90sfashion.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. See our disclosure here.
Last Updated on January 26, 2022
Ohhh the nostalgic look of a dungaree! Who can forget them?
There are few items that can claim to be as iconically 90s as the overalls, and fewer still that have been as revisited by later fashion trends over the years.
If you are a 90s child, chances are you had your fair share of dungarees yourself. After all, everyone wore them.
Be it a baby strolling into kindergarten or Will Smith on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, overalls reigned supreme on celebrities and normal folk alike.
Do you know the many shapes and styles dungarees took?
Read on to find out all about one of the most worn clothing items of the 90s!
Contents
Acid wash dungarees
What’s more 90s than acid wash? It was the only kind of denim that mattered, whether we’re talking about denim jackets, jeans, or overalls.
A holdover from the 80s, acid wash was the grungier, more undone face of denim, that was less perfect and preppy. Denim is casual by nature, but we all know there’s a difference between a proper pair of true blues and a pair of acid wash punk dungarees.
Especially paired with neon t-shirts, or even better – crop-tops – the perennial dungarees were made just a little bit cooler with a lil’ bit of an acid wash treatment.
Cartoon characters
Something that’s thankfully made the rounds and went back to being cool again is featuring cartoon characters on our clothes, especially when it’s pins and patches on a pair of denim dungarees.
The more retro, the better! Not trying to influence you, but I’m just saying – there’s a huge Sailor Moon revival going on, and some cool pins from Etsy would make a great add-on for dungarees. Of course, if you’re too cool for that girly stuff, perhaps you’d be more at home in the company of the angry girls from the 90s, like Daria or Emily the Strange.
Corduroy
If your dungarees weren’t denim when you were a kid, then they were corduroy. We all hated them back then (or was that just me?), but you’ve gotta admit, they’re pretty cool. Especially when it’s the dead of winter and you’re freezing your stems off, corduroy is nice, plushy, and warm, while also being fashionable.
Burgundy is my fave, but you can also opt for the classic black, dark green, or that goddamn Millennial pink we’ve been seeing everywhere. Not saying I’ve bought several corduroy pieces in that exact shade, just saying that you might be tempted. And I’d understand – I’m basic af, too.
You May Like: How to Style Overalls: 17 Ways to Look Effortlessly Wonderful
Cut off
If cut off jean shorts (please don’t call them “jorts”, that word is gross) are a thing, then surely we can cut off our overalls, too. It’s the perfect summer staple, especially if you live in chilly places where “summer” is more of an idea, rather than a real season (Canada and the UK, what’s up?).
The coolest part is that you absolutely don’t need to go out and buy a new pair. Just take your old pair – the one that’s loose in the knees – and literally cut them off for the most authentic look. Or get a pair second hand and hack those off – then you’ll literally have a 90s pair of cut off dungarees.
Mini
Can’t have overalls in the summer, unless they’re teeny tiny, short, and mini.Again, think of just regular denim cut offs, and you can do the same to dungarees. Cut them off as short as you want, and I’ve got a cheeky tip for you, too – cut them off a bit longer and then just roll them up. That leaves you a bit of room to play with and it’s like having two pairs of dungarees – a shorter one and a longer one.
Distressed
Remember when I was saying acid wash was the less prim and proper jean? Well, distressing works as sort of the same type of social signalling. It says “I’m not like regular girls, I’m a cool/alternative/bad girl!” in that annoying, Valley Girl accent.
No, but seriously now, distressing can add a cool element of visual interest to plain denim, and you can do it anywhere on a pair of overalls, but especially towards the edges. So, if you were to cut off a pair of dungarees, you can DIY distress the edges, but you can also do that to the straps for an extra authentic look.
For summer
I said it before and I’ll say it again – dungarees can be excellent for summer, as long as you don’t live somewhere where it’s scorching. If you do, I’d either go for an easy, breezy fabric, like linen, or avoid them altogether. The intense crotch and back sweat is real, kids.
Overalls can be a cute and easy option because it’s just one piece that you can throw on over any type of top, really, depending on occasion: Plain white t-shirt? Check! White, floaty, peasant shirt? Check!
Oversized
Okay, but do you know how the cool kids wear overalls? Like with everything else, oversized is the way to go. A word of caution here, though – truthfully, not everyone will be able to pull them off. TLC looked cool, but some of us may have looked like a toddler wearing hand-me-downs and a diaper…you have been warned.
Plus size
Who says big girls can’t wear overalls? They can be an exceptional choice if you’re a plus size gal, because they’re comfortable, flattering, and they come with built-in extra tummy space. What’s not to like about that???
You can go for a material that’s a bit thinner and more stretchy if you’re concerned about fit and comfort, or a sturdier denim or thicker fabric if you want a more structured pair that sucks you in.
Plaid
You can’t get away from the plaid, I’m afraid it’s going to follow you on anything 90s-related. Can’t really even hate on it, really. Want an easy way to make dungarees punk? Get a plaid pair, and add a chain or some spikes. You’ve suddenly turned into Gwen Stefani.
Add Docs to complete the look, or any other fugly shoes of your choice.
Patchwork
Perfection is boring and everything looks a little bit more interesting when it’s all patched up. Or at least, that seems to be the though process behind patchwork dungarees.
