The Backstreet Boys were one of the most popular bands in the '90s. They battled comparisons to fellow boy band NSYNC and tried to separate themselves as a different band but fans were left divided: were the Team Backstreet Boys or Team NSYNC? Nevertheless, there was only one Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough, and AJ McLean.
The Backstreet boys eventually went their own ways in the early 2000s and jumped into different projects but we'll always have these amazing photos from the '90s that prove just how different fashion was back then.
10 Oversized Winter Jackets And Frosted Tips
Frosted tips (aka blonde highlights for men) were all the rage in the '90s. The bangs would be spiked up using gel and the tips of the hair would be highlighted blonde. AJ McLean's entire look in this photo screams the '90s.
The hoop earrings, the frosted tips, and the big jacket show the era he's in. Nick Carter's matchy-matchy look with the Miami Dolphins headband and the matching jacket is also very '90s. Thankfully Nick didn't get into the fashion industry after BSB ended.
9 Button-Downs And Leather Pants
If fans follow the Backstreet Boy members on Instagram today, they'll see just how much has changed for each member, especially their style. The boys were so young and spry at the start of their careers (as seen in the picture on the left).
Howie's striped shirt Nick's jacket tied around his waist was very in at the time. As the boys grew, their individual style grew as well. AJ's look was more R&B, Kevin's look was always fitted and tailored, and Nick loved the button-downs and undershirts.
8 Denim On Denim
There's an unspoken rule for boy bands that matching was best. Bands like Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, and Boyz II Men all wore matching clothes for photoshoots and concerts. It was their spin on the Beetles, apparently.
As cringeworthy as these photos are, it was totally normal to dress exactly like each other to show uniformity (there's a reason One Direction didn't do this in the past 10 years). From denim shirts and jeans to shirts that emulated disco balls, these photos are the epitome of the '90s.
7 Plaid Button-Downs
If there is one article of clothing in the '90s that men of all ages wore, it was the plaid button-down shirt. This unplanned group photo proves that plaid shirts were the thing to wear since four out of five members are all wearing them over white shirts.
In famous '90s sitcoms like Home Improvement and Boy Meets World, most of the boys and men wear plaid shirts while working around the house.
6 Oversized Sports Jerseys
Sports jerseys are always going to be a fashion staple for celebrities. Plenty of celebrities wear their favorite team's jersey even if they're not at a sporting event. In the '90s, however, it was seen as cool for boy groups to wear jerseys with baggy jeans.
Funny enough, in the picture on the right, they're not even wearing actual team jerseys; just nameless football jerseys. Seeing your favorite member of the group wear your favorite team was a perk though!
5 Layers And (Even More) Overalls
In case anyone wasn't sure what men wore in the '90s, they should look at this picture. Howie is wearing two items of clothing that scream the decade they were in: a long-sleeved plaid shirt and overalls.
Likewise, AJ is wearing a v-neck sweater with a white undershirt, which is what most young boys and men wore for nice occasions. These days, BSB's fashion has grown with the times but it's pictures like these that make fans giggle at the '90s.
4 Tommy Hilfiger Was The Brand To Wear In The '90s
Tommy Hilfiger was to the '90s what Michael Kors was to 2008-2012. It was a designer that was high-end but still achievable financially. It was also a big-name brand with celebrities, which only made their fans want to wear it more.
Seeing BSB wear matching blue and yellow Tommy gear brings us right back to a time where athleisure was at its start. Nowadays, models like Gigi Hadid and Kendal Jenner make it an artform but BSB was at the forefront.
3 Loose-Fitting Suits And Light Jackets
The '90s was a time before Instagram influencers could give followers tips on what to wear. These days, men wear incredibly fitted suits with tighter pants, But in the '90s, wearing baggier suits in funky colors was the style.
The picture on the right was on the cusp of the early 2000s, which is obvious by Howie's skin-tight shirt and leather pants.
2 Incredibly Embarrassing Photoshoots
Hawaiian shirts, leis, bouquets of flowers... These are the photoshoots of the '90s! Instead of posing on a beachfront or in a flower field, photoshoots in the '90s were done in a studio with props.
It doesn't matter if BSB was the best boy band in the world or not, no one could hide from embarrassing props. These photoshoots were later shown in magazines like J-14 and Tiger Beat and they typically came with a poster that fans could rip out and hang on their wall.
1 Sideways Hats And Undershirts
Both men and women layered up in the '90s. Men wore shirts under their shirts and women wore leggings under skirts and jeans.
And let's not forget about visors and news hats. Nick and AJ are perfect examples of what was seen as fashionably cool in the '90s.
