In the same way that shoulder pads and skirt suits strike fear into thirty-something women, recent runways have shown us twenty-somethings that it is time for us to relive fashion again.
It is a well-known fact that fashion moves in a circular motion. It is exhilarating to put on a vintage 1950s polka dot dress and feel like you could have been alive in that time. Yet for some who were, they do not want to do it again. The 50s were a long time ago, yet the 1990s seems oh-so-very-recent and still fresh in our minds.
- Grunge is making a comeback
Many women who grew up in the 80s will refuse to don the angular shoulder pads and bright, neon tights and accessories seen on Marc Jacobs’ AW 09/10 catwalk. Neither will they get overly excited about the power suits and restricting tight dresses of Donna Karen and Michael Kors. They’ve done it before. It reminds them of Vanilla Ice and bad perms. However, over the past couple of seasons, a few trends have sneakily appeared on the runways with designers attempting to be even further ahead of everybody else. They have left the 1980s and found themselves in the 90s, home to combat trousers, grunge and the Spice Girls. A scary combination though it may be, it is even more so for those who now are considering once again slipping on ripped, slashed deniers and a pair of Doc Martens for the first time since they were a Nirvana-worshipping teen.
- Alexander Wang AW08
Alexander Wang first brought back the grunge trend on his AW08 runway, with slashed tights and casual beanies. Comfort appears to be the way forward. After seasons of squeezing into Hervé Leger bodycon mini dresses and sky-high stilettos, we welcome biker boots, deconstructed clothing and Dolce and Gabbana’s pyjama suits . Slouchy, faded bags, ripped hosiery and denim and grungy, baggy trousers have all made noticeable appearances in recent collections. From Jimmy Choo to See by Chloé, leather biker boots are everywhere. The jeans trend for 2009 is ripped, distressed denim. Oversize blazers are the most striking look from 1990s movies and you may call it the ‘boyfriend’ trend nowadays, but it is not too far from what every stylish woman was wearing a mere fifteen years ago. Catsuits were also made popular in the 1990s when Michelle Pfeiffer hit the screens as Catwoman and Posh Spice willfully continued the look on stage. This trend was heavily reflected in the jumpsuits on the SS09 runways, which have proved popular with celebs and office workers alike.
- Marc Jacobs AW09
But what else should we expect? It cannot be much longer until we are re-embracing the bandana and parachute combat look of 1997. We’ve already seen the headscarf as a major accessory and just mix the deconstructed, baggy trouser trend with the zip detailing seen on runways all over the world and what resembles a pair of combat trousers will slowly appear before your eyes. It would seem that it is inevitable. With tartan back a la mode, just wait until the Britney schoolgirls start to appear again.
- Style icons for the future?
My memories of the 90s are of bad oversized suits, cheesy boy and girl pop bands and the followers of grunge. Most of which I have been dreading would be repeated. And yet whilst I try to resist going where I have been before, I find myself scanning the high street rails for the perfect oversize blazer to go with my slouchy leggings and flat black ankle boots. I may as well pick up some tights whilst I’m at it. And a pair of scissors.
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