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For those of us who are now in our 30s, the 1990s was probably the best decade. Indeed, earlier this year, a YouGov poll asked 2,000 American adults which decades had the best music, economy, and so on. Unsurprisingly, many viewed the '90s as the best time for fashion, radio programming, and even economy.

Surely, their answers might've been painted with rosy nostalgia glasses, but there's no denying the '90s had style. Nineties Anxiety is an Instagram page that showcases the cool side of the '90s, so here are some more posts to feed your nostalgia-hungry hearts, Pandas!

#1

Lisa Kudrow Aka “Phoebe” Wearing A Team Lithuania Basketball Tee While Filming An Episode Of Friends In 1997

Lisa Kudrow Aka “Phoebe” Wearing A Team Lithuania Basketball Tee While Filming An Episode Of Friends In 1997

After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Lithuania couldn’t afford to send its basketball team to the 1992 Olympics.

The iconic group Grateful Dead agreed to help sponsor Lithuania’s national basketball team alongside with the designer of the ‘Skullman’ t-shirt Greg Speirs, if they agreed to wear tie-dyed uniforms.

Getting the Dead was a major coup. The band wrote a check for $5,000 but more importantly granted Lithuania the rights to sell a Dead t-shirt, a stoned-out psychedelic masterpiece splashed with Lithuania’s national colors of green, red, and yellow and anchored by the Dead’s skeleton symbol.

Between the excitement of Lithuania taking home the bronze medal in 1992 and sales of the t-shirt, it financed most of Lithuania’s participation in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. The shirt kept Lithuania in the news while telling the story of the countries heroic struggle for freedom and its battle to get the team to Barcelona

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#3

Kurt Cobain’s Journal Entry

Kurt Cobain’s Journal Entry

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Green Machine
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7 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd love to see this happen. A few thousand years for a few thousand years. It'd only be fair, right?

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While browsing through these pics, you'll notice that many of them feature '90s fashion. Some pop culture experts argue that the 1990s was the birth of the supermodel. Models became celebrities, with people idolizing them perhaps more than fashion designers and movie stars. 

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As Lilah Ramzi writes for Vogue, the '90s were the decade models became far more famous than the clothes. Supermodels became icons; people wanted to know where and how they lived, who they were dating, and what they were like. If before models were a blank canvas, almost mannequins for the clothes they modeled, this decade wanted models with passion, character, and personalities.

#4

For 738 Days, Between 1997 And 1999, Julia ‘Butterfly’ Hill Lived In The Canopy Of An Ancient Redwood Tree In California Called Luna On Two 6 X 4 Foot Platforms

For 738 Days, Between 1997 And 1999, Julia ‘Butterfly’ Hill Lived In The Canopy Of An Ancient Redwood Tree In California Called Luna On Two 6 X 4 Foot Platforms

At a height of 180 feet to stop the Pacific Lumber Company from cutting it down and to help make the world aware of the plight of ancient forests.

She sat in the tree, originally expecting to be up there for one to two weeks like many activists were in the 1990’s not aware of the impact her act was going to have.

After a long period of negotiations Julia agreed to come down from Luna after agreeing that the tree would be permanently protected and a near three acre buffer zone would be put in around the tree.

The stunt also raised awareness of the lack of trees left standing in America.

When Julia came down she was a national hero and quickly became recognised for the memorable protest

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#6

In 1994, Gilbert Baker Created A Mile-Long Rainbow Flag For The 25th Anniversary Of The Stonewall Riots

In 1994, Gilbert Baker Created A Mile-Long Rainbow Flag For The 25th Anniversary Of The Stonewall Riots

The Stonewall riots, also known as the Stonewall uprising, Stonewall rebellion, or simply Stonewall, were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City.

Although they were not the first instance in American history when people in the homosexual community fought back against a government-sponsored system that persecuted sexual minorities, they have become the defining event that marked the start of the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world.

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Pencil McGovern
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7 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Born in 1965, I grew up in Greenwich Village. I was an adult before I learned that being gay was a controversial and despised thing in most of the country. We think of growing up in social bubbles as being a conservative and bigoted thing but it works the other way, too. I'm very grateful for the bubble that I was raised in.

