90s Fashion Inspiration with Vintage Expert Andreina Mendez

by Carley Lake | Last Updated:   May 29, 2020

I don’t know how I stumbled on Andreina’s Instagram but I remember I heavily stalked and found myself on images from 2017… The Venezuelan-born visual merchandiser and vintage store owner’s style looks effortless, like she spent 10 minutes getting ready in the AM, while still pulling together the ideal cool-girl outfit. She exudes an I-don’t-care-what-you-think confidence that makes you want to care even more about her and her style. Read below to get 90s fashion inspiration. Follow her on Instagram for more of her looks and her uncensored thoughts on political and social issues in Venezuela. Just be careful; you won’t want to stop consuming her feed.

So, who are you? 🙂

My name is Andreina Mendez. I’m from Venezuela but have lived in Argentina for almost 9 years and now temporarily living in Chicago. I have a vintage store called As If! (because of the catchy phrase from the 90s movie Clueless). I also do visual merchandising.

How do you describe your style and where do you get your 90s fashion inspiration? 

I can’t really say I have a specific style. It really depends on my mood and occasion. I love the dramatic shoulder pads and puffy sleeves of the 80s as much as I love the minimalism style of Winona Ryder and Kate Moss in the 90s, my 90s fashion inspiration. 

How did you get into vintage clothing? 

I think It all started with me having a need I didn’t know I had. I was kind of bored with the fast fashion stores and one Sunday I went to a flea market in my city in Venezuela. There I found a pair of vintage Levi’s that became my favorite item. It felt like I found gold and after that, I kept visiting that flea market for years. 

What are your tips for people who want to integrate 90s fashion inspiration into their wardrobes but don’t know where to start? 

First I’d start by saying that not all vintage is flamboyant and extravagant. You can find amazing vintage pieces that look current, so you can start from choosing classic but cool items. Do a little bit of research on decades you can relate to and find out why (in terms of clothing). That way, when you go to a vintage store you won’t feel that lost. 

What is your go-to look?

My go-to look is vintage Levi’s shorts, (if the weather is cold I wear tights underneath them), a black cozy cardigan I bought at Salvation Army, and any top, blouse or t-shirt I find in my closet, and my classic Reebok sneakers.

What’s a piece in your closet you wear to make more of a statement?

I have this leather jacket that my aunt gave me from when she was 17 and it has huge sleeves. I look like an NFL football player and I love it!

What brands vintage stores do you love and get even more vintage outfit inspiration? 

I can always say Salvation Army. In Buenos Aires, Argentina, there is this store called De La Provincia that I love. For the US I like Kokorokoko Vintage (which specializes in 90s fashion inspiration) in Chicago. In Seville, Spain, Oh Lalá Vintage is by go-to, and in Berlin and across Europe it’s Humana.

Check Out Sustainable Brands and Secondhand Platforms Bringing 90s Fashion Inspiration

Ace & Jig

Price: Dresses, jumpsuits, shirts, pants and more from $100-$350

Throughout their many years collaborating at fashion brand, friends and co-workers Cary Vaughan and Jenna Wilson spent a lot of time bonding over a mutual love of antique textiles and how it would someday play into their own line. Enter Ace & Jig, the fabric-focused collections they launched in 2009. Centered around on one-of-a-kind materials sourced from India, Ace & Jig clothing is packed with playful, personality-filled pieces—think slouchy plaid shifts, the striped Ace & Jig Heather Top, and graphic tanks—guaranteed to elevate both your outfit and mood.

Amour Vert 

Price: Tops range from $40 to $160

Amour Vert has sustainable basics and bright, colorful pieces so it definitely belongs in some 90s fashion inspiration . Items are made in limited quantities to ensure the highest production standard and eliminate excess waste.

In addition, 97% of items are made in California, most within a few miles of its San Francisco offices. Amour Vert also partner directly with mills to develop fabrics that are sustainable, soft, and durable. And the brand starts with the most sustainable fibers and raw materials available. 

Baggu 

Price: Bags from $10-$260 

The brand’s goal is to make every bag you need for your daily routines. Baggu creates products to have long, useful lives. The design uses minimal waste and sustainable materials. The company also has a long-standing partnership with its manufacturer in China, which is committed to ethical and environmentally responsible practices. Learn more here.

