I Took My Mom's '90s Clothes and Came Up With 5 Very 2020 Outfits

Meet Brittany O'Grady. You may know her from her roles in the Fox series Star or the 2019 film Black Christmas. Or perhaps you're one of her nearly 800,000 followers on Instagram, where she regularly posts not just about her weekend activities, outfits, and activism, but also shares snapshots and memories of her family—including her mom (who's closet she's been raiding since she was a kid). Now that she's back at her parent's house for some time, Brittany is at it again, and luckily, we were able to tap her to share five outfits she put together featuring some of her favorite '90s-era finds from her mother's wardrobe. Just keep scrolling to see and read about all the looks. You can also shop some key pieces for re-creating them along the way. Then, continue on to learn about a few of O'Grady's favorite BIPOC-owned brands to support right now. Lastly, on July 10, be sure to tune into the premiere of Little Voice on Apple TV+. The new series in which O'Grady plays the lead—a young aspiring singer-songwriter trying to make a living in New York City—is poised to be a hit.

The past month, I've been staying at my parents' house where I grew up until I moved to L.A. as soon as I turned 17. One of my biggest pastimes growing up was raiding my mom's closet and dressing up in her clothes, seeing if I could potentially pull off a look. During quarantine, I've had some free time to explore and revive some of my mom's '90s fashion.

Look #1

I remember my mom wearing this dress growing up. Major denim looks have definitely grown on me in the past year, and I feel like it can be a cute casual statement. The scarf I am wearing as a headband has this adorable '90s floral pattern that I've always gravitated toward. I've been experimenting with different ways to wear hair accessories and tie them into my outfits. I love platform shoes. I've been wearing my platform Superga leather sneakers nonstop with every outfit.

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Look #2

My mom attended American University and studied broadcast journalism and business. Oversize college sweatshirts are a vibe with cute and comfortable biker shorts.

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Look #3

My mom loves to sew. Growing up, she used to sew cute matching dresses and Halloween costumes for my sister and me. Currently, she's been sewing tons of masks for people working in the Arlington County School District. Believe it or not, my mom made this dress and wore it to one of our family friend's weddings! Love the florals and the shoulder pads she put in. Shoulder pads grew on me over the past few years. I hope to learn how to sew one of these days. I guess now is a good time.

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Look #4

My mom wore this beaded top to a Capitol Hill journalist event back in the '90s. The statement of the beading on this jacket is super unique to me. The weight of the beading adds character and a different feeling for me when I wear it. 

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Look #5

I love the look of the different striped patterns with a pop of color. The different styled stripes are bold and a fun look. My mom wore the top half to an after-hours event. I've dressed it down with a pair of bold casual pants to transition it to a daytime look.

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Shop Brands Brittany Loves

I love supporting BIPOC businesses. Owning a business, being a woman, and being a woman of color requires so much tenacity, strength, and resilience in a world that often feels like is not for you and your success or for who you are.

Hanifa

I can't wait for when it is safe to go out again. Hanifa has these beautiful pieces with amazing patterns and extravagant statements like statement sleeves. I will definitely be wearing one of its incredible jumpsuits and dresses.

Lip Bar

I'm starting to experiment with different shades of lip colors, and Lip Bar has this beautiful variety of colors that can look great on all people with different skin tones. So many of my friends have been wearing them as well.

Vertical Activewear

I just recently bought this super-cute unitard from Vertical Activewear. I feel like I can wear it with a cute denim jacket and for a workout. The brand has these super-cute, fun athletic looks that are great for an aerobic/dance workout.

Next, how one actress practices mindful consumption while shopping.