The Most Stylish 90s TV Shows

The Sopranos debuted on January 10th, 1999, thus beginning the current era of peak prestige television. But that, in many ways, infers that the time that came before was lightweight in comparison. As any ‘90s pop culture aficionado can tell you, that’s simply not so. Looking back, it’s easy to see that TV during that decade was revolutionary, not only in the stories being told, but how they were presented. The decade that bore Friends, Sex and the City, and My So-Called Life can’t be all that bad—can it?

While a strong case can be made for the merits of television as an art form during the nineties, as the country looked anxiously toward the dawning of a new millennium, it’s the fashion that has our current era most captivated. From popular sporty streetwear to skate tees to long hair, the nineties are experiencing a full-blown revival. And what better place to see the sartorial essence in its truest form than to watch TV shows from that period and take inspiration from the characters. Look to Will Smith’s overalls, Angela Chase’s floral dresses, Brandon Walsh’s light-wash, high-waisted denim or Zack Morris’s brightly patterned shirts, and you’ll begin to understand the nuances of the era’s sense of fashion. Look around you, and you may be surprised to see a lot from these episodes has come back, or never even went away to begin with.

So here, we’ve rounded up the best series that the decade has to offer in both terms of entertainment and style. These are shows that serve as a reflection of a bygone era that might feel so far off if you look at the current landscape, from the catwalks of fashion week to the streets of hip neighborhoods from Bushwick to Echo Park. So, get out your walkman, fire up Jagged Little Pill or Illmatic, and settle in for a look back at the most stylish ‘90s TV shows.

Seinfeld

Aired: 1989-1998

These four sociopaths aren't the first people you think of when the word stylish comes to mind. But as any Seinfeld superfan knows (and aren't we all Seinfeld superfans?) fashion was a huge part of this iconic series. Some of the show's most memorable gags and greatest jokes came at the hands, or rather, the expense of something style-related—word to the Puffy Shirt. Elaine even wrote for a men's clothing catalog, the same one that provided her funniest boss and one of the show's best recurring clowns, the god J. Peterman. Plus, in a more straightforward sense, Jerry's kick game was lowkey very next.

Freaks and Geeks

Aired: 1999-2000

As 21 Jump Street revealed, things just ain't the same in high schools these days. What was once considered geeky and weird is now cool. Or rather, it's cool to be geeky and weird. If that was the case during Freaks and Geeks' short-lived, but instantly classic run, then we wouldn't even have that one season. Lindsay and her army jacket, along with the lumbering Jason Segel and too-cool-for-these herbs James Franco would be positively flourishing today, style-wise, at least. They'd probably still have some other issues and stuff.

Melrose Place

Aired: 1992-1999

While the kids over at 90210 had the young, hip look locked down, the adults at and on Melrose picked up the maturity mantle (even though the soap operatic storylines were tellingly similar). Ever wonder what a California yuppie looked like? Venture no further than the rotating cast of [melo]drama kings and queens at 4616 Melrose.

Singled Out

Aired: 1995-1998

The '90s were a weird time for fashion, and even though hindsight is 20/20, the style of the era sometimes wins for most laughable, what-were-they-thinking moments, even over the '70s and '80s. Singled Out, MTV's ridiculous dating show (one of the categories facing contestants was, simply, "Butt"), encapsulates so much of the best, the worst, and the bizarre of what dudes at the time wore out of the house—often with the express attempt at pulling chicks—that we once dedicated an entire list to the clothes contestants wore. Acid wash, waist-tied hoodies, wild hair, and zero fucks given: It doesn't get more '90s or more MTV.

Family Matters

Aired: 1989-1997

Before Steve Urkel stepped up and stole the spotlight, Eddie Winslow was shining on Family Matters, no doubt spending Carl's cop checks to expand his vest game and stunt alongside his pal Waldo Geraldo Faldo. And while Urkel was swagless, his alter ego Stefan was nothing short of the black James Bond. Dude was even an Armani model.

Boy Meets World

Aired: 1993-2000

This show had all the bases covered: Corey Matthews became progressively brick-worthy by the final season, but his kick game was always fire; big brother Eric pulled off the his rare, winning, trademark alphet feat of pairing Hanes with a V-neck sweater that routinely put chicks under pressure; and Shawn? Poor, yes, but a freaking style prophet nonetheless.

The Wayans Bros

Aired: 1995-1999

Marlon and Shawn adhered to typical late '90s hip-hop influenced ‘fits (lots of denim jackets), and that's cool and everything. But Pops, with all his Foghorn Leghorn bluster and loud print shirts, was the true style maven of the family

City Guys

Aired: 1997-2001

First off, shame on you if you don't remember this B-sitcom classic. With clear intentions to be the black urban answer to Saved by the Bell, mischievous, but good-natured troublemakers Jamal and Chris had to at least attempt to meet Zack Morris and Screech on the style playing field. In that regard, they failed miserably, but most would. Along with a crew of equally goofy supporting cast members like L-Train (See? Urban!), City Guys may not have registered near Bell in any aspect, but independent of that, they put up a valiant effort. Dudes definitely looked like that group of high school kids you spotted skipping school on the subway.