Birkenstock 

Price: Shoes from $39-$150

Along with a cushioned, crazy comfortable footbed, and effortless, slip-on slip-off design, every pair of Birkenstock shoes has nearly three hundred years of history built in. Over the last decades (including the 90s!), styles like the Birkenstock Arizona sandals and Boston clogs have proved enduringly popular, seamlessly transitioning from the go-to accessory of ‘60s hippies, to a grungy ’90s-era staple, to, most recently, one of the most frequently spotted shoes on street style blogs.

Boyish

Price: Shirts, jeans, jumpsuits, and more from $40-$150

Boyish Jeans is a collection of sustainable women’s denim founded by California native, Jordan Nodarse. Inspired by the stylish women who often describe their personal style as “Boyish”, the brand utilizes men’s fabrics and fits tailored for a woman’s body when creating all collections.

Boyish utilizes ethical and sustainable practices when developing and manufacturing its products. All jeans are produced with sustainable fabrics through a completely environmentally-friendly and cruelty-free process. Boyish Jeans’ efforts in sustainable fashion include working with ethical factories, using less harmful chemicals during the dyeing process, utilizing one-third of the amount of water typically needed to produce a pair of jeans, and working exclusively with recycled fabrics and materials for everything put out by the brand.  

Stella McCartney  

Price: Shoes, dresses, swimwear, shirts, pants, and more from $70-$1,000+

After successfully following in Karl Lagerfeld’s footsteps as the creative director of Chloé, designer Stella McCartney left in 2001 to launch her own ethically-minded label. Her cruelty-free line, which avoids fur and leather and practices sustainable production, is proof that vegan materials can be wildly covetable. The collection’s irresistible mix of sharp menswear influence and whimsical femininity has kept Stella McCartney clothing, bags, and swimwear in high demand ever since.

Fjällräven

Price: Bags $30-$150

As a teenager, designer Ake Nordin was already breaking new ground in the outdoor apparel industry. After discovering that popular backpacks did not offer optimum comfort and ventilation, Nordin borrowed his mother’s sewing machine and set to work on his first item: a framed backpack. That original concept eventually turned into Fjällräven, Nordin’s line of functional, durable, and chic outdoor equipment. Since its launch in the 1960s, Fjällräven backpacks and equipment make up a revolutionary, premier collection of smart and innovative adventure gear.

RE/DONE 

Price: Jeans $150 – $300 

RE/DONE jeans are a celebration of Levi’s jean’s past and a continuation of the jean’s story. The brand takes the vintage denim apart at the seams, repurposing it as the fabric of new jeans. All jeans are remade in Downtown Los Angeles uses water-conserving methods and no harsh chemicals. Quantities are limited since each pair is handpicked, hand-cut, and one-of-a-kind.

Veja

Price: $90 – $170 

Since 2005, VEJA’s goal is to create sneakers differently by mixing social projects, ecological materials, and design. The brand uses organic cotton and Amazonian rubber directly from producer associations based in Brazil and Peru. It also uses recycled plastic bottles to create a mesh in some sneakers.

‘A Curated Thrift’ Subscription Box

Price: $35 – $44 a month

A Curated Thrift is a clothing subscription box that sends curated secondhand fashion & vintage straight to your door. Just choose your box type and fill out the fun and quick style survey. First box ships in one week and every box after that ships the first two weeks of the month. Use coupon code 2020SUMMER to get 20% off your entire order.

ASOS Marketplace

Price: Varies by seller

Now don’t go to the typical ASOS site you may be used to—check out Marketplace instead. Marketplace launched in 2010 with just 20 sellers and since then we’ve become the leading online platform for independent brands and vintage boutiques. 800 boutiques from across the globe have a storefront on ASOS Marketplace. You will find plenty of small business stores giving you 90s fashion inspiration.

You can find all your 90s fashion inspiration favorites like vintage 90s sportswear from brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Champion, artisanal hand-made jewelry, and more.

Etsy

Price: Varies

Etsy is a marketplace where people around the world connect to buy and sell handmade and vintage goods. Etsy also gives independent, creative businesses around the world the tools to be successful. Find vintage clothing, handmade gifts, and so much more sold directly from small businesses and designers. Again, so many small business stores giving 90s fashion inspiration.

Vestiaire Collective

Price: Varies, items are priced at up to 70% off retail price.

Vestiaire Collective is my favorite for premium and luxury pre-owned fashion due to its range of designers and deals. The global platform is unique due to its carefully curated catalog of over 600,000 desirable items. Once sold, pieces are expertly checked for quality and authenticity. Instead of buying new brands like Adidas, Champion, Dr. Martens giving 90s fashion inspiration you can get them second on Vestaire Collective.