It’s hard to talk about 1990s pop culture without bringing up The Spice Girls. Whether you’re familiar with their hit song Wannabe, or you have a parent who loves 1990s music, you’ve probably heard of them in some capacity. The British girl group skyrocketed into success in 1996 with their debut album SPICE breaking international records, which would eventually lead to world tours, movie deals, and countless award nominations. While their music still holds up today, something that definitely contributed to their popularity was their style, with each member having their own persona: Scary Spice, Sporty Spice, Baby Spice, Ginger Spice, and Posh Spice. Each girl had a completely different aesthetic, allowing fans to see parts of their own style in one of the members. (I took a “Which Spice Girl Are You” quiz, and it turns out, I’m Baby Spice. The more you know.) Similarly, each of the members were extremely innovative with what they wore, inspiring and popularizing many of the fashion trends in the late 1990s and promoting individuality. Through their unique personas, The Spice Girls influenced almost every area of women’s fashion during the turn of the century.
Scary Spice:
If you’ve noticed an influx in animal print fashion during the late 1990s and early 2000s, that is largely due to one of the more well known members of the band, Scary Spice. Her nickname, Scary, came from how outspoken and confident she was (apparently she was not one to be messed with). While some may see it as having negative connotations, many women admired her boldness, making her one of the most popular members of the group. Scary Spice, also known as Mel B, was known for her extremely edgy style with touches of animal print. Animal print, which had been popular during the early to mid 20th century, had gone out of fashion due to the rise of animal rights activism. Scary Spice, however, re-popularized it by wearing it in ways that did not harm animals, through faux fur and leathers as well as printed fabrics.
Scary Spice also popularized crop tops, mesh clothing, low rise pants, platform shoes, and matching sets with cutouts. By wearing her hair in gravity defying styles, she showcased her curly hair while other curly headed celebrities made efforts to straighten theirs. Notable characters from popular 1990s and early 2000s tv shows such as Rachel Green from Friends and Lizzie from Lizzie Mcguire saw animal print creep into their wardrobes as well, along with the early 2000s bringing us The Cheetah Girls, conveying just how widespread the trend became. Even Mimi Marquez from the hit late 1990s musical Rent is known for her leopard print motifs. Scary Spice’s edgier and experimental style really spoke to young people during the late 1990s and early 2000s, and we can still see some of that influence today, most notably in Dolce and Gabbana’s Spring/Summer 2023 collection, which featured an all leopard print look.
Sporty Spice:
One of the first things that comes to my mind when thinking about late 1990s fashion is tracksuits. Sporty Spice, or Mel C, was famous for popularizing athleisure, a term that was coined in the late 1970s, and which, however, saw a resurgence during the rise of the Spice Girls’ popularity. She was given her nickname because of her ability to perform backflips onstage during their concerts, which she later became famous for. With her constant emphasis on dressing comfortably, Sporty Spice was a walking masterclass on how to style athletic clothing. Adidas tracksuits, windpants, chunky sneakers, and jerseys were staples of Sporty Spice’s wardrobe. With her crop tops and high ponytail, she made dressing comfortably and casually look genuinely cool. She specifically popularized the wearing of British football jerseys, which crept their way into American fashion. Brands such as Fila, Tommy Hilfiger, and Champion were well known for their athleisure styles in the 1990s, and even take inspiration from 1990s athletic wear in their current fashion lines. Moreover, Sporty Spice was unapologetically a tomboy, allowing fans who weren’t as fond of ultra-feminine styles to see a celebrity dress like them. Sporty Spice’s style influence can be seen on other celebrities such as Britney Spears, and even Bella Hadid.
Even Glee’s Sue Sylvester is seen only in Adidas tracksuits in varying colors, and I think we can attribute that to Sporty Spice making the trend as widespread as it was.
