options:

  • The Denim Situation: Definitely needed some denim. I thought about ripped jeans – a classic. Not too shredded, just a bit worn. I also considered a denim jacket, because those were everywhere.
  • The Top Half: A good band tee from the era would be perfect, but finding an original one that fits is tough. So, I looked for something with that vibe. Flannel shirts also screamed 90s, especially tied around the waist. That was a strong contender. I also thought about a simple graphic tee with a kind of retro-looking print.
  • Shoes, Shoes, Shoes: This was crucial. Combat boots were a big yes. Or some classic sneakers, like Converse or maybe some old-school Adidas. Definitely no stilettos for a concert, 90s or not. Comfort is key when you’re gonna be standing and dancing.
  • Accessories (or lack thereof): I decided to keep it simple. Maybe a choker if I was feeling brave, but definitely no mood rings this time. A simple baseball cap, worn forwards or backwards, felt right.

My Final Choice and How It Went

Alright, so after a bit of mixing and matching, here’s what I actually landed on. I went with some slightly loose-fit, faded jeans – not full-on baggy, but comfortable. I paired that with a darker, plaid flannel shirt, but I wore it open over a plain black t-shirt. For shoes, I dusted off my trusty old Dr. Martens. Classic, comfy, and definitely 90s. I topped it off with a simple black baseball cap, worn forwards. Nothing too over the top, but it definitely felt like a nod to the era.

What to wear to a 90s concert: How to pick the best 90s clothes for an amazing night out!

And you know what? It felt great. I was comfortable the whole night, could jump around, and I didn’t feel like I was in a costume. It was just… easy. I even got a few “cool shirt” comments on the flannel, which was nice. It just worked. It felt authentic to me, and not like I was just ticking off boxes on a 90s checklist.

So yeah, that was my little journey into dressing for a 90s concert. It’s funny how you can overthink these things, but sometimes just going with what feels good and brings back a bit of that old-school vibe is the way to go. No need for hypercolor, thank goodness.

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