To miss shopping in the 90's and early noughties

[witchofzog]

I used to love shopping but now there are very few shops I actually like. I miss Jeffrey Rogers, Bay Trading Co, MK One, Pilot etc. Not high end clothing granted but there were always things I liked.

These days a lot of stores are online but I can't be bothered with what would probably be constant sending things back as a lot of things look great on the hanger but crap on me. Primark is ok but hell to shop in when I can go as it is so busy and don't get me started on the mirrors. New Look is ok as is H & M too but really that's about it. I actually prefer charity shops and car boots now but today I just feel really nostalgic for the high street of yesteryear.

Does anyone else feel the same?

Oh god I used to shoplift and wear velvet smoking jackets and men’s shirts from charity shops. With docs.
Jeans every day too, some things don’t change.

There's still a Wimpy in my home town. It's been in the same unit since the 80s and still looks exactly the same inside. It's always rammed!

Motoko yes, Kings Road Great Gear Market: Sisters Of Mercy blaring out. The base on Marian making your rib cage rumble :)

Shelley was great - but my favorite was Theodora. Gorgeous vampish black stilettos. Way too high and madly pointy. I used to actually wear those standing up all day at work! I'm googling Theo but can't find mention of them :(

Wimpy! A school aged best mate and i used to go in the one at Ealing Broadway and make one cup of tea each last about an hour on a rainy afternoon. People watching in the window seat. Before busing it home again

My god this thread has brought back some memories!

Dolcis and Ravel for 'smart' shoes
Freeman Hardy & Willis for school/college shoes
Richards
The excitement of Next arriving in Woolwich!
The Sock Shop for tights

Buying a lipstick from Miss Selfridge - no idea what it was called but it was a metallic lilac mauve. Mum said it made me look as if I had heart trouble....!

Palladium shoes, anyone? I lived in these in the summer, with teeny tiny summer dresses.

What I loved about the Body Shop, as an impoverished teen/YA, was that when it was friends birthdays or xmas, I could buy a little basket and fill it with little fruit shaped soaps, bath pearls, and little bottles of bubble bath. It made a nice little present, yet didn't cost too much, and I could tailor it to their tastes.
I also made earrings at the time, so I'd make a pair to put in the basket as well.

Laiste I got my mum into the Sisters, she loves them!

A pp mentioned Wimpy, they're still around. There's one in Swanage, Dorset. Unfortunately I can't go in there now, as I'm in a wheelchair, and apart from the step in the doorway, the tables and chairs are fixed to the floor and quite close, so I can't manoeuvre around them.

Oh this thread is just too much!

I remember flicking through just 17 at the fashion section and seeing what I'd save my money for. The thrill when I got my first pair of Reebok classics (massively on trend in my area)

My favourite though, Bay trading. Many gems from there. And pilot for summer dresses (maxi gingham number is most memorable) dolcis for school shoes. B3fore that was Kays shoes. Wasn't a fan. And I used to buy my school trousers from c&a. Was THE place to buy them.

Manchester Afflecks Palace and the Corn exchange before it got blown up x

Reading this, I do wonder what Tweens will reminisce over in terms of fashions when they are their age.

I remember my sister and I laughing at Together clothing in Freemans catalogue back in the day and it occurred to me a few years ago it was all in fashion again (lace inlays, embroidery, cold shoulder, waist-high boyfriend jeans, nude/peach colours).

*I meant when current Tweens are our age!!!

MinesaPinot I had that lipstick too. Was it Iron Lady??

Oh please tell me Afflecks Palace is still going. We used to make special pilgrimages trips to Manchester to buy all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff from there so we would look super cool when we got home.

I saw a Baby G watch in TK Maxx the other day and I SO nearly bought it.

This thread is making me feel really nostalgic! Late 90's/early noughties for me, but so many Saturday afternoons roaming the local town with friends.

I think I’ve ‘grown out’ of a lot of shops. I remember Bay Trading and MK One being good but I was younger and slimmer then and more into keeping up with fashion. There are shops I went into then that I wouldn’t shop in now for myself - River Island, Miss Selfridge, Top Shop (in the main but I do occasionally get a top if it’s not too high end). I still go into Next & Oasis (always been my fave). My teen DD loves Pull and Bear which wasn’t around in the 90s/OOs. I’m not mega keen on online for me, but it’s great for DD as a lot more choice -plus she’s a clothes horse so everything looks good on her!!

I could spend all day in Afflecks

www.afflecks.com/

Oh Solitaire! How I hated being dragged in there by my mum, until I spotted ex oasis stuff that She may actually have bought me, 15 year old wearing a pastel lilac oasis suit just because it was from oasis please. tres chic! then wed have to go upstairs to where walks is now and visit dunes, which was like a matalan, only crappier.

Theres a similar one down the street from Kurt geiger now, I always feel sorry for the lady on the mic!

This has brought back so many memories of great market too, wandering on a Saturday buying up hennes tops thinking I was gorgeous.

I miss River Island from back in the day when it sold long, floaty maxi skirts and velour jackets and had beautiful wooden floors. 😔

Wouldn't go in there now.

Amber I would totally wear one now. Must have been about 1999 that loads gone the girls in my year had them.

Also Storm watches? Silver straps with a blue face, often like a glass bubble over the face. I really wanted the Storm ring watch despite it being ridiculously impractical! They sold them in Debenhams.

Pop Swatches! Though perhaps more early 90s than mid to late.

Those enormous watches that you hung on the wall as clocks. Were they early 90s or more late 80s?

Boots Natural and Global collections
A line mini skirts
Hipsters
Hanky tops
Wella Shaders and Toners
Rimmel Heather Shimmer lipstick
Babydoll dresses
I miss the 90s soooo much