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Original poster

Old people!!! Guess what's back?

116 replies

gramercy · 01/04/2011 17:56

Went into River Island today (because I saw they had a 3-10 years section) and there, in front of me, was a big sign saying CHELSEA GIRL.

And there was the same logo with the girl with curly hair looking downwards (like sort of coy Dr White's advert).

I was transported back to my youth going round Chelsea Girl on a Saturday with my mum... I actually had teary eyes. The shop girls must have wondered who this mad old bat was who was sullying their trendy emporium.

OP posts:
MirandaGoshawk · 01/04/2011 21:10

Oh yes, Chelsea Girl (in Croydon) was the place... I, too, remember their jeans in odd sizes - I was an 11 (those were the days!)

I had a black coat from there, with puffed sleeves and red heart-shaped buttons. It was crap quality, but so what? It was Chelsea Girl!

WhatsWrongWithYou · 01/04/2011 21:31

Knickerbockers! I had a purple pair from George Henry Lee (think it was a John Lewis shop - never cool, me), and I wore them with a chunky cream jumper from CG which had sort of knitted coloured blobs which looked like erm paint on it).

First time I wore them out my BF's older brother who was a loudmouth wag said 'Oi it's Lady Di!' Was at the height of Di-itis and the most uncool thing to be for a 19yo Liverpudlian art student. Don't think I ever wore them again Blush.

marriednotdead · 01/04/2011 21:35

Miranda- I wonder did we met back then?!

My best friend lived in Croydon so we were always in there circa 1980ish. I remember coveting an electric blue pair of stilettos but never buying them because they were out of my budget Sad Chelsea Girl was so cool.

Then we'd run out of the centre to What She Wants- loads of sweater dresses and funny smelling tat IIRC.

A quick rummage in Clockhouse then along to Woolies to squash together in the photobooth- cheaper in black and white Grin

I though Hmm when I read the thread title but yup, looks like I'm old!

lololizzy · 01/04/2011 21:37

i took a photo of C&A in Spain a year and a half ago , wish i'd had time to go in! (Palma)

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 01/04/2011 21:39

yikes, I must be an old person Shock
I thought this was going to be a thread about lisle stockings or headscarves.

AintMissBeehiving · 01/04/2011 21:43

I had cord knickerbockers Hmm

thefirstMrsDeVere · 01/04/2011 21:50

Do you remember What She Wants? It was the 80s equivalent of Primark. Cheap, cheap, cheap crap. I think it turned into Mark One. Mark One has gone now hasnt it?

The leggings had no lycra in them and went all baggy at the knee after five minutes.

Jellykat · 01/04/2011 22:12

Yes MrsDeVere i remember What she wants, i had a decent leopardskin shirt from there.. Blimey -very early '80s!

HuwEdwards · 01/04/2011 22:14

Oh Wow! I LOVED Chelsea girl, LOVED LOVED LOVED!

Meglet · 01/04/2011 22:24

Less of the 'old' please Wink......

Mum didn't approve of CG Sad.

Tortington · 01/04/2011 22:25

my mum bought me a whole wardrobe from there when i was 11, i was the best dressed and most envied girl in junior school....for a term

Meglet · 01/04/2011 22:32

The cool girls at senior school always had CG blouses or skirts for their uniform. Some of us had to go to BHS.

uppie · 01/04/2011 22:46

Oh God! I still wear a dress from C&A Clockhouse! Blush It comes out every summer. Its a sleeveless button through washed out denim dress. Fits like a glove and I LOVE it. Smile

MrsSeanBean · 01/04/2011 22:46

Happy memories here :)

I remember I bought a red Charlotte Halton jacket around 1989. I thought I was the bee's knees.

I also remember buying a burgundy cobweb knit CG sweater with some pocket money - when I was shopping with a friend. It was recuced to £5 (or about that equivalent value then) in the sale. I loved it. I was never normally allowed to shop there as it was 'common' (according to my mother Grin)

supersalstrawberry · 02/04/2011 00:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

supersalstrawberry · 02/04/2011 00:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FebreezeYourJeans · 02/04/2011 07:25

snob you bought back very powerful memories of when the Chelsea Girl in Hammersmith became River Island and you are so right about the paddle steamer thing.

WhatsWrongWithYou · 02/04/2011 09:48

I've just realised the first time I saw the paddle steamer River Island was in Cardiff when I'd just started my first job aged 22. So that was > 1985.
I'd forgotten about that - it seemed so cool and classy. Can't remember buying any clothes in there though. Still wasn't cool!

MistyValley · 02/04/2011 10:12

Blimey - I hadn't even realised River Island was Chelsea Girl. I remember the original RI branding well. Had completely forgotten about Snob Grin

Does anyone remember Richard Shops (subsequently rebranded Richard I think) - was always good for work clothes (well for the sort of crappy jobs I had anyway).

thecatatemygymsuit · 02/04/2011 10:16

Wow - Chelsea Girl! My first ever Saturday job, and I still didn't want to buy anything in the shop as it was so cheap and nasty!
I remember desperately wanting Clockhouse dungarees when I was really little, it seemed to me the epitome of cool.
I also remember the weird transmogrification (is that a word?) into River Island, the whole retro steamboat thing. V strange.

notrightnow · 02/04/2011 10:25

My first 'grown up' item of clothing that I bought myself was a red denim mini skirt from Chelsea Girl! I thought I was soooo cool ...

Had completely forgotten about Snob. And mostly could only afford Clockhouse anyway.

GeorginaWorsley · 02/04/2011 12:14

I loved Chelsea Girl! TopShop was too expensive in my day.Sad

SlightlyJaded · 02/04/2011 13:30

feast your eyes ladies

surprise · 02/04/2011 13:41

I loved CG and Snob and Clockhouse (drifts away on a cloud of nostalgia)

DelGirl · 02/04/2011 13:52

I remember Chelsea girl. I'm pretty sure I bought a wonderful hacking jacket and matching skirt omdg. I thought I was the bees knees, hell I so wasn't Grin Wore with bobby socks and flats pmsl. I may even have worn it with a silky poloneck. I think I need to leave mn now after this confession!