When Supermodels Ruled the World
When Supermodels Ruled the World
By: Elena Ossoski
The 1990s were arguably one of the most defining decades in the history of the public’s obsession with culture and lifestyle. Typically referred to as the “grunge era,” the 90s were more than just a blur of Nirvana groupies and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy wannabes. Mauve lip liner, spin classes, heroin chic, the birth of email, and Walkmans created the blueprint for daily life at the end of the millennium. Since Gen Z will never know the full power of this historic decade, living vicariously through old red carpet shots and revitalized trends of minimalism will just have to suffice.
Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, and Christy Turlington were some of the most powerful faces of the 90s: when supermodels ruled the world. Without social media and the internet, fashion media existed almost exclusively in print. Models were confined to the glossy pages of magazines, and the occasional newspaper. Compared to today when YouTube teaches us what a Vogue cover star had for breakfast in her southern California beach house.
The secrecy of celebrity life was invaded by paparazzi, tabloid publications, and broadcasters. The mystique of the 90s can be traced to the lack of internet media, but it is not the sole contributor. The lifestyle and fashion trend of minimalism gained popularity during this time after the exuberance of the 80s had worn people out. Over-the-top hair and makeup, extreme exercise and dieting crazes, and accentuating the body with dramatic proportions were a thing of the past by the 90s. Small, simple sunglasses, Levi’s 501 jeans, and no-makeup makeup quickly gained popularity as big names like Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston sported them while in between sets.
Just like fashion trends, indoor cycling classes came back in style. After gaining their street credit in the 90s, spinning classes have become mainstream obsessions with countless studios such as SoulCycle and CYCLEBAR popping up in almost every city in the United States.
What will we see come back from the 90s next? Is the next wave of grunge coming our way? Only time will tell.
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