To celebrate her new movie, Over the Moon in Love, my best friend, Jessica Lowndes, hosted a viewing party. And it wasn’t just any viewing party… it was a ’90s Prom theme party! Since Halloween is just around the corner, I wanted to share tips on what to wear to a ’90s theme party in case you’re looking for Halloween costume ideas right now.

Watch Over the Moon in Love on the Hallmark Channel
Saturday, October 5 at 9pm/8c

The best part about a ’90s costume is the decade has made a major comeback in the fashion world. This means a) there are so many options available. And b) if you switch up the styling, you can rewear the looks into holiday season.

dresses

One big ’90s dress trend was velvet. Jessica and I both did green velvet dresses. We didn’t even plan to match but I guess best friends think alike! My dress is actually from the ’90s: it was my mom’s! The Fendi baguette was hers too. The it-bag of the ’90s has made a major comeback so I’m keeping this one. Sorry mom! Other ’90s dress trends?

• slip dresses
• shiny materials
• corsets
• velvet
• slinky gowns
• embellishments

As you can see from the list, so many of these styles are back right now. If you wear them with modern hair, makeup and accessories, you’re good to go for holiday season. In case your mom doesn’t have a velvet dress to borrow, here are some ’90s inspired dresses I found online:

Shop ’90s Dresses

accessories

The key to looking ’90s prom ready is in the accessories. Like I said, most of the dresses work in present day. It’s how you style them that gives you a retro vibe. Two accessories that will instantly take you back to the ’90s? Choker necklaces and butterfly clips.

Jessica and I did both. She did a half updo with butterfly clips and a velvet choker. I went with a sparkly choker and a crazy updo. I simply pulled my hair into a high ponytail and pinned random pieces all over, adding a butterfly clip on top. As for makeup, I kept things simple with heavily lined lips. Jessica’s makeup artist, Stevie (pictured above), gave her a shimmery look. Metallic eyeshadow was huge in the ’90s!

Shop ’90s Accessories

more ’90s prom inspiration

For hair, I was inspired by two actresses that were huge in the ’90s: Kirsten Dunst and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Both did face framing updos. For my dress, I took inspiration from a mixture of ’90s icons, mainly Princess Diana and Winona Ryder’s velvet dresses with choker necklaces. Other ’90s look I love? Sarah Michelle Gellar’s cowl neck dress, Kate Moss and Gwyneth Paltrow’s minimalist slip dresses and the cast of Sex and the City at the Emmys.

I hope these looks inspired you in case you’re looking for what to wear for a ’90s theme party! And for more costume ideas, check out all my past Halloween costumes!

Prom photos by Tori Campbell