the 90s & 00s are calling—and we’re living for it
before influencers, there were it girls. and they did it better.
the 90s weren’t curated—they were caught.
sidewalk snaps, elevator candids, red carpet flashbulbs and off-duty mystery.
bags weren’t props. they were companions. they held secrets. smokes. receipts.
they meant something.
and as the decade turned, so did the style.
what started with crisp lines and sculptural silhouettes softened into slouchy leather and lived-in luxury.
from gwyneth’s boxy shoulder bags and meg’s croc-embossed bucket to mary-kate’s borderline-unreasonable balenciagas (the bigger the bag, the deeper the mystery).
we pulled together a few favorites that channel that same energy—bags, accessories, mags, and tiny details that live somewhere between a 2003 tabloid spread and a 90s runway moment.
straight out of a 90s sidewalk shot
boxy, structured, and slung over a bare shoulder like it’s no big deal.
kate moss knew: cool wasn’t calculated—it just was.
this was the era of jeans, tiny tanks, and bags that said “i’ve got places to be” without saying anything at all.
chloé kn how to do drama, without the noise
green with envy. soft like a secret. minimal but impossible to ignore.
then came the slouch.
the early 2000s weren’t interested in being neat.
bags got bigger, softer, bolder—sienna’s worn-in balenciaga, kate moss’s glossy patent tote, the olsen twins with bags the size of carry-ons.
suddenly, polish was passé. oversized was everything.
flip phone in one pocket, confidence in the other
bermuda shorts, suede jacket, gladiator heels—it’s giving rom-com subplot.
you’re late to brunch and wildly iconic about it.
the belt that started it all
wide, gold, with a medallion that says “don’t talk to me unless you love my outfit.”
seen cinched over low-rise denim, bodycon dresses, or whatever your mom wouldn’t let you wear to school.
we’re still collecting it all
the magazines. the captions. the chaos.
every glossy page was a moodboard, and we never stopped ripping them out.
time is a concept—but the watches? a whole vibe
tiny faces. bold shapes. silver or gold with just the right amount of drama.
they weren’t just about showing the time—they were about showing up.
And still are.
silver, sculptural, and slightly cold (in a hot way)
home decor went full futuristic. trays, vases, frames that looked like they belonged in a downtown loft with martinis and minimalism.
if you’re deep in your 90s/00s era, the bags are ready for you at closedcaption.us
everything else—from the playboys to the silver trays—is living at the shop.
📍 3144 dumbarton st nw, dc (until 7/9)
🕛 thurs–sun, 12–6pm
come by, browse around, and leave with something iconic.
see you soon,
erika