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The most well-known supermodels of the decade were Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Christy Turlington. Or, as known to fashion enthusiasts, "The Big Four." Some people also add Claudia Schiffer to the group, making it "The Big Five." But the '90s also gave us many other icons: Tyra Banks, Carla Bruni Sarkozy, Helena Christensen, Elle McPherson, Yasmeen Ghauri, and many more. 

By the second half of the decade, many new young names surfaced. Designer Karl Lagerfeld described them as "very young, very much like children—what's referred to like an elf. There is a kind of vulnerability about them. They need protection…" These models were Kate Moss, Amber Valetta, Stella Tennant, Shalom Harlow, and Kirsty Hume.


#7

A Bond Like No Other, Scenes From ‘Thelma & Louise’ (1991)

A Bond Like No Other, Scenes From ‘Thelma & Louise’ (1991)

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#8

A True Inspiration To Many Of Us, Anthony Bourdain

A True Inspiration To Many Of Us, Anthony Bourdain

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#9

The Man Who Came Back From The Dead To Win The Lottery…(Twice) In 1999

The Man Who Came Back From The Dead To Win The Lottery…(Twice) In 1999

In 1998, Bill Morgan, an Australian truck driver, was involved in a severe road accident that left him clinically dead for 14 minutes. Miraculously, he survived but was in a coma for 12 days. when he recovered, he decided to buy a scratch-off lottery ticket and won a car worth $27,000.

Bill Morgan was asked to reenact his recent lottery win for tv after local news outlets decided to feature his incredible story and suggested to him to that he buy another scratch-off ticket.

Astoundingly, while the cameras were rolling, Bill scratched off the ticket and discovered he had won $250,000. An incredible chain of events played out in his fortune. Almost unbelievable if it weren’t documented.

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Ace
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12 hours ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Clinically dead" is not a medical term, but if it were it would better translate as "not quite dead yet". I hate it when its used like this to refer to people in the state of atrial fibrillation, just because they dont have a distinct discernable heart rhythm does not make them dead.

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These new faces also ushered in a new aesthetic: somewhat a return to the gamine from the '60s. But this time, it was more minimalist. The way Lagerfeld described the younger models, "as if they need protection," went hand in hand with their waifish appearance.

These models were less about the perfect skin and hair and more about dark circles under their eyes, and, according to Ramzi, "possessing bird-like hollow bones."

#10

Memorable Quote From ‘Fight Club’ Directed By David Fincher. (1999)

 Memorable Quote From ‘Fight Club’ Directed By David Fincher. (1999)

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#11

Diego Maradona’s Daughter Dalma Picks Flowers For Her Father Which He Proudly Wears During Training. (1989)

Diego Maradona’s Daughter Dalma Picks Flowers For Her Father Which He Proudly Wears During Training. (1989)

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#12

Scene From ‘Trainspotting’ Directed By Danny Boyle (1996)

Scene From ‘Trainspotting’ Directed By Danny Boyle (1996)

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These new models signaled what was to come in a few years: grunge. Emerging from Seattle primarily as a music style, grunge soon had young people clamoring for the edgy, effortless aesthetic. In fact, some even call grunge-style clothing as an anti-fashion statement. Professor of American Popular Culture Thomas L. Bell wrote in 1998, that the goal was to appear as nonchalant as possible.

#13

Forrest Gump Directed By Robert Zemeckis (1994) "My Momma Always Said There's An Awful Lot You Can Tell About A Person By Their Shoes”.

Forrest Gump Directed By Robert Zemeckis (1994) "My Momma Always Said There's An Awful Lot You Can Tell About A Person By Their Shoes”.

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Jane Jayne Jain Jeign Jein
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9 hours ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree. You can tell that people who wear Nike trainers are not put off from financially supporting a company that has engaged in child exploitation and run sweat shops.

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"Flannel shirts and Doc Martens boots were worn as an anti-fashion statement that is undoubtedly related to the unassuming and unvarnished nature of the music itself," Bell wrote. The New York Times described the '90s style as cheap, durable, and timeless. "It also runs against the grain of the whole flashy aesthetic that existed in the 80s."

