Against the backdrop of the vibrant and nostalgic 1990s, a friendship blossomed in a world full of late-night chats, shared secrets, and a mutual adoration of all things trendy. Best friends weren’t just confidants, but partners in mischief, offering comfort during heartbreaks and navigating the exciting complexities of adolescence together. Fast forward to the present, and even though the world has changed immensely, the essence of these beloved BFF relationships continues to resonate deeply.
The signature charm of ’90s friendship involved late-night chats, planning outfits, and going through life’s trials and triumphs side by side. Today, even as the dynamic has evolved, the heart of these ties remains strikingly similar, albeit embellished with a contemporary twist.
The siblings we never had are our best friends.
Or if we had siblings, we just didn’t get along with them. Your best friend was the person you would play pranks on, the shoulder you would cry on when you saw you holding hands with another girl on the playground, and your siblings were the ones who stole your favorite toys and ran around outside with your training bra on your head (*cough* happened to a friend).
Without our closest friends from the 90s and today, even though circumstances may have changed slightly, we wouldn’t be where we are now.
1 Battles we enter
In the 1990s: Your best friend promised to take care of your virtual pet while you were on vacation, but ended up letting it go. You couldn’t look at her the same way after that.
Adults don’t fight physically anymore. Instead, we purposefully dislike each other’s Instagram posts and post passive-aggressive remarks on Facebook.
2 How we reconcile afterwards
Getting over a fight with your best friend in the 90s meant handing her a note in class, complete with lots of frowny faces, putting hearts on i’s to let her know how sad you are without her, and ending it with “LYLAS” ​​(which means “I love you as you are”, for those who don’t realize how we’re used to shortening things).
Today: To put the past behind us, a peace offering usually consists of a $12 Starbucks coffee drink and a happy selfie of the two of you.
Three events for Friday nights
In the 90s, we sneaked into R-rated movies after heading to the mall to buy Claire’s fake nose rings. We really were terrible.
Who goes out these days? Not us. All we need is a bottle or dozen of wine and something to watch on Netflix. Can you say Friday?
4 Acts as Wingwoman
In the 1990s: You bumped into each other in science class while your best friend kept the other girls away, all the while figuring out who the love of your life was with the almighty cootie catcher.
Today: Every best friend knows how to help you find a long-term relationship: search for him for 14 hours on Facebook with just his middle name.
Five team goals
Finding three other women who were as cool as you were the whole point of life in the 90s to play female Spice.
Today: The good news is that you only need one extra person to perform the Single Ladies dance, but since you don’t socialize much these days, your best friend will do.
Six subjects of our gossip
in the nineties, the most common stories were about your worst enemy stealing your bracelet, showing up at school wearing the same scrunchie, or giving all your classmates Warhead candies for lunch.
Today: Most likely Game of Thrones-related, whatever it is.
7 Mutual support during grief
In the 1990s, no one could support you through a breakup like your best friend who always brings an extra Cosmic Brownie to class.
Yoga today. Manis/pedis. $5 for wine. And then there’s the girls’ night out at the pub where you have to tell your best friend to leave when you get hit.
8 ways to stay in touch
In the nineties: We used to go to each other’s houses and ring the doorbell. It was strange when we called their house and their father answered.
We hardly use words these days. Just emoticons.
Nine things that get us into trouble
In the 90s: Ding Dong Ditching, Ding Dong Ditching, and TP-ing your neighbor’s house were really harmless ways to cause trouble back then.
Today: If your work wife is also your best friend, you’ll no doubt get a call at least once a week saying you’re going to be late for work because you decided to make an impromptu trip to Starbucks in the first place.
10 They stood together against the haters
In the nineties, when something bad happened on the playground, you would run to warn your parents.
Currently: There is much less hostility in the world. It usually requires a fantastic evening and uploading dozens of photos to Facebook to let critics know they weren’t invited.
11 ways to show off your unbreakable legacy
Homemade BFF friendship bracelets were the norm in the 90s.
Today: If you think having matching tattoos is a bit much, sometimes it’s okay to post on Facebook that the two of you are in a relationship because it’s fun and makes you laugh.
Friendship, especially the BFF bond, has undergone a transformation from the vibrant days of the 90s to the busy present, but at its core, some things remain unchanged. Those late-night conversations filled with gossip and shared excitement over fashion choices endure, while the love for the best friend who feels like the sibling we never had remains steadfast.
The stories have evolved – where they used to sneak into R-rated movies, now they’re about kicking back with Netflix and a bottle of good wine on a Friday night. The battlefield of reconciliation has shifted from candid notes to Starbucks coffee dates and shared selfies.
From finding Spice Girls counterparts to perfecting the Single Ladies dance, the goals of camaraderie may have been minimized to a simpler version these days. Gossip now revolves around Game of Thrones, and ways to cause mischief have changed from gaudy pillows to being playfully late at work.
The essence of supporting each other through heartbreak, standing together against critics, and showcasing an unbreakable bond—whether through homemade friendship bracelets in the past or hilarious relationship status updates on social media today—remains unchanged.
As times change and technology advances, the soul of the BFF connection remains resilient, adapting to life’s evolving landscapes while appreciating the constants that bind friends together. Through shifts in culture and the passage of time, the essence of friendship endures, weaving stories of shared memories and unbreakable bonds between best friends, spanning decades.