Ode to the ‘90s: The Polaroid 96

Slip dresses, grunge fashion and now Polaroids – the ‘90s are back in a big way, baby.

Polaroid recently released the 96 Cam, a special, limited edition vintage refurbished camera. The bright colors are an homage to ‘90s pop culture. Only 2,000 cameras have been released worldwide, and each one has been carefully cleaned and reconstructed.

The cameras come in two color patterns that don’t whisper ‘90s – they scream it proudly. Jazz Red is an exuberant mix of red, yellow and blue, while the tropical hued Fresh Blue is a riot of turquoise, pink and yellow that may have you yearning for a Zima and tube of Bain de Soleil Orange Gelee Sunscreen. (Remember that?)

Polaroid still sells film that can be used in its most popular camera models such as the 600, SX-70 and Spectra. So what does this mean? It’s time to check your parent’s attic for a Polaroid that might be laying around. All you need to do is dust it off and add a fresh pack of Polaroid Original film, which comes in color or black and white options.

So why is there a renewed interest in Polaroids? Anything analog is a welcome antidote to our all digital lives. Instead of using a Polaroid filter on your phone, go for the real thing and take time to enjoy the process. Take a picture with a Polaroid and wait patiently for the image to develop. And despite what OutKast told us, please don’t shake it – let the picture develop slowly. After all, 5,000 chemical reactions have to take place every time the shutter clicks. The picture is a tangible, one of a kind object that can be shared the good old fashioned way- by sticking it on your fridge. Now go find a scrunchie and take some Polaroids.