#16

In 1986, A French Woman Named Nadine Bourgain Helped Her Husband, Michel Vaujour, Escape From Prison By Flying A Helicopter Into The Prison And Flying Him Away

In 1986, A French Woman Named Nadine Bourgain Helped Her Husband, Michel Vaujour, Escape From Prison By Flying A Helicopter Into The Prison And Flying Him Away

Michel was serving a 28 year sentence for robbery and attempted murder. He had made four escape attempts before and was moved to a very secure prison.

Nadine had trained for several months to gain the qualifications to operate a helicopter. But instead of rushing to help her husband escape, she waited and became familiar with everyone at the airport so it wasn’t too suspicious.

When the time came, Michel, with the help of another inmate, a fake pistol and nectarines painted to look like hand grenades, made their way to the roof where only Michel made the escape. Nadine landed at a nearby football stadium where they made their escape by car.

Michel was eventually caught four months later when he tried to rob a bank in Paris and was shot and wheelchair bound for life. Nadine gave herself up after being surrounded by police and served 14 months in prison.

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#17

Matthew Mcconaughey In Dazed And Confused Directed By Richard Linklater (1993)

Matthew Mcconaughey In Dazed And Confused Directed By Richard Linklater (1993)

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#18

Anjelica Huston Photographed By Annie Leibovitz For Vanity Fair. {july•1990}

Anjelica Huston Photographed By Annie Leibovitz For Vanity Fair. {july•1990}

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Grunge trickled down to the runways too. Marc Jacobs' 1993 spring/summer collection for Perry Ellis was inspired by grunge. Unfortunately, it was also what he got fired for. Jacobs created a grunge aesthetic by imitating flannels with silk shirts and chiffon dresses to look like they were made out of polyester. He "reinterpreted these rough garments in the finest fabrics," according to Lynn Yaeger.

#21

Go All The Way. -Charles Bukowski

Go All The Way. -Charles Bukowski

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Jane Jayne Jain Jeign Jein
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9 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Excellent author, highly recommend. His books illustrate exactly why governments don't really want to tackle unemployment; if we weren't kept in fear of losing our jobs we wouldn't put up with such sh1tty standards in the work place. If you think 'Factotum' is about a workshy bum, then you've missed the point entirely.

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Still, the '90s were the antithesis of the glamour and colors of the '80s. Minimalist designers rose to prominence, such as Calvin Klein, Jil Sander, and Helmut Lang. Some even call them minimalist-deconstructivist designers. Seamless slip dresses, utilitarian button-ups, and black, white and navy colors dominated the runways. Any embellishments were out of the norm.

#22

Pretty Woman Directed By Garry Marshall Starring Julia Roberts And Richard Gere. (1990)

Pretty Woman Directed By Garry Marshall Starring Julia Roberts And Richard Gere. (1990)

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#23

Nuns Checking Out The New Nirvana Album ‘In Utero’ In 1993

Nuns Checking Out The New Nirvana Album ‘In Utero’ In 1993

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#24

Louise Bourgeois ‘Spider’ Sculpture In The 90s

Louise Bourgeois ‘Spider’ Sculpture In The 90s

Louise Bourgeois created the first of her darkly compelling spider sculptures in the mid-1990s, when she was in her eighties. The artist saw spiders as both fierce and fragile, capable of being protectors as well as predators.

For Bourgeois, the spider embodied an intricate and sometimes contradictory mix of psychological and biographical allusions. Partly a reference to her mother, partly to herself, spiders for her represented cleverness, industriousness, and protectiveness.

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cerinamroth
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11 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"The Spider is an ode to my mother. She was my best friend. Like a spider, my mother was a weaver. My family was in the business of tapestry restoration, and my mother was in charge of the workshop. Like spiders, my mother was very clever. Spiders are friendly presences that eat mosquitoes. We know that mosquitoes spread diseases and are therefore unwanted. So, spiders are helpful and protective, just like my mother."

