They weren’t alive for dial-up. They don’t know the pain of Blockbuster late fees. But somehow, Gen Z is more obsessed with the 1990s than the people who actually lived through it. Maybe it’s a backlash against hyper-connected modern life. Maybe it’s just that the ’90s had better vibes. Either way, these kids are raiding our closets, scouring eBay for old toys, and posting filtered selfies that look straight out of a Delia’s catalog.
While it’s said that smell is the most nostalgic sense, hearing a familiar sound or seeing a forgotten trend come back from the dead can hit just as hard. Here are 13 things from the ’90s that Gen Z can’t get enough of, even if they don’t fully understand the context.
1. Tamagotchis
Those needy little pixelated pets are back in style. It has been heavily reported over the last couple of years that Gen Z is adopting Tamagotchis in the same way they adopt houseplants: with pride and a little bit of fear. New versions are on shelves, but vintage models are also being resold online for wild prices.
2. Disposable Cameras
Instead of their phone cameras, Gen Z is using disposables for parties and vacations to get that grainy, unpredictable aesthetic. It’s not about convenience, it’s all about vibes.
3. Fanny Packs
Once mocked as a dad joke, the fanny pack has made a full comeback. Worn across the chest or waist, it’s now a legit streetwear accessory in 2025.
4. Flip Phones
In a rejection of always-online culture, some Gen Zers are buying flip phones, or even dumber phones, to disconnect. Motorola Razrs are suddenly cool again.
5. Low-Rise Jeans
We tried to warn them. We begged them not to bring these back. But alas, low-rise jeans are once again in the wild, paired with baby tees and way too much confidence.
6. Platform Sneakers
From Buffalo shoes to Skechers Energy kicks, thick-soled sneakers are trending again—often paired with cargo pants or flared jeans for maximum ’90s mall-rat energy.
7. Butterfly Clips
These plastic hair accessories are everywhere on TikTok, especially in Y2K-inspired outfit videos. The more, the better—bonus points for glitter.
8. Instaprint Cameras and Polaroids
Yes, actual printed pictures. Instant-print cameras are hot again, and young people are filling their walls with physical photos like it’s 1997.
9. Cargo Pants
Baggy, pocket-covered, and undeniably practical, cargo pants have returned as both fashion statement and throwback. Gen Z rocks them just like we did with a lot of attitude.
10. Scrunchies
They’re soft, they’re colorful, and they don’t rip your hair out. Why did we ever stop wearing these again?
11. Game Boy & N64
Emulators are great, but Gen Z wants the actual hardware. There’s a thriving secondhand market for working Game Boys, and even old cartridges are being collected like vinyl. In fact, in the UK, 25% of Gen Z are reported to own a retro console, and 75% report playing old school games to relax.
12. VHS Tapes
Some Gen Zers are building collections of old Disney clamshell VHS tapes. They might not have a player, but it’s about the aesthetic—and the nostalgia for a time they never actually lived through.
13. Beanie Babies (Unironically)
Whether it’s for the cottagecore look or the retro irony, Beanie Babies are popping up again in dorm rooms, TikTok shelves, and thrift hauls. Gen Z has discovered what we always knew: they’re adorable—even if they never made us rich.
Nostalgia Never Dies
The ’90s were a lot of things—messy, weird, wonderfully analog. And now, thanks to Gen Z, they’re back in rotation. Whether it’s about standing out, slowing down, or just vibing, this new generation is finding joy in our old stuff.
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