The woman in front of me at a cash machine was displaying this look. In
trying to work out if it was a deliberate 90's effort or otherwise, I
started getting all nostalgic.
Yes, I am one of those people philosophising about the 1990's, a decade which has now become an acceptable 'vintage' era in the fashion world (more on that later). Smash Hits was in its prime, and everything was fantastic and tye-dyed until HearSay happened and I got my own door key. Of course, I'm only drawing from experience on 2 and a bit of the many decades in contest to be 'the best' , but the 90's win and, because in the latter half they gave us the functioning internet, I can now self-indulgently post my reasons for believing so and there's nothing you can do about it. If you do have a problem, it's not my fault you grew up with a lack of milk, bad perms and UB40.
Despite the 60's looking, sounding and being continually reported as
the decade to go through your formative years, I disagree.
Considering this post to be talking about childhood, I didn't give a
shit about Kurt Cobain as a kid, and therefore would have preferred Lulu
to The Rolling Stones, rendering the whole experience useless. Living human beings like selected things from the 60's because they're cool as
fuck and look/sound amazing. Being a child during the period would have
spoiled this phenomenon later in life, and involved wearing too much
brown. I've also come across this
comprehensive 'Guide to the 60's by kids for kids' all in one DIY
Standard Grade computing level website. It moves seamlessly from
mini-skirts to Vietnam...
Apart from the obvious fact I was a child and in awe of everything I later discovered that the 90's appeared to be great for the rest of the adult world too. I've since adopted some of it's exports, and live in a constant state of despair that the Hacienda no longer exists. I've also adopted Blur, Jarivs Cocker, some of Radiohead, lots of Nirvana, and singing 'Road Rage' very loudly when it comes on the radio.
Here's something which is better than anything I could ever put together, nicely settling an age-old argument - 'Why Blur Lost the Battle but Won the War'. (Please note these views are not shared by all participants of this blog...). Shanks & Bigfoot has that great song, as did All Saints with 'Pure Shores'. An altogether good time for music.
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Away from that and not having time to go into the films of the 90's I've also decided are 'my faves', I took quite a shine to Spaced. It's hilarious, it's clever, it's probably why Shuan of the Dead is genuinely my favourite film and it's on 4OD. It also managed to avoid being remade for American television, and that's probably worth more than anything else I could say. (The U.S Office notwithstanding)
Just start at the beginning Series 1, Episode 1 like normal person and watch it all until it ends. Then watch it again.
Next, if it turns out you like Spaced, go watch Green Wing, and then go to London to see the Spaced house, or maybe that's just me.
The logical progression from Spaced is to the Spice Girls.
This one is very much a product of being an 8-year-old. Although recently I've been getting excited again. Don't watch Spice World the Movie though, keep it locked in 1997, it's not as good as you remember.
But it's still good.
When I found the picture below I think I made audible noises of excitement. DO YOU REMEMBER THIS? I don't know what's wrong with me. People are selling these cans for £75 on eBay. There is a part of me that would happily pay this, although I don't quite know what kind of person is sitting sixteen years later looking at old Spice Girls crap on the internet.
Last week I bought this on the Internet...
I tried to collect
the postcards as a kid and was hopeless at it. My cousin nearly had the
full collection, (did you I can't remember?) and was generally better
at the collection of objects, Beanie Babies etc, and this annoyed me. Now
I have my 'Official Spice Girls Photo Album' and I am happy.
I'd
also attempted to buy this a few months ago, but apparently it 'sold
out in 1998'. I'm open to Spice Girls gifts until this phase passes.
Right, clothes. If you think this vintage 90's look is nonsense and you've managed to avoid it, you haven't.
Retail is still consumed by this 90's revival. It's why Dr Martens have had their best selling season ever, why Urban Outfitters can pass off the beanie hat of guy who took his last pill in 1995 and has been working in the Pension Department ever since, as re-worked vintage, and why 'the industry' can whole-heartedly advocate 'heroin chic' and tattoo Cara Delevingne on the insides of your eyelids.
In saying that there's an offensive neon thing that seems to be happening with girls
who get a manicure to go to a festival, but for the most part it's all
pretty good. If you like something just buy it, you'll look back in 20 years and cringe anyway.
Taking a photo of my own feet on the subway. Acid wash, leggings and Chelsea boots, you can't get more 90's than that (you can).
Found this jumpsuit on Etsy for £15 and was then billed a thousand pounds for customs charged. But still, I like it. Black and white, big gold buttons and chain gold straps, early of the decade and came with a matching cropped jacket.
There's also the whole Rita Ora/Rihanna thing happening with 'street wear' but we don't have to talk about that. Wikipedia seemingly knows a thing or too about the fashion 20 years ago, if you care, have a look.
Honourable 90's mentions
90's TV was obviously the best thing ever, ever. Probably because I was a child, and children like TV. Although I would still watch Aquilla. Also a mention for the 'noughties' (disgusting word) for not being so shit and creating Jeopardy. That was good.
The terrifying: The Demon Headmaster, Are You Afraid of the Dark, Goosebumps and that woman who was always after the 'shoeshine boy.'
The animated: The Racoons, Pinky and the Brain, The Rugrats, OLD episodes of Tom and Jerry, and the invention of Cartoon Network.
The generally amazing: Funhouse, Clarissa, The Wild House, Neil Buchanan, and the Saturday night combination dream team of Blind Date and Gladiators. Jet was probably with first person I was in love with, and that's probably quite worrying.
By now if you really did care you'd stick '90's stuff' into Google images and come up with these
and a million other things, but you know what the 90's were like - you were there, and you're probably sick of me talking.
Also I dyed my hair from brown with bad blonde highlights and loads of roots, to dark red. A good decision.
-Kirsty
