Pastel colors, known for their soft and delicate hues, have a long history of popularity in fashion and design. But were they truly a defining trend of the 1990s decade? Let’s take a look at the evidence.
The Definition of Pastels
First, what exactly are pastel colors? Pastels refer to soft, pale tints of colors that are created by mixing a saturated hue with lots of white. Some of the most common pastel shades are pale pink, mint green, lavender, baby blue, peach, and light yellow.
True pastels have a very muted appearance and lack the vividness of primary colors. They are meant to have a soothing, delicate effect. Think Easter eggs, baby showers, and springtime blooms.
Pastels in Previous Decades
Pastels have come in and out of fashion many times over the past century. Light and powdery pastels were hugely popular during the 18th century and the Victorian era. Women often wore pastel gowns decorated with flowers, ribbons, and ruffles.
In the 1930s, pastel clothing represented the casual elegance of resort wear and wealthy leisure. Brands like Lilly Pulitzer became known for their pastel prints and summery dresses.
During the 1980s, pastels were largely shunned for the vibrant neon colors that defined this decade. However, in the 1970s, muted earth tones and pastels became mainstream as people embraced a laidback, natural look.
The Rise of Pastels in 90s Fashion
Moving into the 90s, pastels began to emerge again as a softer contrast to the bold 80s aesthetic. Major fashion trends included:
- Pale pinks, mints, and lavenders in women’s clothing and accessories
- Lightwashed and acid washed denim jackets and jeans
- Babydoll dresses and skirts in airy pastel fabrics like chiffon and satin
- Pastel pantsuits with floral prints and shoulder pads
- Pastel polo shirts and sweaters for men
- Light colored suits for men, often in shades like powder blue, peach, or pale yellow
Hollywood helped drive the pastel fashion trend. Drew Barrymore and Alicia Silverstone often wore girly pastel dresses in iconic 90s movies like Clueless and Never Been Kissed. The softer look was seen as feminine and romantic.
Pastels in 90s Home Decor
Beyond clothing, pastel colors also became trendy in home decor in the 1990s. Some popular examples included:
- Pale wood finishes – Whitewashed and painted wood furniture was desirable over darker woods. Platform beds with pastel finishings were common in youth bedrooms.
- Wall paint colors – Soft green, lavender, peach, and blue painted walls moved away from the neutrals of the 1980s.
- Floral print upholstery – Pastel florals were used on couches and armchairs, sometimes with a vintage style.
- Pastel tiles – For kitchens and bathrooms, colored tiles in pink, mint, yellow, etc. provided a retro appeal.
- Baby nurseries – Pastel yellow, green, or blue painted walls with white trim were popular choices for both boy and girl nurseries.
The youthful, feminine quality of pastels helped create a casual chic style of decorating. Cottagecore and shabby chic aesthetics also emerged at this time.
Were Pastels Dominant Throughout the 90s?
While pastels had a strong influence in the early 1990s, some other trends did emerge to challenge them as the decade progressed. A few examples:
- Grunge style – Darker, muted colors like maroon, forest green, brown, and grey became popular thanks to the grunge music scene.
- Athleisure – Sporty styles that incorporated brighter, bolder colors became desirable for casualwear.
- Neutral minimalism – Many homes pared down decoration and opted for muted neutrals and earth tones.
However, even when bolder colors were in vogue, pastels still maintained a solid presence in 90s fashion and design. Their softness provided balance against harsher trends.
Data on Popular 1990s Colors
Looking at color data helps quantify the popularity of pastels compared to other shades in the 1990s. The table below shows the top 10 colors sold in the United States each year from 1990-1999, according to the Color Association of the United States:
| Year | Top 10 Colors |
|---|---|
| 1990 | Medium pink, light blue, bright blue, bright green, bright pink, violet, peach, gray, yellow, black |
| 1991 | Medium pink, bright blue, bright pink, light blue, peach, gray, violet, yellow, black, white |
| 1992 | Medium pink, bright blue, bright pink, peach, violet, light blue, yellow, gray, hunter green, black |
| 1993 | Medium pink, bright pink, hunter green, violet, teal, peach, light blue, burnt orange, bright blue, yellow |
| 1994 | True red, bright blue, teal, bright pink, blue green, peach, violet, yellow, gray, hunter green |
| 1995 | Medium pink, teal, bright blue, true red, yellow, blue green, gray, sky blue, black, violet |
| 1996 | Medium pink, teal, lime green, sky blue, gray, blue green, true red, black, violet, yellow |
| 1997 | Medium pink, teal, lime green, sky blue, gray, blue green, peach, violet, yellow, eggplant |
| 1998 | Lime green, sky blue, medium pink, teal, blue green, gray, eggplant, true red, yellow, peach |
| 1999 | Lime green, sky blue, medium pink, teal, blue green, violet, peach, true red, eggplant, yellow |
Pastel pink, peach, violet, and lavender show up frequently in the yearly top 10 lists. Medium or bright pink was the number one best-selling color for six of the ten years. While bold brights and jewel tones also ranked highly, pastels did have a measurable popularity.
Conclusion
Based on an evaluation of 90s color trends in fashion, interior design, pop culture, and color data, pastels did have a definitive presence and influence. The soft, dreamy quality of pastels aligned with the casual, feminine styles that many embraced during this decade.
However, while pastels were certainly popular, they were not the only colors prevalent in the 90s. Bolder hues and darker neutrals also had a place. The decade was defined by a wide spectrum of shades across various styles and tastes.
In the end, the 90s were a time of great diversity and individuality in design. Though pastels were a go-to for their romantic charm, people felt free to incorporate colors across the board to express personal style. The eclectic mix of shades was what ultimately defined 1990s color trends.
