# How is men's fashion different now than in the 1990's? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 16, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009 "2008-11-16T17:42:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009/1 "2008-11-16T17:42:16Z")
Links to photos would be helpful to illustrate the difference. ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009/2 "2008-11-16T17:55:23Z")
Stuff was a lot baggier then. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009/3 "2008-11-16T18:33:15Z")
In terms of what regular guys actually wear, I can’t see that there’s been much change over the past 15 years or so. I work at a university, and the male students seem to dress much the same as guys did back when I was in high school. (The GIRLS look totally different, and wear things that one wouldn’t have been seen dead in back in the '90s.) I’ve been wondering for years when the whole baggy pants thing for guys is going to go out. I don’t think I’ve seen quite as much low-riding in recent years as was common in the past, but while in the '90s guys wore long, baggy shorts that were about knee length, today they can wear long, baggy “shorts” that come down to mid-calf. The only two big changes I can think of off the top of my head are that white guys in the early to mid '90s were more likely to have long hair, and that some '80s styles like polo shirts with the collars popped have reappeared. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009/4 "2008-11-16T18:40:06Z")
My wife has a picture of me when we started dating in 1987. In it, I’m wearing a white cotton button-down shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers. Right now, I’m wearing a white cotton button-down shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers. So I’m not the one to ask. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009/5 "2008-11-16T18:49:54Z")
As a male, I’ve always hoped men’s fashion would someday, finally, settle down and **stabilize,** so that no man would have to think about it very much any more, or go shopping just to keep up with the changes. Maybe it’s finally happened. Women may view the whole thing differently, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009/6 "2008-11-16T18:58:56Z")
Not so many plaid flannel shirts now as in 1992. 3-button suits are on the way out. Studded leather belts from the early 80’s made a comeback. I don’t know, I haven’t been an active fashion guy since 1989-ish. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009/7 "2008-11-16T19:15:17Z")
For teenagers, band shirts, which were ubiquitous in the mid-90s, are all but gone. Combat boots are gone. Sagging is going, but “Ghetto” fashions are constantly changing–from tall Ts to coordinated/alternating colors (sometimes including gloves) to bedazzeled Scarface shirts to BAPES. I have no idea about men’s fashions. ---
**Author:** ![Influential\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Influential\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Influential_Panda)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009/8 "2008-11-16T19:23:00Z")
There’s been a lot more attention paid to t-shirts. They’ve gotten a lot more abstract and the designs on them have migrated from the chest to the stomach or hip. I’d say that’s that’s the biggest difference. Also, the return of the low-rise jeans and an embrace of well fitting clothes over just those that are comfortable. Purple and pink are now acceptable colors. This is in a small subset of the population, but it’s certainly growing. ---
**Author:** ![bobthebuilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobthebuilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobthebuilder)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009/9 "2008-11-16T19:44:54Z")
I think modern fashion for men, atleast highschool and college students is very splintered. Their are about 15 different styles that could be consider in. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009/10 "2008-11-16T20:10:06Z")
> [@Influential\_Panda](#): > > Purple and pink are now acceptable colors. As I recall, pink was deemed acceptable back in the 80s. I remember reading a magazine article about that at the time. You still can’t convince me to wear it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009/11 "2008-11-16T20:17:49Z")
The hipsters are wearing their girlfriends’ jeans, don’t think they did that in the 90’s. Also, I don’t know when I last saw a pair of Doc Martens. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009/12 "2008-11-16T20:20:12Z")
> [@DaveRaver](#): > > Links to photos would be helpful to illustrate the difference. 3 button suits are out and 2 button suits are in. In the 90s, fashion forward suits had more than 3 buttons. Now, fashion forward suits have 1 button. Shoulders have gone from built up shoulders to more natural shoulders. In general, men’s clothing is much more fitted. Not just jeans, but also suits and dress shirts. Darts and waist suppression are more pronounced. Ties are thinner now than they were in the 90s. If I had to sum the trend up, I’d say it’s gone from larger, looser, more built up, to smaller, more fitted, more natural. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009/13 "2008-11-16T20:21:39Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > As a male, I’ve always hoped men’s fashion would someday, finally, settle down and **stabilize,** so that no man would have to think about it very much any more, or go shopping just to keep up with the changes. Maybe it’s finally happened. Might I introduce you to something called the, “[Men’s suit](http://www.baronboutique.com/mens_suit/tropical_wool/mens_tropical_wool_suit.jpg)”. Surely an innovation whose time has come. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009/14 "2008-11-16T20:45:57Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > In general, men’s clothing is much more fitted. Not just jeans, but also suits and dress shirts. T-shirts, too. Which is good for me. I never liked wearing loose shirts. I was always hesitant to wear the more fitted shirts back when people thought they were too tight. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009/15 "2008-11-16T20:46:42Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Might I introduce you to something called the, “[Men’s suit](http://www.baronboutique.com/mens_suit/tropical_wool/mens_tropical_wool_suit.jpg)”. > > Surely an innovation whose time has come. My sister likes to tease me that she doesn’t think men’s fashion ever changes. Personally, I see a pretty dramatic difference: 1994 - [http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/1994-08-esquire-style-lg-9496423.jpg](http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/1994-08-esquire-style-lg-9496423.jpg) 2008 - [http://www.bananarepublic.com/Asset\_Archive/BRWeb/Assets/Outfit/122/OUT12246/outfit/br-otf-out12246odv01.jpg](http://www.bananarepublic.com/Asset_Archive/BRWeb/Assets/Outfit/122/OUT12246/outfit/br-otf-out12246odv01.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Influential\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Influential\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Influential_Panda)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009/16 "2008-11-16T21:13:47Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > 1994 - [http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/1994-08-esquire-style-lg-9496423.jpg](http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/1994-08-esquire-style-lg-9496423.jpg) > > 2008 - [http://www.bananarepublic.com/Asset\_Archive/BRWeb/Assets/Outfit/122/OUT12246/outfit/br-otf-out12246odv01.jpg](http://www.bananarepublic.com/Asset_Archive/BRWeb/Assets/Outfit/122/OUT12246/outfit/br-otf-out12246odv01.jpg) Yeah, the first is absolutely hideous. I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing it. But I am saddened to hear the 3-button is going out of style. I just bought a sweet 3-button a week ago that I look very good in. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-mens-fashion-different-now-than-in-the-1990s/473009/17 "2008-11-16T21:21:17Z")
> [@Influential\_Panda](#): > > Yeah, the first is absolutely hideous. I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing it. > > But I am saddened to hear the 3-button is going out of style. I just bought a sweet 3-button a week ago that I look very good in. Buttons can only go so far out of style, as far as I’m concerned. I always thought more than 3 looks terrible on people who weren’t 6’5" or taller, and the 1 button I happen to like because of its resemblance to a dinner jacket. But 2 and 3 can’t _really_ go out of style. The American/Ivy League/New England jacket where the top of 3 buttons is designed to roll slightly onto the lapel and thus not be buttoned is a particularly timeless look.