That’s So 90s: Plus Size Outfit Trends That Are Back

Retro is back in — 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and now the 90s, all gold.

Now, I don’t know how much you remember about the 90s, but it was exactly the height of fashion trends.

From impossibly tiny bags to baggy combat pants, there was a lot left wanting for.

But fashion trends come and go, and it looks like 90s fashion — at least some aspects of it — is back in.

Luckily, I haven’t seen a lot of snap bracelets or jelly shoes, but there are some fashion trends I’m a little less-than-stellar to resurrect.

However, if you’re diggin’ the era, here are some plus size 90s outfit pieces that are looping back into fashion:

Comeback 90s plus size outfit trends

Animal print dresses

I’m not convinced that animal print ever went out of style per-say, but it did play less of a role in more recent decades.

But it looks like leopard print and snakeskin are making their rounds, and dresses are where it’s at.

This trend isn’t all that bad, I’m pro injecting some sass into your wardrobe.

I’m seeing a lot of leopard, cheetah and zebra these days.

But I wouldn’t be shocked if we started seeing a few other prints poke their head out of the woodwork.

If you’re looking for an animal print dress, they’re about a dime-a-dozen.

I’m personally diggin’ something simple and cute like this one from Cato Fashions.

In fact, it actually combines two ’90s trends: animal print and mesh. So, you’re getting a double-dose of the decade!

Blush pink clothing items

Blush pink was big in the 90s, and it’s back.

There were two main hues that we saw in the 90s, a peach and a candy pink.

These days our blushes are taking a bit more of an array of color.

Whether you’re looking for something barely pink, or you want a bit more of a colored hue, you can find it.

I’m actually lovin’ the revival of the blush pinks, just like this cute dress!

I’m BIG fan of rose gold myself, and the blush pink is just that color on things that aren’t metal.

Whether you’re looking for dresses (of which there are a ton), shirts or even pants, there’s something out there for you.

Velvet

Velvet is a revival trend that I’m not sure how I feel about yet.

I love the soft feel of a good crushed velvet, but it’s a little dated for me. Especially on an everyday basis.

I will say that kind of love the velvet look for a holiday party or Christmas outfit.

Something when the colder months start peaking out. It’s definitely not a summer pick regardless of how short your dress is.

I find velvet to be a more elegant, glam fabric.

So there are definitely occasions where it’s appropriate.

If I was doing some sort of fancy winter cover shoot, I’d totally sport something like this Lord & Taylor crushed velvet suit.

Sheer and/or mesh items

Mesh is another one of the weird 90s trends I’m not sure should really come back.

Alas, we’re seeing it pop up in dresses, shirts and even leggings alike.

I remember a few years ago I purchased a pair of PopFit leggings that had mesh side panels.

If you’re going to get into bed with mesh, I’d recommend going full-on plus size 90s outfit and pair a funky mesh top like this chevron turtleneck with some ultra high-waisted jeans and a pair of Chuck Taylors.

Corsets

A 90s corset isn’t the style of corset you’re thinking of.

We’re not talking Victorian era lace-up front.

Instead they were a thicker, more structured looking tank top.

They often featured boning-like accents that gave them a corset-like appearance.

However, they were much like this chain-strap corset top by rue21.

And these bad boys are ALL OVER the place these days.

If you’re looking for a fun way to spice up your outfit, but aren’t willing to commit to a full-on corset, this is the style of top for you.

Slip dresses

Slip dresses are another 90s era fashion trend that’s around these days but has changed a tad bit.

Looking back at picks from the 90s, you’ll notice that the slip dresses just kind of fell.

There wasn’t a lot of shape to the fabric, they were essentially slips that would normally go under dresses worn as dresses.

While slip dresses are not the right style of dress for my body, I do find the ones they have out these days to be super cute.

They do still bear the same undergarment fabric feel, but like this gold satin dress from Forever21, they’ve got a little bit more structure and style.

Printed leggings

I’d be lying if I said I loved the printed leggings trend, because I don’t.

Most of them are hella ugly and honestly don’t look good on any body — straight-sized, plus-sized, honestly it doesn’t matter.

The Cato Fashions ones I have pictured are the least bad of the terribly bad.

Don’t get me wrong, if you want to lounge around in your house wearing a pair of these, by all means.

But they’re usually built with crappy fabric that doesn’t hold it’s pattern or shape when stretched over any size of limb.

Unless you’re going super high-end, I think I’d ditch this one before you got on board.

Scrunchies

Not a fashion trend in the same way as printed leggings or animal print dressed, but scrunchies were a big thing in the 90s.

Honestly, I was wearing them up to a few months ago when I realized my hair was thinning due to traction alopecia.

I ended up cutting most of it off, but I still have my scrunchies kicking around.

We should make it clear that pulling your hair with any elastic-type thing can cause trauma (just as yours truly).

But scrunchies are considerably better than those tight black elastics we’ve all been using for decades.

My first pick are the telephone cord style elastics, followed by a soft, cute scrunch, because both pull your hair less than those tighter bands.

Image: Amazon

Tiny purses

If you can actually carry a small purse and fit all your crap in it, more power to ya.

But man, I cannot get on the tiny purse train. I carry WAY too much stuff with me, and I’m not willing to part with it.

Our phones are bigger than a lot of the tiny 90s bags that were out there.

That said, these itty bitty little bags appear to be trending again, and if you’re into that, it’s a great time in fashion for you!

Leather blazers

Sometime in the early 2000s, I convinced my mom to get my dad one of those floor-length Matrix-style leather jackets for Christmas.

She did, and he wore it for years — that’s what I think of every time I see a leather blazer.

I’m not sure if leather (or, in my books, preferably faux leather) is really my style.

It looks killer on some people, I’m just not one of them.

But if you want to dress up your wardrobe with a few leathery duds, you might consider adding one of these plus size 90s outfit trends back into it.

Halter necks

Halter necks appeared EVERYWHERE in the 90s. And I really mean it.

Look back to pretty much any 90s pop music video, and someone is dancing around in a halter-neck tank top.

I owned half-a-dozen of these myself, and I’m honestly not surprised they’ve mad a come back.

Am I in support of this come back? Jury’s still out.

I don’t find these to be particularly flattering for plus size bodies if you carry a little extra fat in your arm area.

If you’re itching to get back on this trend and do, I’d recommend finding something like the Ashley Stewart denim jumpsuit pictured.

It has full frontal coverage that might help smooth that out.

Combat pants

In junior high school, I wore a strict regiment of black cargo pants, a white button-front dress shirt and a scarf from the Bonhomme Carnival festival in Quebec.

It was literally the ugliest outfit next to this camo-style one I wore with a short Dixie Chick cut a few years early.

Sadly, combat pants like these are back in style.

Old Navy has a pair that I don’t mind, but the pockets on pockets of the overall combat style pants is a lot.

Even for a lover of pockets such as myself.

And this style of pants aren’t just for workout times either, pair them with a chain belt and you’ve got a very goth-style look.

I’d honestly rather get myself a pair of tearaways then throw on combat pants again.

Thankfully, I haven’t seen tearaways come back in style yet.

Vest tops

Vests as tops were a real big thing in the 90s, and it looks like they’re back.

This is a trend I don’t hate, but I don’t necessarily love it either.

Especially if you have something stylish like this lapel blazer from Shein.

My biggest concern is button popping if you’ve got nothing hanging out underneath that baby.

Paired with the right bottoms, this could make for a great date night or going out outfit.

But for the office, you’ll probably want to add an oxford shirt.