Following the conspicuous consumption of the 1980s, the 1990s begun with a more subdued and reflective mood. Designers such as Calvin Klein and Donna Karan used nude colours and lightweight, casual fabrics that reflected the introspective feeling of the decade in the lead-up to the new millennium. Music once again influenced fashion, as the 'grunge' phenomenon of Seattle and bands such as Nirvana provided inspiration for a punk-hippie look, which combined heavy Doc Martens with long flowing skirts, tie-dye, neutral make-up and braided hair.
The other major silhouette was the blazer in its various forms - teamed up with a white or denim shirt and jeans for casual wear à la Ralph Lauren, or as a trousersuit for the workplace à la Giorgio Armani.
With the influence of Japanese designers such as Michiko Koshino, Oriental styles of all kinds also became popular during the 1990s, from the cheongsam dress to mandarin collars on suits. Oriental motifs continued to adorn combat trousers and tops in the late 1990s. Technological fabrics such as Lycra and Tencel became widely used.
The rise and rise of rap music also helped sportswear designers such as Tommy Hilfiger and popular high-street sports names such as Nike and Adidas made their mark on the wider fashion world. In the early 90s, ski pants, leggings, cycling shorts, Bermuda shorts and ice-skating skirts were all popular. Later, shellsuits, puffa jackets and fleece jackets previously worn only my mountaineers made their mark.
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