In the 1990s, fashion for teen men varied widely. From the grunge influence of the Seattle grunge-rock movement led by popular bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Radiohead, to the hip-hop influence of rappers like Will Smith and MC Hammer that popularized wearing baggy clothes, the fashion trends of the 1990s for teen men were diverse and unique.
Grunge
The Seattle grunge rock movement of the early 1990s led by bands like Nirvana, created a fashion trend for teen men that revolved around plaid flannel shirts and jeans. Some variations of this style included wearing a band T-shirt with the plaid flannel shirt tied around your waist, and wearing ripped jeans with holes in them. The grunge look faded with grunge music, but it lasted for most of the 1990s.
Hip-Hop
A style that was almost directly opposite of the grunge look was the hip-hop style. Rapper Vanilla Ice and the hit television show "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" led to the proliferation of this hip-hop style with its baggy clothes and big sneakers. Nike shoes and various other brands, like Doc Martens, with big soles became popular, as did big baggy pants and Starter jackets of various professional sports teams. The hip-hop style was mostly flashy, with bright colors and big clothes, whereas the grunge style was more subdued.
Global Styles
Another fashion style for teen men in the 1990s was the rise of different global influences in fashion and the presence of other cultural influences in some of the clothes worn by teenagers. Fashion from Africa and Europe became popular among teens. Ethnic print shirts from other countries were also worn by teenagers, perhaps as a way of declaring their cultural awareness.
Hippie Styles
Hippie style also returned in the 1990s. For women, it was bell-bottom jeans that made a comeback. For teen men in the 1990s, brightly colored sweatshirts with baggy jeans were popular, along with clothing that made some kind of statement, either political or otherwise, such as "Greenpeace" T-shirts. Dread locks and long hair were also prominent.