Cindy Crawford wearing Gucci, on US Elle magazine, March 1996

I touched on this in a previous entry, but the fashions of Spring 1996 really deserve its own entry! Not only did the runways that season boast color and prints across the board, the consensus seemed to be easygoing, natural, yet chic and modern. This was not fast fashion soaked in muted neutrals and mid quality (at best), nor was it frumpy, dumpy, or cheap-looking. Then again, unlike the past couple of years, 1996 was a pretty good year, if you ask me. (More about this later.) And pretty good times, coupled with an economy on the rise, call for pretty good fashion.

Versace Ready-to-Wear (RTW), Spring 1996 

(Amber Valetta was practically the face of spring ’96 fashion!) 

Chanel RTW, spring 1996 

(Also, Yasmeen Ghauri had THE body for all the clothes then!) 

Calvin Klein RTW, spring 1996

Todd Oldham RTW Spring 1996

Versus by Versace, spring 1996

Oscar de la Renta, Spring 1996

Valentino RTW, spring 1996

Ellen Tracy, spring 1996

Gucci RTW, Spring 1996

(This look above, by the way, is something I’ve tried to replicate for reals. I got plenty of black tops; it was trying to find a skirt that looked similar that was a challenge. Why are there so many frilly beige tradwife on the prairie-looking ass maxi skirts around?! Only until I went to a Bloomingdales did I find it–and on clearance! I paid around $25 for a colorful silk (?) A-line skirt that originally went for around $100. No thigh-high slit on the side, but it still works.)

The many geek chic looks of Prada RTW, spring 1996

Prior to spring 1996, there had been retro revivals in the previous collections, from the disco glamour of fall 1994, to Hollywood’s golden age for spring 1995, and 60’s mod style for fall 1995. Though the 90s arrived during the grunge era of the early 90s, I feel like the decade finally found its own glamour that spring.

The colors, the craftsmanship, the effortless chic…simply gorgeous and timeless. Give me all of it!

Note: the ad campaign pics were pulled from this website. Bookmark it if you’re a lover of 90s fashion ads/editorials like me!