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Original poster

To miss shopping in the 90's and early noughties

383 replies

witchofzog · 14/03/2018 18:36

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
15
aspoonfulofyourownmedicine · 16/03/2018 16:14

Ahhh Bay Trading. I still have my velvet LBD I bought in Bay for a school disco, aged 13 😊 in 1998

Steaksauce · 16/03/2018 17:09

Boots Natural Collection watermelon shower gel smelt lovely.

So glad Affleck's is still there Smile

Headinthedrawer · 16/03/2018 17:31

I was in Top Shop on Oxford circus last week and they were selling the camoflague cargo pants and mini skirt I bought from them in the 90s.My Nike 97 gym trainers are having a retro moment and everyone is still wearing Adidas superstars and gazelles.The clothes haven't changed much just my ability to carry them off.If I wear cargo pants and trainers now I look less like one of All Saints and more like I'm wearing all weather gear.It's bemusing when the clothes you last felt cool in are now retro.

Sheepasaurus · 16/03/2018 17:56

I had one of those giant watch clocks Pooryorick. It was purple.

I bought myself some exclamation! perfume a couple of months ago on amazon, you can also still get tribe.

I loved my babyG watch, I was a big fan of long black maxi skirts, docs and lumberjack shirts......

crikeycrumbsblimey · 16/03/2018 18:54

Haven’t been into afflecks for years....I felt so edgy!

Lovelymonkeyninetynine · 16/03/2018 19:28

I remember Shout! magazine had a feature every issue about a reader’s home town. They always asked where they liked to shop (invariably bay trading, Tammy, Snob etc) and their fave outfit was always a body and jeans 😬
Love this thread!

Wallabaloo · 16/03/2018 19:33

Bodies!

EarlyNinetiesDecor · 16/03/2018 20:01

For Christmas in the late 1990s my mum always used to get me a little set of perfumes from Boots, like tiny sizes of:

So?
Exclamation
One called Addiction, I think
Charlie Red
And another one I can read remember

Me and my friends would sit there sniffing each bottle and discussing where we’d wear it Grin

In the early Noughties I wore Anna Sui Sui Dreams perfume. It was the colour of blue WKD and in a handbag shaped bottle.

Zoflorabore · 16/03/2018 20:50

Here is an embarrassing story.

It was 1995, coming up to New Year's Eve and I was 17 nearly 18, went out shopping to find a dress for NYE to wear at Red's nightclub in Liverpool.

I had skinny mates, I was not skinny and hated Topshop cos nothing fitted me apart from the shoes but my mates went in so I had a look around.

Found a black slip dress, really pretty and miracle upon miracle it fitted me and was surprisingly cheap for TS.

So NYE arrived, dress seemed a bit skimpy so took a jacket out as it was freezing.
Got to club, got lots of very strange looks off people, that confirmed to me that my dress was indeed a bit short and skimpy for my size 16/18 frame.

Oh no, it wasn't just that, turns out it was a bloody nightie! I had gone out in a black silky nightie that was up my arse. The label confirmed it ( said nightwear ) I sat in the corner all night. I threw it away the next day Grin

Still hate Top Shop...

TheNoseyProject · 16/03/2018 21:25

I got a storm watch for my 19th birthday. Still wear it everyday... it doesn’t have a blue face though.

EarlyNinetiesDecor · 16/03/2018 22:48

TheNoseyProject it was this kind that I was thinking of - I loved them!

To miss shopping in the 90's and early noughties
AmberNectarine · 17/03/2018 02:37

My SIL got me a Storm watch for Christmas after I admired hers. I knew then that she was a good one.

Fustyoldcarcass · 17/03/2018 09:33

I used to be a fan of So! and Tommy Girl and CKOne. I probably over did the perfume though.

Does anyone remember those butterfly tops that was a backless top shaped like a butterfly? It was really skimpy (I used to literally wear nothing out clubbing) I had a gold one.

At least I didn't go raving in those fluffy leg warmers.

Lovelymonkeyninetynine · 17/03/2018 09:59

Oh god I had the storm watch too!

AntiHop · 17/03/2018 11:13

@alltoomuchrightnow Kensington market was the best! I bought some awesome clothes in there including some amazing died Levis. Dark green. My friends and I could spend the whole day there.

@pooryorick what was with the army surplus stuff? I thought I was so cool wearing an army surplus massive shirt as a jacket. I must have looked ridiculous!

HobnobBob · 17/03/2018 12:06

All teenage boys smelled of Lynx Africa.

MinesaPinot · 17/03/2018 17:50

Tralalee I think it might have been!

And the memories of C&A! The only time I see them now is abroad. We did a Med cruise a couple of years ago and stopped at Vigo in Spain. There were two ships in and nearly everyone was going back on board with brimming C&A carrier bags. Just shows how much they are missed!

And who mentioned Etam?? I used to love the one in the Whitgift Centre in Croydon. I remember buying a lovely red satin dropped waist 20's style dress from there. Wouldn't have looked out of place in Peaky Blinders!

Who mentioned Etam?

MinesaPinot · 17/03/2018 17:51

oops, glitch on my PC - I didn't mean to mention Etam twice!

eggsandchips · 18/03/2018 02:41

The ultimate pleasure for me was Kay's or great universal catalogue!

Bubba1234 · 18/03/2018 08:26

I used to go into Topshop & want everything. Now I find it hard pressed to find something it’s a shame. I have to buy from h & m now out of nessescity instead of wanting their clothes. It’s all packed together too tightly on the rails & no size 8’s left. I see something I like but the quality breaks my heart.
I’m reduced to the likes of Missguided just buy things to wear a few times then throw away.
It’s terrible

Fustyoldcarcass · 18/03/2018 09:50

bubba

I agree about the quality. Some of the fabrics used these days are really synthetic and sweaty. It's also very hard to find a reasonably priced white t-shirt/camisole that isn't completely see-through. Haven't been able to wear one of these without having to sling a blouse or cardi over the top in recent years.

Anyone have any ideas where you can get decent quality white t-shirts (cotton) without spending too many £'s?

AmberNectarine · 18/03/2018 10:09

fusty Uniqlo.

Motoko · 18/03/2018 10:40

The ultimate pleasure for me was Kay's or great universal catalogue!

I always preferred Grattan or Freemans. I've still got a leather coat, a lovely jacquard duvet cover, and gorgeous wooden bed that I ordered from my friend's Freemans catalogue. The bed has been in daily use for over 20 years and is still going strong!

Fustyoldcarcass · 18/03/2018 13:32

Thanks Amber. I will check them out. I don't have a store locally but will have a look online.

88mph · 18/03/2018 13:44

Body Shop Dewberry perfume stick! With the Save the Tigers tin pencil case and fountain pen.

Early 2000's was all about the massive denim flares from New Look and Topshop.

Then after all that shopping it was into Partners (I can't remember what it was called back then) for pastel gel pens.