When looking back at teen sitcoms from the 1990s, Saved By the Bell may be known as much for its fashion choices as its silly (if not, problematic) hijinks. From headbands to Zack’s sweaters to Slater’s colorful tanks to Jessie’s vest obsession, SBTB fashion could be a little all over the place. But it gave each character a singular identity. That’s why SBTB alum Tiffani Thiessen had fans reminiscing over the show’s fashion with a throwback photo from the sitcom.
The Saved by the Bell alum took to her Instagram to give SBTB devotees all the feels. Tiffani Thiessen pulled on more fans’ heartstrings by giving a Hot Sundae nod in her caption. But the real takeaway was the hats Thiessen along with co-stars Elizabeth Berkley and Lark Voorhies were sporting. Let’s just say they captured the 1980s and early 1990s fashion (which can be good or bad depending on your perspective). To see how each lady captured her personality, check out the actress’s throwback post below:
Like many teenagers, Tiffani Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkley and Lark Voorhies managed to match their hats with their outfits. Floral prints and accents and varying textures are true to early 1990s fashion, especially on Saved By the Bell. Like many teen-oriented shows in the 1990s, Saved By the Bell was no stranger to reflecting the good, the bad and the questionable in teen fashion. But this throwback photo made me think of some hat fashion sported on the classic sitcom.
Of course, resident fashion queen Lisa Turtle was known for accessorizing her ensembles from head to toe. That meant hats (or scrunchies) had to be incorporated in some way. Even though she was Bayside High’s fashionista, her choices ranged from fun and cute to obtuse. Each accessory matched Lisa’s outfit and mood to mixed results. This hat from Season 4 two-parter "Wicked Stepbrother" was one of her better looks. But no matter what, Lark Voorhies was able to pull those looks off every single time.
In the Season 2 episode “Dancing to the Max,” the rivalry between Zack Morris and A.C. Slater for Kelly Kapowski’s affections intensified in a dance battle. While Lisa and Screech eventually won, it was someone else who really stole the show. In a “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” moment, Max (owner of The Max) wore the hat above to “cheer on” the contestants. The applause mechanism in that hat alone is a showstopper for distinct reasons.
Looking back now, some of the SBTB fashions were even questionable for their time. But in a bizarre twist, some of those styles are now back in fashion. So, if all-denim ensembles and colorful tanks can make a comeback, why not coordinated hats and quirky baseball caps? Unfortunately, those fashions haven’t crept into the Save By the Bell reboot outside of Lisa Turtle’s cameo in Season 1.
While the hats were everything, you can’t leave without acknowledging Tiffani Thiessen’s Hot Sundae reference. So, here’s the “Got For It” music video.
You can catch all seasons of the original Saved By the Bell and its reboot on Peacock.
