The 90’s was a decade full of grunge, boy bands, potato sticks, and best of all, Patrick Swayze. I spent my teenage years obsessed with The Backstreet Boys and I loved my patent leather Air Walks. If you aren’t very well versed with 90’s baby clothing and toddler clothing fashion, read on to learn all about what was ultra-popular for babies and kids to be wearing during the Naughty Nineties. Let’s just say it was not when online baby boutiques existed that now have way better toddler clothes and baby clothes like Bitsy Bug Boutique and other online baby stores.
Tie Dye
Babies and children of all ages were dressed in a tie dye top at least one a week. These bright and bold colors were featured on anything with a surface-don’t forget hats! I literally have a picture of me at Disney World standing in front of The Magic Kingdom in a tie dye tee! Fun baby clothes, but wow.
Button Down Sweater Vests
Little children were often dressed in button down sweater vests. An older version of a tunic, if you will; these knitted vests often featured bright and bold colors, prints, and patterns. They were often worn with solid toned turtle necks and stretch pants.
Suspenders
Little boys and girls often wore suspenders with their jeans or dress pants. It was just what we did. I vaguely remember one of my friends from elementary school wearing a set of suspenders with her skirt for her school picture!
Slouchy Socks
Often worn over top of stretch pants, these ultra-long and ribbed socks were worn pushed down. Slouchy and layered, the socks were big, bulky, and a favorite accessory to put on babies, toddlers, kids, and teens.
Embellished Denim Jackets
Denim jackets got a very feminine and frilly make over in the 90’s. Pockets were lined with lace, scraps of lace, beads, sequins, and pearls were sewn sporadically around the jacket too. These coats often had an intricate design on its back, and its front was adorned with lots of pins that little girls collected over time.
Pastel Toned Trousers
Dress pants were high waisted, tapered, and also designed in pastel colors. Boys could even be seen wearing baby blue, butter yellow, and petal pink pants with an oversized sweater!
Body Suits
Onesie baby clothes and toddler clothes were huge apparently in the 90’s. Normally, a toddler outgrows this unified top, but not in the 90’s. Toddlers, kids, tweens, and teens were hopping on the body suit band wagon thanks to the fashion featured on Beverly Hills 90210. Often worn with jeans, many little girls also wore them with jean, leather, suede, or corduroy skirts.
Long Blazers
Little boys and girls often wore blazers that had a very long hemline for special occasions or when posing for family portraits. Often worn in khaki or cream, the blazer was meant to off-set dress trousers complete with a skinny, shiny belt worn by both sexes.
Thick Striped Polos
Zach Morris from Saved by the Bell certainly was a trend setter in the 90’s fashion world. Little boys were often spotted wearing long sleeved polo tops with a white collar and a couple thick stripes that sat across the chest.
One Strap Overalls
Little boys and girls were bringing some sass when wearing their overalls. Not only were they bright in color and embellished with big buttons, fringe, or other “look at me” items; but kids were only wearing them with one strap secured. The other would lag behind, looking cool but totally sloppy. This trend became a huge hit thanks to the popularity of the show, Fresh Price of Bel Air.
Ruffled Denim Dresses
Denim dresses were baby clothes stepped into and buttoned up. They had thin straps and were many times worn over top of turtlenecks and other fitted knits. The hemlines of these dresses were designed with layers (upon layers) of ruffles!
Denim on Denim
This Canadian tuxedo look was a hit with both boys and girls. Parents loved dressing their babies and kids up in denim jackets and matching denim pants or jean skirts. While comfortable, it looked slightly ridiculous, especially when little boys wore their bright white sneakers with it, or the finish of denim was dark and distressed.
MC Hammer Pants
You can’t touch this! MC Hammer pants were a huge trend in the 90’s. Baggy yet tapered at the bottoms, these beauties were often put on babies and little kids-especially for play time.
The 90’s was a time in history that had some of the worst baby clothing and toddler clothing fashion-possibly worse than the 80’s! As you get your little one dressed next time, thank heaven that you aren’t putting them in one strapped overalls or a tie dye t-shirt off set with suspenders!
