Dakota Johnson Just Wore the Jeans-and-Shoe Pairing That Downright Dominated the '90s

Dakota Johnson is one of a very select group of celebrities who are craft a look that simultaneously champions new-season trends, whilst also looking entirely timeless. Doing just that this week in New York, the actor styled a typically relaxed ensemble that subtly showcased some of autumn 2024’s favourite finds.

Taking her cues from a popular ’90s fashion pairing, Johnson selected a relaxed pair of light-wash, straight-leg jeans to form the base of her look. Unlike darker indigo or black jeans, the light-wash style that prevailed across the the ’90s had a relaxed, lived-in feel that spoke to the era’s laidback, minimalist approach to fashion, which we often see emulated in Johnson’s style.

Plucking another throwback favourite, Johnson styled her denim with a sleek black leather shoes. Countering the casual energy of Johnson’s loose jeans, her shiny black loafers imparted a polished effect that worked to neaten up her casual look. Whether in the form of shiny black lace-up shoes, or patent leather loafers, the shiny black shoe was a wardrobe non-negotiable across the ’90s, with celebs loving the contrast between that and their—you guessed it—light-wash jeans.

Cindy Crawford wears light-wash jeans and shiny black shoes in L.A. 1993.