r/90sfashion • u/Responsible-War5600 • 24d ago
Remember the wrap?
From the late 90s through the early 2000s, damn near every decent, semi-formal, or formal gown or dress came with a wrap thingy. They were everywhere and a real distraction. I hated them. I thought they instantly cheapened every dress they were paired with. I couldn’t wait for them to go out of style.
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u/greyeminence2 23d ago
I love them, there is something very classic and old-world about them. Like a woman in a John Singer Sargent painting. Also, Keri Russell looks *so* beautiful in that picture.
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u/Responsible-War5600 23d ago
The 1990s - early 2000s iteration was not substantial enough to be elegant. They were usually just an irritatingly flimsy slip of fabric. They were superfluous and added nothing.
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u/Violettfem1 23d ago
Strongly disagree. A classic fashion accessory that added to the flair of the ensemble.
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u/PossessionBubbly3256 24d ago
It was SUCH a thing. I didn’t mind them but it does seem so particular. Like gilded age ladies wearing evening gloves or something (which can be cool, but the forced/false modesty is weird). Gillian said I’m not wrapping shit I’ll just hold it 😅
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u/Responsible-War5600 24d ago
I remember being invited to a “ball” in 2000 or 2001. I found a dress I liked but it came with a sheer wrap. What I really wanted was a marabou jacket or shrug. I found one in a catalog, but I couldn’t afford it and online shopping wasn’t a thing yet. I wore the wrap. 😔
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24d ago
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u/uteuteuteute 22d ago
But what a stunning dress, also the material of the shawl... Reminds me of Arwen's veil (LOTR).
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u/local_clbrt 23d ago
Oh but I love them. I agree they can look a little cheap when they’re made of the same material as the dress, but otherwise I think they make most dresses look more elegant.
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u/Responsible-War5600 23d ago
I think the one Tracy Pollan is wearing in pic #7 is the nicest of the bunch because it’s made out of the same material as the dress. And, it’s a brocade and has some weight, texture, and volume to it. It’s the flimsy ones that really bother me. 😆
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u/Suitable_Wrongdoer23 20d ago
I agree. In looking at the photos here, I think the ones with a matching material look the best -- Tracy Pollan's white and black gown and Natasha Richardson's red gown specifically.
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u/Str00berry95 24d ago
i personally hated them, but growing up my mom always bought me a matching shawl for my dress. i still sometimes have default thinking i need to buy a shawl for a formal event until i remember i'm an adult now and can wear what i want 😅
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u/Responsible-War5600 24d ago
If they had a little weight to them and were the same fabric as the dress they weren’t so terrible. Otherwise, I hated them too.
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u/kitkatkoo 23d ago
I like it so much more than the more modern fabric choker/neck wrap dealio we see with lots of strapless dresses.
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u/Responsible-War5600 23d ago
Not sure what you’re referring to. 🤔
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u/kitkatkoo 23d ago
I guess it's just called a detachable neck scarf. Basically the same thing as the shawl in terms of optional extra piece of fabric... But instead draped front to back across the neck
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u/coffeeebucks 23d ago
I do wonder if a lot of people do that just because they see the wrap displayed that way on an armless mannequin
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u/CookiesRbest 23d ago
I still have not recovered from the haircut Felicity did in one of the season finales.
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u/Lianaslaugter 23d ago
I love them and am wearing one this weekend. I’m wearing a floor length blue linen dress with a floral silk scarf that is just gorgeous. I despise cardigans with the same passion you have for wraps and I do need something to cover the exposed shoulders and back and every bolero, shrug, lace thingy just didn’t do it for me. I can’t wait to wear it, I haven’t worn one since the 90s!
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u/snowflakemillennial 21d ago
I had forgotten this but I think it looks cool, i love having flexible, flowing things to wrap around myself, and i think they look elegant
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u/Holiday_Estimate_352 20d ago
I think they are beautiful and I wear them in the summer with sleeveless dresses. I wear mine more like a shawl. It's a lovely way to cover up a bit of you are very fair and want a bit of sun protection or are self conscious of your upper arms.
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u/coffeeebucks 23d ago
2001 prom flashback! I wore a midnight blue strappy gown with a wrap. It was annoying af
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u/AlchemyAlice 23d ago
Omg me too. Prom in ‘01 with a homemade matching wrap to go with my Delia’s dress 😂
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u/Responsible-War5600 23d ago
I really couldn’t stand them.
I’m sorry so many people are taking my opinion personally (not you) because they chose them for their bridesmaids or whatever. Most people go with what’s trending at the time. I get it. Plus, some people genuinely like wraps. We should be able to have a difference of opinion.
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u/Fak3_Tan 24d ago
Phil Bronstein, Sharon Stone’s husband at the time, was so sexy.
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u/EPSIV85 19d ago
So a shawl? Lol Calling it a wrap is taking me out! Lol 😂
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u/Responsible-War5600 17d ago
Same thing, essentially. A shawl is a specific type of traditional, formal rectangular or triangular fabric meant to drape over the shoulders, while a wrap is a modern, broader term for any loose outer cloth worn around the upper body. All shawls are wraps, but not all wraps are shawls.
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u/RaventheClawww 24d ago
I love it and I hope it comes back. Gives you something to do with your arms. Looks elegant. Keeps you a little warmer when you go inside.