90s Nostalgia 2025: How It Shapes Modern Culture

Push to install license plate readers comes amid questions about how data are shared June 9, 2026

The Bureau of Street Lighting has played a key role in the proliferation of automated license plate readers, a surveillance tool mounted on poles around the city.

Libor Jany

A long-stalled Venice affordable housing project could be moving forward June 9, 2026

Last month, a judge ruled the city of L.A.'s Board of Transportation Commissioners erred in rejected the Venice Dell affordable housing project in 2024. The ruling opens a pathway to build the project, which was first proposed in 2016.

Andrew Khouri

New evidence confirms Edison's idle line ignited Eaton fire, lawyers say June 9, 2026

New surveillance footage and evidence from Southern California Edison confirms that a century-old, idle transmission line that the utility failed to remove ignited last year's deadly Eaton fire, lawyers said in a court filing.

Melody Petersen

Santa Monica Mountains' last steelhead trout survived the Palisades fire — and even had babies June 9, 2026

Scientists feared the Santa Monica Mountains' last endangered steelhead trout were wiped out by the Palisades fire. Then, they found them alive in Topanga Creek.

Lila Seidman

A battle over billboards roils Inglewood June 9, 2026

Billboards are at the center of a corporate power struggle that may be headed to the ballot this November.

Christopher Damien, Isaiah Murtaugh

Attorney hammers Peter Grossman, who concedes wife was drinking, speeding before she killed 2 boys June 9, 2026

Renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Peter Grossman was questioned for hours by an attorney for the family of Mark and Jacob Iskander as a jury considers punitive damages.

Richard Winton

O.C. man downs 2 quarts of Jack Daniel's, shoots at sheriff's helicopter, gets 9-year sentence June 9, 2026

A Laguna Nigel man was sentenced to nine years in prison for shooting at a sheriff's helicopter after downing 2 quarts of Jack Daniel's.

Seamus Bozeman

Disability rights advocates protest Newsom's proposed cuts to in-home support services June 9, 2026

Disability rights advocates gathered outside the state Capitol to push back on Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed cuts to in-home supportive services.

Katie King

Intruder shot and killed by San Jacinto homeowner, sheriff says June 9, 2026

A suspected home invader, armed with a shotgun, exchanged gunfire with a San Jacinto homeowner and was killed, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Jazmin Alvarado

How Nithya Raman went from last-minute candidate to the L.A. mayor runoff June 9, 2026

Raman achieved two crucial goals during her campaign: raise her profile outside her district, while framing Pratt as someone radically out of step with L.A. voters.

Noah Goldberg, David Zahniser

The 1990s are back, and they’re louder, bolder and more beloved than ever. From Gen Z to nostalgic millennials, pop culture in 2025 is being taken over by vintage food, throwback fashion and a full-blown boy band resurgence.

What started as a few ironic TikTok trends has turned into a full cultural reset. Sales of baggy jeans and crop tops are up significantly since 2023, while hashtags tied to 90s aesthetics continue to rack up billions of views across social media platforms. Even fast-food chains and major retailers are reviving classic products and retro packaging to tap into the nostalgia boom.

It’s not just the clothes. 90s music is everywhere too. Spice Girls, NSYNC and TLC are enjoying a streaming surge, with playlists featuring 90s R&B and pop attracting millions of listeners on Spotify. Brands have noticed. Pepsi recently brought back retro-inspired can designs, while fashion retailers continue launching collections inspired by the decade.

Food trends are also getting in on the action. Dunkaroos, Pop Rocks and Cosmic Brownies are returning to pantries and menus, sometimes reimagined with organic ingredients or modern twists. In cities like Miami, London and Tokyo, retro-themed cafés now serve nostalgic snacks and drinks as part of curated throwback experiences.

Psychologists say the trend makes sense. In uncertain times, nostalgia becomes a source of comfort. Familiar music, flavors and fashion styles can create a sense of emotional security and connection to simpler moments.

The revival is also proving to be big business. Concert tours centered around 90s artists continue to sell out, while vintage gaming consoles and collectible toys remain popular among both millennials and younger consumers discovering them for the first time.

Experts believe the trend will continue because the 90s represent a unique cultural moment. It was the final decade before smartphones and social media fully transformed daily life, but it also marked the rise of global pop culture and early internet communities.

In 2025, the past feels more alive than ever. From oversized denim to retro snacks and cassette-inspired playlists, the 90s are no longer just a memory. They are shaping the culture of the present.