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As fashion moved closer to the 2000s, technology came into view. Designers presented futuristic, cyberstyle pieces on the runways, like the Thierry Mugler 1995 fall/winter collection. Latex, aluminum foil sheath dresses, and robot-chic were all the rage. Fashion trends seeped into (and, in turn, inspired designers) the cinema as well, with Jean Paul Gaultier designing garments for The Fifth Element.

#25

Easy Sunday With Samantha And Carrie

Easy Sunday With Samantha And Carrie

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#26

Cher Driving Her Gifted 1994 Jeep Wrangler In ‘Clueless’ Directed By Amy Heckerling. (1995)

Cher Driving Her Gifted 1994 Jeep Wrangler In ‘Clueless’ Directed By Amy Heckerling. (1995)

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#27

Stylish Bike Ride With John F. Kennedy Jr. Throughout The 90s

Stylish Bike Ride With John F. Kennedy Jr. Throughout The 90s

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Mike F
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4 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always felt bad for his sister and him. They never got to be just kids. From the very beginning they were under a microscope. You can't hold their bloodline against them, it wasn't their fault.

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You'll notice one little problem with everything that we've covered here so far. Most of the trends experts refer to when they talk about the '90s are women's fashion. But what was men's '90s fashion like?

On the one hand, the effortless, laid-back style of the '90s allowed men to be nonchalant with their style choices. On the other hand, they could also partake in the cyber-fashion trend with frosted blond tips and metallic goggle-like sunglasses.

#28

Spider-Man And Mary Jane Getting Married At Shea Stadium

Spider-Man And Mary Jane Getting Married At Shea Stadium

In 1987, Spider-Man’s alter ego, Peter Parker, tied the knot with Mary Jane Watson in the pages of Marvel Comics, marking a monumental moment in superhero history.

To celebrate this union, Marvel went beyond the panels and organized a real wedding for the iconic couple, with none other than the legendary Stan Lee officiating . The event, held at Shea Stadium in New York, attracted thousands of fans eager to witness the union of their beloved heroes. Hulk served as best man, Captain America as ring bearer and the Green Goblin even made the guest list.

The comic issue, “The Amazing Spider-Man Annual 21,” became an instant classic, skyrocketing in sales and solidifying Spider-Man and Mary Jane’s place in comic book lore.

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The Phantom Stranger
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8 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And then "One More Day" ( in which Peter and Mary Jane's wedding is erased by Mephisto) has had fans hate-reading Spider-Man for almost 20 years waiting for them to get back together.

#29

Sylvia Plath With Her Book ‘The Bell Jar’ In 10 Things I Hate About You

Sylvia Plath With Her Book ‘The Bell Jar’ In 10 Things I Hate About You

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Corina Pelser
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9 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's Julia Stiles as Kat Stratford in the 1999 movie '10 Things I hate about you' not Sylvia Plath.

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#30

Ferrari F40 Destroyed After Bursting Into Flames In Monaco

Ferrari F40 Destroyed After Bursting Into Flames In Monaco

Launched in 1987, the Ferrari F40 is one of the most fabled supercars of all time. A successor to the 280 GTO, the F40 paved the way for future flagship Ferraris like the Enzo and LaFerrari. Only 1,315 examples were built between 1987 and 1992. The average price of a Ferrari F40 today is $2,591,368.

Sadly the fire started in the engine compartment and quickly spread. At one stage, as you can see in the video, a stranger grabbed a garden hose to try and put it out. It was a valiant effort but the trickle of water was no match for the intense blaze.

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Robert T
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7 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Saw 40 together of them at Silverstone a few years back. Also had a race against one in the late 90's - well as a passenger - my boss took me to on an owners club day in his 348 and they had a track session on the Grand Prix circuit and the F40 easy had us down the straights, but the guy driving it couldn't get it round corners, so we kept catching him up. It was running so rich we were getting high on the petrol fumes!

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Note: this post originally had 55 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

We can see a lot of the '90s fashion trends today. Straight-leg jeans, slip dresses, biker shorts, platform shoes, and cargo pants are already here. But that's the way of fashion; it cycles back every 20 years or so. And, I have to say, I'm not looking forward to seeing if colorful skinny jeans make a comeback when the 2010s fashion trends come around again.