20 Wardrobe Staples You Definitely Owned in the '90s

Image via Complex Original

Your emo phase lasted about as long as My So-Called Life if you didn't have one of these on your finger to let the shorties know how you feelin' today.

One of the top brands of the decade and now just something people resort to when they're trying to stunt like they have Prada kicks.

With which to frost your tips, of course. Don't front like you didn't, at the very least, consider getting like JT and them.

One strap down or fail.

T-shirts bearing thugged out drawings of your favorite cartoon characters? Honestly, this is like five months away from circling back to the front of the trend watch.

Before Timbs got them all the way out of the paint, Lugz were battling for top hip-hop approved street stompers at one point.

These borderline parachute pants were one of the most poppin' jean brands out. The '90s were a really misguided time, dog.

To complete the snapback cypher.

There's a reason Drake martyred himself to the meme gods for the throwback-themed "No New Friends" video. Nothing quite says '90s steez like a well coordinated Dada alphet.

Hard to believe these days, but don't disrespect LL's legacy. Dude was a major influencer in his heyday. The biggest hit on his lengthy resumé? Fubu, hands down. 'For us,' must-cop.

The rare stripe down the side to set you apart from the basic-denim ass pack.

Sure, it came much later in the decade, but when Dame and Jigga made their foray into fashion it was an instant must-have-or-you-ain't-shit scenario. The proof is in Jay's bars: "Rocawear, 80 mil in like, 18 months/y'all can bullshit with rap if you want!"

The alternative to bling until you walked out of the house and noticed your sister rocking the exact same piece. Never again.

It takes a swag lord of extreme royalty to pull off a hoop earring, so of course only the decade's most legendary fashion killers even attempted. We're talking Michael Jordan, Tommy the White Power Ranger (pictured above for the Mighty Morphin' uninitiated unfortunates), David Silver from 90210...true winners who fooled you into thinking you could even approach their level.

Another example of how wild we used to look on the jeans wave. Progress is a slow process.

Before ScHoolboy Q brought it back 'round recently, it was the likes of Hova and the Roc Boys. 

Before Kanye re-popularized them, the original non-Mike Jordans icon was undoubtedly his holiness of Bel-Air. On any given episode from the very first one forward, there was a high probability Will would complete his cypher with a new fresh pair for you to whine to Mom about copping.

A classic staple in punk footwear so much so that it didn't even have to fall off and come back—they never left.

Before smack cam there was this great, fun way to get away with abusing your friends. Or yourself when you needed a jolt to stay awake in seventh period French.

No matter what comments Tommy did or didn't make in the aftermath, Hilfiger's standing as one of the most prolific brands in the '90s rap community.