One of the clearest examples of '90s fashion is the resurgence of light wash denim. Throughout the '90s, straight leg Wranglers, Levi’s 501s and Calvin Klein jeans graced the likes of everyone from Mark Wahlberg to Jerry Seinfeld. These nearly bleached out, slightly cropped and brutally straight cuts were the weekend uniform of suburban dads everywhere, and while not considered a “fashion statement” in the slightest, were widely accepted and adopted. Whether it was Steve Jobs giving his yearly Apple address or the aforementioned Seinfeld walking through his living room, the light blue denim was a must, and left a lasting impression.

Today, largely thanks to the “dad style” trend that peaked over the course of 2018, straight leg light wash jeans are a men’s style essential. Though of course today the cropped, high-rise ankle bearing version’s your dad wore have been replaced by tapered editions with a more substantial break, they appear everywhere from Maison Margiela collections to Hedi Slimane’s Celine and even Supreme. Naturally, Levi’s never stopped making its version, and as far as cost-per-wear goes, you would be hard pressed to find a better alternative.

Speaking of Seinfeld, Jerry’s now legendary sneaker game is well documented. The myriad of technical models—Nike Air Tech Challenges, Huaraches, various Air Jordans—were, back in the days before hype and reselling—simply general release sneakers regularly available at the mall. Yet, worn with a blazer and those ubiquitous light wash jeans, they were a sight to behold. Not only Jerry Seinfeld, but countless '90s sitcom stars from Will Smith on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to Zack Morris on Saved by the Bell broke out retro-futuristic basketball and tennis shoes while appearing on their respective series, helping unique silhouettes—as opposed to simply marquee models–gain a cult following.

Unlike the muted, single color athletic shoes from the decade prior, during the '90s Nike, Puma and adidas were each experimenting in their own ways, constantly attempting to one up each other technologically. From bulbous Reebok Pumps to technical Jordans, these sneakers were as common a sight on the small screen as they were on your cul-de-sac, part of a calculated marketing strategy to ensure they were considered an essential—as opposed to today were quantity is artificially controlled in order to build hype.

30 years later and those adventurous silhouettes are back. Part-retro and partially a result of the dad sneaker trend, a return to these '90s silhouettes is a welcome change from the simple “luxury sneakers” that dominated the market in the early 2010s. While the premium dad shoes certainly had their moment, the idea of wearing Nike Shox as opposed to a pair of Balenciaga Triple S is increasingly alluring, particularly when considering how comfortable the latter is. As we move past "ugly" fashion into post-ironic fashion, those inventive silhouettes will continue to resurface.

While the garish '80s was all about strong primary hues and metallics, the '90s had a unique energy and an entirely distinct approach to color. With so many sub-groups hoping to stand out as opposed to their blandly dressed blue collar parents, neon returned in a (albeit different) way not seen since the mid-'70s.

More influential in the early-'90s (the latter half of the decade would decrescendo into more uniform minimalism) Everywhere from TV sitcoms to raves, these intense (though non-traditional) colors appeared, a stark contrast with the mostly navy, white, black and tan that for years dominated the working man’s wardrobe. Most often associated with the West Coast and beach culture, these colorful neon garments made such a statement that even the most mundane pieces–simply blank T-shirts, dad hats, bandannas—added a whole new element to an outfit without doing much at all.

After years of tie-dye dominating the Spring/Summer trend cycle, neon finally began making a comeback when ostentatious designers like Demna Gvasalia and Alessandro Michele—on top of neo-prep labels like Noah and Rowing Blazers decided that, tie-dye being a bit played out, a relatively plain garment in neon could achieve the same effect without all the garish detail. Yes, some of these shades are difficult to pull enough—a neon orange rugby shirt is a tall order for anyone—but in a world surrounded by all white and black fits, a move against uniformity is greatly appreciated.

No one epitomized '90s style quite like Kurt Cobain. The late Nirvana front man brought a sense of disheveled femininity to men's style, trouncing out in outfits ranging from long leopard coats to women's nightgowns, bug-eyed sunglasses and, of course, those moth-hole ridden cardigans.

While not the only grunge fashion influence, as the genre's leading man, Cobain set the precedent for the trend and his languid, lanky form helped shape the men's equivalent for another prevalent '90s trend: grunge chic. Cobain's music—and the rest of the genre, really—was the backdrop to a skinny, drug-fueled, angst-ridden fashion era and while the same proportions may not be back in style, the energy most certain has returned.

While the Cobain aesthetic has appeared a number of times through modern menswear—most notably at Number (N)ine where Cobain was a recurring reference point for designer Takahiro Miyashita—more recently brands such as Our Legacy, Needes and even Jil Sander have reincorporated themes from the decade, ranging from androgyny to oversized cashmere cardigans. Though the patterns themselves were more clearly evident at Hedi Slimane's Saint Laurent Paris, the 2020 version is chic, subdued iteration of these same tropes. Though less distressed and in your face, modern reworked denim, drop shoulder sweaters and faded graphic tees all capture the grunge energy. Oh, and Converse All-Stars are seemingly having a moment, which themselves were a Cobain favorite.