Martin

Aired: 1992-1997

Martin, Tommy, and Cole kept their swag relatively reigned in—and what was up with Tommy always dressing extra casual for no reason?—but the style turned up several dials whenever IRL Martin broke out one of his colorful guest characters. Jerome's in the house, watch ya mouth

Beverly Hills, 90210

Aired: 1990-2000

This zip code was the premier teen drama of the '90s and maybe of all time, depending on who you ask. Initially, it was all about the culture shock the Walsh twins experience when they move on up to the affluent L.A. neighborhood. The show played out the same effect on the viewer, on a more meta level than just Brenda and Brandon being our POV characters. That means a community, and more importantly, a high school full of casually expensive shit.

But one of the funniest things about 90210 was that for all its themes, the kids themselves never balled out, except that crazy save David Silver, maybe. At least, they didn’t do it in an attention-grabbing way like Will Smith or Zack Morris. They just, quite simply, looked good, and you assumed whatever beachfront-type shirt they were rocking at the Peach Pit probably cost a grip.

House of Style

Aired: 1989-2000

Proof that MTV always had grander designs beyond music: this "reality show," originally hosted by Cindy Crawford, which aimed to hone in on the supermodel craze by going behind the scenes to expose industry operations, a day in the life of fashion types, and of course, hot topics like eating disorders. In between blowing the hard-hitting journalism, though, the series hosted celebrity guests who had earned a stylish rep, and as such, any given episode was sure to be full of glitz, glamour, and some impeccably dressed people.

The Cosby Show

Aired: 1984-1992

Sure, The Cosby Show only lasted a couple years into the decade before finishing off its storied run in '92. But with the '90s came Cousin Pam, a new addition to the Huxtable family, who, along with her fellow high school friends, gave the series a shot of pre-millennial youth. Couple Pam's on-trend friend Lance with the likes of Theo and Elvin, still killing it despite somewhat reduced roles, and The Cosby Show was fully equipped to compete with new upstarts of the time, like Saved by the Bell and The Fresh Prince.

Clueless

Aired: 1996-1999

The Clueless TV sequel series is correctly regarded as inferior to the teen movie classic from which it originated (recasting Alicia Silverstone didn't help matters either). But one thing that did translate flawlessly from the silver to the small screen was the next-level fashion sense Cher and her spoiled Beverly Hills classmates displayed. Donald Faison reprised his role as Dionne's boyfriend Murray, and along with his boy Sean, stunted like they took all their cues from Puff and Bad Boy, effectively keeping up with their fashion-forward female counterparts.

Saved By The Bell

Aired: 1989-1992

Sure, Zach Morris as a style icon of the ages is enough to necessitate Saved's spot on this list. But really, the only people on this show who weren't allowed to swag the fuck out were the adults. Slater flourished in consistent jock steez, any Screech outfit that you could hear yourself think over was probably fly, and Lisa Turtle and Kelly Kapowski were quite the fashionistas themselves. The whole Bayside crew was one impeccably dressed squad, which was honestly one of the key factors that helped it impact the zeitgeist as much as it did back in the day.

The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

Aired: 1990-1996

Is there any other choice for the top spot? Sure, barring guest stars and Jazz, Will is the only truly stylish person on the series amongst the super-prepped out Banks family (although latter-series Ashley was pretty fly, too). But the Fresh Prince is really all you need, especially when the freshness lives up to the self-proclamation. His influence is only given more weight today, since fashion is cyclical and you have dudes matching their Retro Js with the loud outfits Will used to sport when he took over Cali, or citing his style in court in the People vs. the Male Crop Top.

Models Inc.

Aired: 1994-1995

This short-lived spin-off of Melrose Place (itself a spin-off of Beverly Hills, 90210) may have only lasted one season, but it made a pretty big style statement during its brief tenure. Centering on an upscale modeling agency based in sunny Los Angeles, the show featured a coterie of PYTs and their keeper, Hillary Michaels, owner and head of the eponymous agency. The young women were dressed in their mid-nineties finest, including minimalist slip dresses that would make Helmut Lang proud. Michaels was no slouch in her strong-shouldered businesswoman attire, either. Looking back, these things are foundational ideas for brands like Narciso Rodriguez and Calvin Klein and the clunky businesswear that, though just a few years ago looked regrettable, has been made runway-worthy with the ironic stylings of Vetements and Balenciaga, both helmed by Demna Gvasilia.

My So-Called Life

Aired: 1994-1995

Though it only aired for one season, My So-Called Life presaged the era of prestige television and its mix of reality and theatricality. The main story dealt with the day-to-day dealings of the glum teenageer Angela Chase and her orbit of friends, but later came to encompass her entire world, including her parents and their lives and relationships. In addition to its searingly real presentation of the ambiguities of adolescence, it captured the awkward beauty of those years when one begins to tell the story of themselves through clothes. Angela wore moody, grunge-tinted dresses and clunky boots, and looked warily out behind her dyed-red hair, while her gay friend Ricki—a landmark portrayal of an LGBT character—wore make-up. To this day, many a girl is happy to admit what an inspiration Angela was, both then and now.

Twin Peaks

Aired: 1990-1991 David Lynch’s twisted, surreal portrayal of a small town in mourning over the horrific death of a local girl is experiencing a serious revival, in no small part thanks to Showtime’s sequel. But the strangeness and experimental nature of Lynch’s storytelling is a certain inspiration for today’s TV auteurs. In terms of style, Twin Peaks took place in a small town in the Northwest, and its lumberjack and outdoorsy aesthetic can be felt in the Americana look that has so thoroughly captured the imagination of Japan. Lynch’s eye for color and kitsch—and the way he deploys it to highlight the dread lying just below the placid surface of quotidian events—is the technique of a master storyteller at the top of his form.