The Red Carpet Trend From The '90s That Everyone Forgot About
The '90s minimalism is making a comeback in day-to-day fashion, and many remember it once had a place on the red carpet. Unlike the over-the-top red carpet looks of the late 20th Century and early millenium — such as Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake's unforgettable Canadian tuxedo moment at the 2001 American Music Awards — some celebs chose to wear surprisingly casual outfits to formal-adjacent events. Stars like Cher, Madonna, and Tyra Banks rolled up to the fanciest awards show ceremonies in looks that were better suited for a grocery run than a red carpet appearance. Even the iconic actress Julia Roberts got in on the trend, wearing a striped T-shirt and pajama-esque elastic waistband trousers to the 1993 ShoWest convention – now known as CinemaCon.
Jeff Kravitz & Taylor Hill/Getty
Outfits like Roberts were '90s minimalism at its most extreme; looking back at them today, it is clear that expectations for celebrities have shifted drastically. At the 2026 Met Gala, for example, model Bhavitha Mandava was the subject of a massive online debate for her controversial outfit. Mandava was dressed by Chanel in a time-consuming silk muslin ensemble that was designed to look like a casual pair of blue jeans and a quarter-zip top. This was the same outfit Mandava was wearing when she made fashion history as the first Indian model to open a Chanel show at the brand's Métiers d'Art 2026 New York presentation. While the outfit fit within the constraints of the event's "Fashion As Art" dress code (and took over 250 hours to craft), netizens argued about whether or not Mandava looked too low-key for the event. There's no doubt: It doesn't matter if you're an up-and-coming model or an A-lister, trying out red carpet minimalism today will likely earn you some online criticism.
Some celebs are trying to bring the casual vibe of the '90s back
While '90s minimalism is generally considered inappropriate for 2020s red carpets, some celebs are challenging the former fashion faux pas. Singer Olivia Rodrigo made headlines in 2023 by wearing an ultra-casual Y2k-inspired look to that year's Billboard Women in Music awards. Low-rise jeans experienced a resurgence in 2023. Rodrigo capitalized on the trend in a pair of khaki low-rise pants with a horse design on the right thigh, which she paired with a brown leather tube top.
Rodrigo isn't the only celeb trying to bring back red carpet minimalism little by little. Young British singer-songwriter PinkPantheress, known for her casual Y2k style off the red carpet as well, attended Spotify's 2026 Best New Artist Party in red leggings and a high-necked satin tunic. Back in 2022, Katie Holmes wore a blue corset top, jeans, and running shoes to walk the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball red carpet. With so many '90s and early aughts fashion trends coming back in style, we wouldn't be surprised if minimalism was the next one to make its way back to the red carpet in full force.