The early 1990s continued to evolve from the vibrant trends of the 1980s. The '80s were characterized by bright colors, big hair, and a fresh outlook allowing people to break free from "the normal" and make bold statements.

It represented an era of empowerment, as women’s inclusion in the labor force skyrocketed and shattered glass ceilings across professions. In 1986, Oprah Winfrey produced and owned her own talk show, becoming an inspiration for other women. Popular culture in the 1980s was defined by the appearance of mall arcades, the emergence of MTV as the first music video channel, and iconic TV shows.

The remaining decade was influenced by new technologies, which offered various mediums for expression. Instead of becoming one unified aesthetic the '90s had many different directions. Grunge and minimalism appeared as rebellious in their own ways, one by challenging the consumerism of pop and the other by rejecting its excess and loudness.

Magenta, neon green, electric blue, and other saturated hues dominated the color palettes of the time. The style of techno-futurism reflected the excitement for the new digital age and was characterized by sleek, metallic finishes, neon colors, and digital graphics. Additionally, color gradients and funky patterns were important design elements that added a special touch to fashion, design, and art.

In just a decade, people saw tremendous technological progress, from “Nokia” to the first search engine “Google”. New creations made people anxious including the infamous "Millennium Bug”. Millions feared an internet crash on New Year’s Eve of 2000, believing systems couldn't correctly interpret the transition to the year '00' and potentially causing civilization to crumble. At midnight almost nothing happened bringing relief to everyone.

Paul Saffo, a professor at Stanford University, says that the Y2K crisis didn’t happen because programmers started preparing for it a decade in advance while people weren’t aware of it. Incidents like U.S. spy satellites that stopped working for days prove that if no steps were taken to address them, the potential damage might have been much worse.

Ignoring fears for technology, people continued to fight for their rights. In the early ’90s, the third wave of feminism empowered women to live life however they wanted, and have more freedom to express their sexuality through speech, clothes, and actions. At the same time, black people in the US received important positions as mayors, members of Congress, and leaders in medicine, sports, and academia. However, such achievements were often costly; protests for black rights frequently led to violence, arrests, theft, and arson.

'90s nostalgia is experiencing a long-lasting comeback compared to any other decade. Psychologist Erica Hepper suggests that feelings of nostalgia peak twice in life: in young adulthood and again in old age. For young adults, it helps to deal with transitions, as they’re just moving away from home or starting their new careers. Millennials, like other generations, look back on memories of holidays, pets, and life in school, seeking nostalgia and comfort. Nowadays, the surge of ‘90s nostalgia is fully embraced online in a way previous generations couldn’t.

Recent movie releases such as Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie”, and brought back fashion trends like Birkenstocks, claw clips, and biker shorts indicate the sneaky comeback of the '90s. Modern music releases often include reworks of the ‘90s hits, giving them a fresh look and pushing them to the top charts. Even in home design, elements like limewash, travertine, and floral wallpaper are making a comeback, inspired by the start of the millennium. Modernized ‘90s trends are returning, filling us with the nostalgic and vintage feel many of us love.

Dear Pandas, are there any ‘90s relics you wish you could bring back?