This Is What Cool Girls Were Wearing in July 20 Years Ago

by Allyson Payer

Twenty years ago, the '90s were starting to come to a close and the aesthetic of the decade was fully formed. Sorry to be meta, but you might even say that it was peak '90s. And since that decade is such an overarching theme in 2018, we were curious to see exactly what the coolest girls were wearing in July 1998, in both the spirit of nostalgia and in hopes that we'd walk away with some fresh outfit or shopping inspiration. Sure enough, we got both.

Cool girls such as Halle Berry, Cameron Diaz, Sarah Jessica Parke and Leelee Sobieski were living in a world of slip dresses and skirts, tube tops, pouch bags, and platforms—and we're 100% here for it. The 15 photos below are providing a slew of summer outfit inspiration, so read on to see what the coolest girls were wearing exactly 20 years ago. Then, shop pieces inspired by the July 1998 looks at the end.

best summer outfits 90s: Halle Berry wearing vest top and black skirt

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Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

As Halle Berry shows here, it doesn't get more classic '90s cool girl than a spaghetti-strap tank top and a slip skirt paired with strappy sandals.

best summer outfits 90s: Leelee Sobieski wearing animal print dress

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Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

Leelee Sobieski wore a maxi dress in July 1998 that makes us see why the leopard-print trend is back with such a vengeance.

best summer outfits 90s: Salma Hayek wearing body con lilac dress

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Barry King/Liaison/Getty Images

Salma Hayek wore three things that people are wearing again in 2018: lavender, pouch bags and minimal sandals.

best summer outfits 90s: Sarah Jessica Parker wearing pink skirt and black cami top

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Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

Leave it to SJP to find the easiest-to-copy outfit of July 1998.

best summer outfits 90s:Lark Voorhies wears high waisted jeans and black top

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Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

Saved by the Bell's Lark Voorhies proved that straight-leg jeans and a sweetheart neckline will always be a good combo.

best summer outfits 90s: Cindy Crawford wears pink mini dress

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Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

Who wore it best—Cindy Crawford or Barbie? (Answer: Cindy Crawford.)

best summer outfits 90s: Michelle Williams wears black boob tube dress

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Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

Michelle William's choker, strapless LBD and furry shoes make for a combination we've definitely seen repeated in the current decade.

best summer outfits 90s: Jennifer Lopez wears white slip dress

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Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Two observations: Jennifer Lopez clearly doesn't age, and she could undoubtedly get away with wearing this chic slip dress today.

best summer outfits 90s: Claire Danes wears blue sheath dress

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Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

If it's the '90s minimalist look that you love the most, look no further than Claire Danes' simple sheath dress and slingback sandals. TBH, '90s style doesn't get more timeless than this.

best summer outfits 90s: Cameron Diaz wears tube top and low slung jeans

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Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

Cameron Diaz's tube top and low-slung trousers were a uniform for many cool girls in the late '90s.

best summer outfits 90s: Jennifer Aniston wears red sheath dress

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David Keeler/Online USA/Getty Images

Jennifer Aniston (and plenty of others who are in-the-know) have been wearing sheath dresses for years.

best summer outfits 90s: Jessica Biel wears boob tube top and black mini skirt

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Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

Believe it or not, everything about Jessica Biel's quintessential '90s look is back in style: oval glasses, ruched tube top, miniskirt, anklet and platform shoes included. We'll just ignore those tan lines.