Most of us want to keep up with the latest fashion trends and can go shopping to choose whatever we like. However, in post-USSR Russia, Western clothes were not easily accessible. With the USSR ceasing to exist in 1991, it meant that new and exciting fashion trends from overseas started seeping into Russia. 

Young people were eager to dress like teens from the USA or Europe, but there was a slight problem; shops did not sell trendy clothes that featured in Western magazines. This meant fashion enthusiasts had to recreate every piece of clothing they wanted from looking at magazines.

Trends in men’s fashion

One of the main emerging trends were jeans or t-shirts with branded logos. Some people sewed logos to elevate their pieces for a ‘cooler’ look, while others with relatives or friends living abroad would often ask for branded clothing items to be sent. 

In mens fashion, there was a rising popularity of tracksuits, with brands such as Adidas becoming a fashion staple. Along with athleisure pieces gaining popularity, Russian men in the 90’s often gravitated towards raspberry-coloured jackets, making them a trendy statement piece in men’s fashion.

Raspberry-coloured jacket

Russian men would also wear leather jackets. Brought in from abroad by diplomats, tourists, sailors and military advisors, these fashion pieces were highly sought after by male fashion-lovers.

When the weather got colder, Russian men would often boil their jeans for a certain aesthetic and often pair them with bologna jackets. 

Trends in women’s fashion

Women too kept up with major fashion trends, with many opting to wear voluminous silk shirts or dresses with floral prints. Russian fashionistas would also choose to wear headbands and corduroy trousers with a wide variety of colours.

Voluminous silk shirt.

Additionally, bold colors were staples for 90’s fashion in Russia. Leggings of all colours were extremely popular, with colours such as acid green, lemon yellow,