The Beauty Of 90210

Fish Out Of Water

By Abby Gardner

As we all remember fondly, Beverly Hills 90210 began with the Walsh family moving from snowy Minnesota to sunny southern California. I always loved that Brenda (Shannen Doherty) still embraced her dark hair and pale skin. Well, except for that one disaster in the first season where she tried to go light upon mistakenly hearing that Dylan McKay only liked blondes.

Bang It Out

Bren's signature beauty look was her thick fringe. The girl loved her bangs and almost always wore her hair down. Soften up some of those long layers and this style would still work today. And check out how pre-curve she was with the whole menswear trend.

Addicted To Love

This is the one moment that I remember Brenda without bangs. She looks gorgeous ... and it also just happens to be one of my favorite episodes. The girls perform "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do", with style choices obviously inspired by the Robert Palmer girls. Brenda and Dylan get back together by the end of the ep, so I guess he liked the change, too.

The Good Girl

Perhaps no one went through more hair, makeup and clothing evolutions than Miss Donna Martin (Tori Spelling). The series began with Donna as the ditzy, naive, sweet (and, yes, virginal) Beverly Hills teen. Her simple hairdos early on definitely reflected her personality.

Party Time

As the seasons progressed, Donna started experimenting with her style ... though not with her boyfriends. This hairstyle is quite reminiscent of the infamous prom episode where the good girl gets drunk and almost doesn't get her diploma. Though we wouldn't bring this one back now, we're forever grateful that the moment brought us the mantra: "Donna Martin Graduates."

Three's A Trend

Though there were always rumors of tension on the set, it seems that Tori, Shannen and Jennie Garth were in agreement about the popular opaque neutral lip that I fully attest to copying in high school.

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No Regrets?

A trend that I hope to never see come back: tendrils like Tori's here. If you attended any homecoming dance or prom in the early '90s, I'm pretty certain you'll agree with me ... and that you wore them, too.

Showing Skin

It might be possible to fully blame 90210 for the emergence of the tiny tee/bare midriff trend that swept the nation in the mid-'90s. Also, super pale skin with dark lips was all the rage ... this can actually still look great if you pick the right shade.

The Odd Couple

Perhaps the hairdressers on the show were trying to hammer home the difference between good girl Donna and her bad boy love interest Ray Pruitt (Jamie Walters) by giving her a '50s flip? Otherwise, the reasoning is rather unclear.

A Darker Side

Donna (and Tori, obviously) started to play with her hair color once the college years came around. But she always went back to blonde in between reds and browns. Oh, the damage those chemicals must have done.

Twist & Shout

Here's another darker shade that appeared on the show. But what's more interesting is all the twists and tiny pigtails that started popping up on Donna Martin's head. Luckily, that trend didn't hit the big time.

Poor Little Rich Girl

Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth) was a total bitchy rich girl when the show began. But, boy, was she pretty. She was the show's Barbie doll and ultimate California girl. I can't even imagine how many wispy bangs were cut in homage.

Decisions, Decisions

Kelly kept her signature long locks through high school, but like so many decided to make a change at some point in college, opting for a shorter bob. It's a much better choice for her, kind of like when she "chose herself" instead of deciding between Brandon and Dylan.

Good Girl Gone Bad

Kelly Taylor went through so many dramas on the show: cults, fires, pills, stealing her best friend's boyfriend (Team Brenda forever, over here!). But this chopped look will always remind me of the spiral into cocaine use. Never had a character battling addiction looked so pretty.

Happily Ever After

And now we've realized that apparently Jennie Garth doesn't age. I mean, her husband, Peter Facinelli, does play a vampire in the Twilight movies ... but still. This mother of three seriously looks better than ever. The hair color, the soft waves, the perfect skin. Color us jealous.

Geek Chic

This is classic Andrea Zuckerman (Gabrielle Carteris). The editor of the West Beverly Blaze always saw herself as an outsider and the hair/makeup department played their role by giving her curly hair and glasses. Of course, she was always totally cute, too.

Fresh-Faced

We haven't seen much of Gabrielle since her short-lived post 90210 talk show. But from this shot, she looks pretty happy. And the lighter hair definitely suits her.

All Grown Up

New mom Tiffani looks gorgeous with her darker hair and side swept bangs. Plus, she's wearing the new smoky eye that we are obsessed with right now.

With This Ring(let)

Before her stint on 90210 as Dylan's ill-fated wife Toni Marchette, I knew two things for certain about Rebecca Gayheart (seen here with then boyfriend Brett Ratner): she was "The Noxzema Girl," and I coveted her curls. Seriously, they're perfect, right?

Luck Be A Lady

Things turned out pretty well for Rebecca. She's still got perfect curls, is married to McSteamy (Eric Dane) and has a new baby girl. Well played, Noxzema Girl. Well played.

Spiked Out

You all remember Emily Valentine (Christine Elise), right? The wild girl who took Brandon Walsh to a rave, spiked his drink with "U4EA" and later burns down the gang's homecoming float. Her short 'do was thing that best set her apart from the "good" girls.

Soft Touch

Wild child no more, it seems for Christine when it comes to her style. Heck, she's even wearing flowers in her hair.

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Back In The Day

When the cast met the actress playing Steve Sanders' new girlfriend, single mom Carly Reynolds (Hilary Swank), they probably never thought they were working with a future Academy Award winner. Carly was a waitress, so her hair and makeup were never fussy or very Beverly Hills, much like the actress herself at the time (pictured with then husband Chad Lowe).

Sitting Pretty

Two Oscars, and many big paychecks later, Hilary is definitely the most acclaimed former cast member. But really her style hasn't changed that much and we love that about her.

Here Comes Trouble

Gina Kincaid (Vanessa Marcil) was the third raven-haired regular to wreak havoc on the male hearts of 90210. Sadly, she was one of the few exotic beauties to infiltrate the close-knit bunch. But Vanessa herself apparently made an impression on original cast member Brian Austin Green (David Silver). The two had a long relationship and even have a son together.

Brenda, Redux

Vanessa's good looks have obviously not wavered over the years. And just recently she brought them back to General Hospital, the show that made her famous before 90210, in the role of Brenda Barrett.