Nia Long Core Is the Only ‘90s Fashion Inspiration to Copy This Fall
Cozy staples and bold accessories
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When Nia Long appeared as Lisa Wilkes on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, she became a ‘90s style icon with her athleisure staples, bold accessories and monochromatic moments. Fast-forward since her first appearance and so much of her fashion is back—and as a fellow petite gal (Google says she’s 5’2), I’m particularly excited to channel my inner ‘90s Nia Long. Whether it’s Lisa Wilkes’s chic and comfy staples or Nina Mosley’s academia realness, here’s how you recreate her style—plus, all the pieces you’ll need in your wardrobe.
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What Is Nia Long Core?
Nia Long core is all about putting a LOOK together. It can be simple to pop on a basic white tee and jeans, but adding accessories—like a slouchy hat and printed heels—are enough to turn it up a notch. When it comes to fall, Long has found the perfect recipe with leather pieces, moody shades and overall items that just match together. From Fresh Prince to Love Jones, the '90s It girl had a way making an outfit work for the office or a night out with friends.
How to Achieve Nia Long Core
It starts with looking breaking down her wardrobe in her best-known works: Fresh Prince, Love Jones and Living Single. From there, you can start picking out core pieces that match your style. Need more guidance? Here are four tips to consider:
- Experiment with bold accessories. If you want to add a pop of color or a jazzy print, it all starts with your accessories. The ‘90s star often wore newsboy caps, animal prints heels or a flashy handbag to bring her looks together.
- Invest in basics with a ‘90s twist. I’m talking black leggings, white tees and overall neutral staples you can pair with just about anything in your closet. Long often sported a minimal aesthetic, sticking to smart basics.
- Look for smart-fitting styles. Since Long is a part of the petite party, her outfits always seem to look so good—no excess fabric or bulky shape in sight. Whether she was wearing a maxi dress or a pair of jeans, every piece complemented her height and overall flatter her figure.
- Beauty matters, too. We’re focusing on the fashion here, but her beauty looks elevated her entire getup. You can go all out with a pixie or a sleek bob—then pop on some berry or brown lipstick and smokey latte eye.
10 Pieces If You Aspire to Nia Long Core
In Fresh Prince, Long was always rocking smart-fitting staples, so invest in some high-rise leggings. This lululemon pick is crafted in a soft material and has a wide waistband that’s both comfortable and stretchy. Shoppers say it’s great for lounging around or exercising—some even sharing that it's so airy that it feels like you’re not wearing pants at all. You can go the athleisure route, or you can be your very own Wilkes and pair these bad boys with a velvet mini dress and heels.
Fast Facts
- Size Range: 0 to 20
- Color Range: 14
Quince/NBC/Contributor/Getty Images
As mentioned, Long loved her tight-fitting pieces. Made of nylon and spandex, this bodysuit offers support and comfort. It has a scoop neckline, adjustable straps and a high cut leg opening that makes it simple to pair with jeans. It’s also petite-approved, with one shopper writing, “My torso is particularly short, so body suits never fit me right. I've found a couple in petite sizes over the years that fit, but the fabric is too thick and they get hung up on whatever I wear on top of them. I don't know what made me take a risk on this one even though there aren't petite sizes, but, boy am I glad I did! It's absolutely perfect!”
Fast Facts
- Size Range: XS to XL
- Color Range: 2
Madewell/NBC/Contributor/Getty Images
It can be stressful to find the right pair of jeans for petites—ya know ones that don’t drag on the floor and damage the hem. However, Long is proof that there are denim designed for us shorties. These editor-approved jeans were made for the under 5’4 crowd. It has darts at the knees, a raw hem and curved look that won’t look like a kid playing in their parent’s clothing. It comes in six different washes, but to get into Long’s aesthetic, I recommend starting with “Edmonson Wash,” a light baby blue pair that screams the ‘90s. And let’s not forget to add some ankle boots and a stylish belt, too.
Fast Facts
- Size Range: 23 to 33
- Color Range: 6
The Fresh Prince star was *always* sporting a pair of boots (or at least any shoe with a heel for some height). While scrolling through tons of photo inspo, I came across these ankle boots that I need to add to my collection. After some soul shoe searching, these Sam Edelman pairs were too similar to not add to the cart. The pointy toe design and block heel is just what you need for fall. Shoppers say they are comfortable to walk in and look great with just about anything.
Fast Facts
- Size Range: 5 to 12
- Color Range: 10
Although Long loves her neutral pieces, you can often see her minimal outfits complement a bold accessory. A prime example is her outfit at the premiere of the Nutty Professor, where she wore a plunging white halter top, dark jeans, black leather jacket and cheetah-print heels. These Jeffery Campbell slide sandals would definitely make a statement. It has built-in footbed cushioning so you can be on your feet all day and a 2 ½ inch heel to create the illusion of a taller stance.
Fast Facts
- Size Range: 5 to 11
- Color Range: 9
While Nia was in one episode of Living Single, her wardrobe remains legendary. One look that stood out to me was her mini leather dress, which was equally stylish and work appropriate. This Anthropologie number should be on your radar for the season. It has a drop-waist silhouette, cap sleeves and a v-neckline that’s not too deep to wear in the office. It also has a long zip-front and a slightly pleated skirt that works well with or without tights. FYI: It comes in petite sizing.
Fast Facts
- Size Range: XXS to XL
- Color Range: 3
Her entire wardrobe in Love Jones deserves its own spot on the list. Although the romantic dramedy puts you on an emotional rollercoaster, her character could teach a clinic in fall dressing. A popular piece that I think we can all pull off is this cadet hat. The soft material is a great option for any hairstyle (especially Long’s glossy bob). And to channel your inner Nina, consider pairing it with a leather jacket and matching brown top.
Fast Facts
- Size Range: one size
- Color Range: 3
Long gave academia fashion vibes before it was super popular. In Love Jones, the actor made sweaters vests again, pairing one with an oversize button-down and high-waisted jeans. This sleeveless piece from Quince is layerable, breathable and oh-so cozy (thanks to it being 100 percent Mongolian cashmere).
Fast Facts
- Size Range: XS to XL
- Color Range: 3
You can’t dive into ‘90s fashion without sporting a flannel shirt. This Uniqlo flannel has an oversized feel that lays right by the hip, so you can pair it with a black turtleneck or a graphic tee. Made of rayon, cotton and lyocell, fans rave soft, lightweight material.
Fast Facts
- Size Range: XXS to XXL
- Color Range: 2
If Long was wearing any color, it was usually browns and reds. This ruby red crop top was her core piece on the classic sitcom. It has a scoop neckline and stretchy material for a casual fit. She usually wore it with her mom jeans, a black belt, and of course, her pixie cut.
Fast Facts
- Size Range: XS to L
- Color Range: 2
Beauty and Cultures Editor
- Writes trend stories, product reviews and how-tos across beauty, cultures, fashion and entertainment
- Six years of experience as a Beauty Editor
- Studied journalism with a minor in creative writing at SUNY New Paltz
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