Baby Spice:
Baby Spice, or Emma Bunton, brought a light hearted touch of femininity to the Spice Girls. To quote a Nylon.com article, “She brought a playfulness to the Girl Power movement, made it more consumable to those who may not have seen themselves in the fashionable portrayal of Posh..portrayal in Ginger. Through Baby, the message of girl power could resonate with a younger demographic.” I don’t think I could’ve put it better myself. Her go-to look consisted of slip dresses, platform sneakers, pigtails, and anything in light pink. While her nickname “Baby” didn’t come from the way she acted, but rather from the fact that she was the youngest of the group, she didn’t let that stop her from influencing what she wore.
Out of all the members, she had an innocent way of dressing that proved to those who wanted to dress more modestly that you can do so and still have style. Because of her self confidence, Baby Spice was reportedly the favorite member of the group, because she was unapologetically feminine and simple with what she wore. Often taking inspiration from the 1960s with mini dresses and go-go boots, Baby Spice’s style could easily be found in any thrift shop or “vintage style” Pinterest board today. We can see some of her style influence on TV characters such as Cassie from HBO’s Euphoria, Lizzie from Lizzie Mcguire, and occasionally Phoebe Buffay from Friends.
Ginger Spice:
Out of all of the members, Ginger Spice’s persona is probably the least obvious when you hear her name. To give some background, Ginger Spice, or Geri Halliwell, was given her nickname simply because of her fiery, ginger hair. Her overall persona was, to put it simply, “the sassy one,” with her politically assertive nature.
Her style, which is one of the most memorable of the group, reflects her personality perfectly, with red being a constant in her wardrobe. Her most well known look, which would go down in the fashion history books as one of the most recognizable pop culture fashion moments of the 1990s, was her Union Jack mini dress, which she wore to the 1997 Brit Awards. The Union Jack (or British flag) dress, which would later be auctioned off in 1998 for a whopping £41,320, was a symbol of British optimism, while Britain was in a period of economic prosperity. Besides the Union Jack dress, Ginger Spice’s style included crop tops, mini dresses, tight bodysuits, sequins, and of course, anything red. She freely dressed the most provocatively of any of the members, radiating a self-confidence that many women during the turn of the century strongly identified with. Although Ginger Spice’s free and “sassy” style spoke to many fans, it was ultimately her unapologetic pride for being British that inspired many fans in a post-Thatcher England. The Union Jack dress would go on to be replicated hundreds of times, becoming an iconic symbol of fashion being used to send a larger and more important message.
Posh Spice:
Posh Spice remains one of the less immediately recognizable members of the band, particularly because her style was far more simple and down to earth than many of the other members. If you didn’t see yourself in Baby, Ginger, Scary, or Sporty, chances are you saw yourself in Posh. Posh Spice, or Victoria Beckham, had a simplistic yet chic personal style that is best explained as, well, posh.
She was specifically drawn to monochromatic looks in black and white, leaning into the minimalistic styles of the mid 1990s. She popularized “the little Gucci dress,” which was her staple black mini dress, along with small, round sunglasses, bikini tops worn as regular tops, and mod mini skirts inspired by the 1960s. Her style feels like maybe she took some influence from Jackie Kennedy. Her sleek and simple style made her feel like the 1990s version of “that girl,” because she made her style look so effortless. She was also an early pioneer of celebrity “street style,” with her paparazzi fashion moments being some of her most recognizable. Victoria Beckham would go on to start her own fashion label in 2008, which sold her sophisticated look to fans everywhere and gained her much respect in the fashion world.
The Spice Girls’ fashion legacy is, in a few words, all about individualism. While I’m sure they amplified their style based on their specific and beloved personas, their innovation and experimentation make them some of the most influential fashion icons of the 1990s. They gave fans everywhere the ability to point to their TV screen and see themselves to some degree in one of the members. Whether you were bold like Scary, tomboyish like Sporty, feminine like Baby, sassy like Ginger, or sophisticated like Posh, you were given the tools to explore your individualism through style. I think we can all learn from the Spice Girls and their fearless self expression.
By Chloe Stefani ‘24, Fashion Editor