When the Nike Jordan I debuted in 1985, it was revolutionary. But, before sneaker culture bloomed in earnest, the shoes were widely available and, even more importantly, relatively affordable. By the early-'90s, Jordan models regularly hitting the discount racks of sporting goods stores, and so founded themselves on the feet of an unsuspecting group: skaters.

Foundational skaters including Lance Mountain, Mark Gonzales and the legendary Z-Boys crew regularly rocked Jordan Is and Dunks while skating. The shoes—which have arguably never really gone out of style–worked surprisingly well with army surplus cargos, local skate shop hoodies and bright T-shirts from various California discount stores. Of course, as skating moved past its infancy style clans emerged, and East Coast skaters developed their own dress code, preferring baggy, loose fitting jeans and bulbous skate-centric shoes by the likes of DC, Emerica and éS. Now, nearly 30 years later, this style of dress is readily apparent in the next generation of menswear.

Take Antonio Ciongoli's 18 East, for instance. Himself a skater out of Philly, his label is infused with the silhouette, color palette and overall vibe prevalent in his native cities skate scene, his beloved Gorecki cargo—named after former Ice Cream team member Jimmy Gorecki—a perfect example. Not only 18 East, but a deluge of other brands and individuals are suddenly inspired by skating's golden era.

While A$AP Rocky's Under Armour experiment was largely a failure, the fascination with the Osiris D3 (the model his silhouette was based on) and the return of wide leg pants is all a result of a renewed interest in skating's infancy. Though wearing Jordan Is with Stone Island cargos and Supreme hoodie may feel current, if you take a look at some iconic '90s Thrasher covers, the same aesthetic has been in rotation for decades.

Going head-to-toe in one color—otherwise known as monochromatic dressing—is always a bold statement. Unless the chosen color is black, you will immediately stand out. But, at the same time, if the hues are in line with one another and the layering smart, the outfit may develop a uniform quality, a sense of purpose that refinement that only exists due to the shared tone.

The most successful '90s designers clearly recognized the power of uniform, and everyone from Helmut Lang to Prada pushed monochromatic looks down the runways. Stylists also embraced the trend, and some of the most infamous editorial images from the era feature gorgeous models and actors wearing and outfit composed entirely of white, grey of tan. Though it may feel boring to restrict your color palette, by limiting your options you are forced to be creative in your styling and proportion, allowing for unexpected results.

The most forward thinking current menswear designers are clearly fans. Craig Green, for instance, regularly styles monochromatic looks for both his runway spectacles and fashion campaigns (though the color palette is undoubtedly more experimental). As does Jonathan Anderson at Loewe. The minimalist master Christophe Lemaire (often working with his partner Sarah Linh-Tran) is as a favorite as well—epitomized in both his upscale eponymous label as well as his ongoing Uniqlo collaboration. The idea that you can do more with less is at the heart of monochrome, and in a menswear era where statement pieces are the norm, matching colors is a counter point, a contrasting measure of normalcy to pair it back and reign it all in.

While going head-to-toe white may make you look like a Hamptons reject, experimenting with different shades of the same color will make your outfit uniform—a la a suit in an unconventional color—without feeling stodgy or try-hard. The limited color palette may be a thing of the past, but sticking to one color palette is still thriving in the present.

No one did boxy tailoring quite like Helmut Lang. From his Spring Street storefront, Lang famously would often tailor made-to-measure suits himself, at least for the right client and prior to the Prada sale that eventually forced the namesake designer from his eponymous label.

As opposed to traditional Italian, British or American tailoring, Lang's suit's were "European," more inspired by workwear and functionality than centuries' old dress codes. Wide at the shoulder with thin-ish lapels and cut long, the suits were the tailoring equivalent of a straight leg jean, meant to heighten and emphasize certain masculine traits while foregoing any unnecessary flourishes.

Like the Hedi Slimane-designed Dior Homme super skinny suits, Lang's tailoring changed how men dressed. Even '90s finance bros realized that pinstripe peak lapels were a thing of the past and simple squared off jackets and straight leg pleated pants were the way of the future.

Today, tailoring is certainly having a moment and fashion brands aplenty are attempting to navigate the future of formalwear. While there are near carbon copies of the Helmut Lang '90s template—Alyx and early Rick Owens, to name a few—more recent entrants like OAMC and Lemaire are investigating ways to play with suiting proportion, dropping shoulders and widening pant legs, moving away from the dreaded "slim suit" era of the 2010s.

Though the result feels fresh in many, in reality most brands experimenting with "modern tailoring" are, in reality, simply revisiting the past. Helmut Lang and his contemporaries were so far ahead of the curve that it only makes sense that three decades later the style codes he established are once again in vogue. Even Supreme's most recent Loro Piana collaboration makes as much evident. The boxy suit is back and its time to embrace the blazer.