Why is there so much nostalgia for the 90s?

Discussing how Gen-z are taking a nod at the 90s, with archived images which capture memories of life in Merseyside during the era.

Gen-z are completely drawn to ’90s nostalgia and to be honest, who's to blame them. Perhaps the obsession with the decade is the younger generation dreaming for a life before social-media and prior to how you look on Instagram being everyone's main focus, or a world before coronavirus. Currently the hashtag '90s’ on TikTok has 9.4B views, with creators sharing throwback compilation videos of students from the era and styling different 90s aesthetics being at the top of the popular online trend.

Working-class area's of Britain welcomed the 90s with open arms after over a decade of Thatcherism. The decade is renowned for not only its changing of technology and fashion but also its music. A recent survey by YouGov found that the ‘90s' is the UK’s most nostalgic era with 21% of people associating the era with its music. It was a time of drinking Hooch and 20/20 on the smoked filled dance-floors with the sounds of pop groups such as The Spicegirls and Take that, as well as Britpop bands such as Oasis and Blur. Not forgetting the dance and rave scene which saw trippy tunes played at illegal raves all over the UK.

“I was born in the wrong era” is a phrase that is constantly thrown about when the 90s are referenced and with the amount of pop culture trends from the era around in 2021, it's hard not to question would life be simpler back then? Fashion trends from back then have made a comeback with graphic baggy tee’s, check print skirts, flared jeans and shoulder bags, the list goes on. Fashion e-commerce sites such as ASOS and Motel Rocks even list their clothing under the term '90s' - whats that all about?

And It’s not just fashion which has a gaze of the 90s but music and film too. Even within the digital age, disposable cameras have too made a comeback with every British teen using one.

What was it actually like in the 1990's - was it all that special or did social-media just not exist? We had an insider look at archived memories of Merseyside during the era, take a look below and imagine what like was like yourself or if you were lucky enough to be around then, get nostalgic.

Who needs a beer fridge when you've got a bath.

A party in Birkenhead, England.

A dog riding a retro penny-board, can it get more 90s?

Looks like a scene from Pretty Woman.

Throwback to pin curls and straightening your hair with an iron.

Smoking inside was a common thing, hard to believe right?

The classic stacking of the white garden chairs

Four women on the dancefloor looking this happy? Take That were probably playing

Pop culture facial hair, not all that popular now.

Tell us about your favourite stories and memories of the 90s to be featured in our next article. Email us at funkeddigital@outlook.com.