Whether you liked them or not, the girls were trendsetters. Nearly 20 years after they released “Wannabe,” you can see the fab five’s sartorial influence in a lot of what we wear today. Call it a 90s revival or call it longevity, but it seems like almost everything the girls wore back in 1997 could be relevant today. Check out the trends the Spice Girls inspired that are still in style.
Spice girls did it first
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Platform Sneakers
After the Spice Girls disbanded, we thought we would never see platform sneakers again. But it looks like we haven't quite escaped them. They've come back in style, this time as "flatforms," which for the past few seasons have been all the rage with street style preeners, designers and fashion editors.
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Gymwear as Daywear
Before the Juicy jumpsuit, there were Sporty Spice's Adidas tracksuits. She was rarely seen not wearing warm-ups (making her hands-down the most comfortably dressed of the lot), and added a dash of tomboy sex appeal to her looks by rocking a midriff. These days, athletic brands like Lululemon are trying to peddle gym-to-drinks athletic gear. But Mel C already mastered that look about 15 years ago.
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Bras as Tops
"Strength and courage and a Wonderbra" was the mantra for the girl group's superhero alter egos, the Spice Force Five in their Spice World film. But the girls kept to that rule in real life, too. Underwear made for acceptable daywear, and a bra counted as an actual top. All of a sudden it was cheeky and daring — not trashy — to have your brassiere peeking out from a plunging neckline. Just think: where would Miley Cyrus be if the Spice Girls didn't make underwear as outerwear OK?
Image: Getty Images
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Union Jack Gear
Geri Halliwell's Union Jack dress is one of the most iconic pieces she wore while she was with the group, making displays of British nationalism cool again for a moment. Images of Ginger Spice's signature dress were dancing in our heads when Katy Perry rocked a similar look during the 2010 World Cup with an American twist: it was half Union Jack, half Star-Spangled Banner.
Image: Getty Images
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Bodycon Dresses
You can credit Victoria Beckham for popularizing the skin-tight Hervé Léger dress with Christian Louboutin heels combo every reality star worth her weight in Birkin bags has worn since the early aughts. But VB was rocking a tight tube and sky-high heels even during her "Wannabe" days, long before she became one of the most famous footballer wives of all time.
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Gold Teeth
When the Spice Girls first came out, Mel C was proudly rocking a gold tooth. These days, it's Kesha and Madonna trying the look on for size, but Mel C was sporting this look out of necessity back then — not for fashion.
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Bantu Knots
Scary Spice's "horns" were probably a protective style she used to keep her hair out of her eyes, but they instantly became a very distinguished aspect of the group's look. Bantu knots are having a revival these days, but none shall ever be as epic as Mel B's were.
Image: Getty Images