Patches, along with pins, drawings, rips, distressing, and graffiti, were the marks of a teen wanting to stand out, and stand out, we did, albeit not always for the right reasons.
You can absolutely make patchwork overalls work, as long as you keep everything else cool – a leather jacket, and no bum bags.
R&B
What the hell are R&B dungarees, anyway? Well, exactly what it says on the tin – overalls that R&B artists tended to wear. That means baggy, and typically, matching, or at least coordinating with the other members in the group.
If you want some styling inspo, look no further than TLC, or even really vintage Destiny’s Child – yes, I’ve seen Beyonce in a pair of overalls, with a Tommy bandeau top, which you can Google, and you’re welcome.
Spray paint / graffiti / airbrushed
Graffiti was HUGE in the 90s, and graffiti artists were prominent. More importantly, that “street” quality trickled down into our ho-hum lives and we integrated it to the best of our abilities – by awkwardly spray painting our dungarees, or buying airbrushed clothes.
Did they ever actually look good? Well, it depended on your artistic capabilities. If you were smart, you paid the kid who knew how to do graffiti to do it for you. If you were me…you tried to spray paint your name and ended up with weird splotches.
You can do better, though. Pair these with a plain white t-shirt so your original design can speak for itself.
Wide leg
Skinny jeans are great and all and while disco pants were the king and queen of bottoms for a hot minute there, wide leg pants are still the best pants. Yep, even dungarees.
Allow me to tell you why: wide leg pants are comfier, breezier, easier to put on and take off (you’ll never do the Skinny Jeans Dance in these), and they make so much more of a statement. They’re a whole mood, you know? Just give them a try, you won’t be sorry.
White denim
White denim is where it’s at this year for all things denim, and that includes overalls. A gal loves herself a pair of white jeans, but if you want to stand out from all the Basic Beckys that will be rocking their white kickflair cropped jeans this summer, a frayed pair of white dungarees will do it for you.
Especially with a white shirt underneath, or a ultra feminine broderie Anglaise blouse, it’s going to make for a rockin’ outfit that everybody will envy. Plus, it’ll go great with those 90s chunky sneakers the kids have (unfortunately for them) been wearing. Wait ‘till a couple of years go by and they realise they’re not the Spice Girls…
Dungarees may not always be the most practical option (they can get kinda tight in the crotch when you sit down), but they’re cool af. What kind of 90s-inspired overalls will you be rocking?
Yes, overalls were cool way before Minions…
Every single A-lister – including many of our 90s celebrity crushes – has been spotted in a pair of dungarees, thus putting the denim one-piece on the sartorial map once again.
No longer just for DIY and Despicable Me fancy dress, overalls have had their moment in every single decade for as long as we can remember.
Almost every Smash Hits poster section (remember those?!) featured at least one pop star in a cute pair of overalls, to show fans that they were “just like us”. And as the trend is going nowhere, we predict the 2020 equivalent, Instagram, will be filling up with similar pictures in no time.
So, here are just a few ways to style your overalls…
With A Crisp White Shirt
- How do you smarten up a piece of denim? Add a crisp shirt, and you have a smart/casual look in an instant.
- Dress the look down with some trainers or sandals in the summer, or smarten it up by way of some chic, heeled ankle boots.
- Accessories play an important part when it comes to deciphering whether your look is smart, casual, day, or night. A large tote bag screams casual shopping trip, while a structured shoulder bag or delicate clutch hints at a smarter, evening look.
On Their Own
- Dare to bare, as dungarees can indeed be worn without anything underneath.
- However, if you plan on doing this, we recommend going for a tailored pair of dungarees that have been specifically made with that look in mind.
- Luckily, there are many dungarees with fitted tops available, so you don’t have to compromise on the trend or your modesty. Win, win!
- Add some heels and some statement jewellery and your next Friday night outfit is sorted!
Dressed Down With A Plaid Shirt
- Not all shirts were created equal.
- Apart from channelling the lumberjack chic look that Kristen Stewart made so popular in Twilight, a plaid shirt gives a much more casual vibe to an outfit.
- A plaid shirt is a great choice for the ultimate comfortable and care-free aesthetic – and there are many high street and high end variations to choose from.
With Your Highest Heels
- Modern fashion dictates that anything can be dressed up with the right pair of heels and accessories.
- Make like a Kardashian/Jenner and wear your dungarees with some sky scraping heels, to take an obviously daytime look into night with ease.
- Slim fit overalls – or ones that skim the ankle perfectly – are the perfect choice if you want to show off your favourite piece of footwear.
- Embrace the 90s and accessorise with butterfly hairclips and more blue eyeshadow than you can shake a stick at.
With A Crop Top (Another 90s Staple!)
- If you’re going to pay homage to the 90s, you may as well do it properly.
- Denim dungarees and a cropped top go together like Posh and Becks. The style combination is the epitome of the 90s, and we applaud anyone who braves this look.
- A tight fitting sports bra or a slashed slogan or band tee work just as well as each other, so the choice is yours.
- Tailor your look to the weather by going for a cropped jumper instead. Add another layer by way of a floor-length trench coat for the colder months.
Read:
How to Wear a Crop Top: The Essential Guide
