Old people!!! Guess what's back?

[gramercy]

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.

Have just been reminded of my black cord stirrup trousers someone has mentioned on here. I'm not going to confess to anything else as I can't remember anything!

I bought my first hooded top in chelsea girl. It had a picture of Africa on the front, and a black body with yellow sleeves and hood. It was part of the first 'trendy' outfit I owned - looked great with my yellow C&A ski pants and grey suede pixie boots!!

I always preferred our local independent equivalent though - London Girl. Much cheaper and with a fantastic (if slightly creepy) basement to rummage around in!!

Oh my God - Radio 2 right now is Tony Blackburn playing hits from 1979. I think I might cry!!

Richard Shops! I was racking my brain to think of the name of it.

'Richard Shops are filled with all the pretty things
Soft and lovely pretty things to wear
Hey there, pretty thing, make the world a prettier place
Come pretty up, come buy your clothes at Richard Shops.'

Oh Chelsea Girl, it was a bit like New Look, bottom end of the fashion market. I used to love Clock House too. We had to travel at least 60 miles on the train to go clothes shopping when we were teens as we lived in the sticks (still do but chains gradually moved to next town 10 miles away). Used to love going with my mum too. Getting all nostalgic now, sob, sob.

Richard shops! This was for older women iirc. Saw some film from war time and there on the high street was a Richards shops, now I know why my mum always went in there. Sob again!

OMG I win I win I win.

I still wear a 'puppytooth' check ra-ra skirt that I bought in Chelsea Girl in 1986 for a wedding!

I also had a pair of amazingly flattering harem pants from 1988 and to this day I regret throwing them out - the modern ones look like you've dropped a turd in your trousers.

I need to justify the ra-ra skirt. Nowadays I wear it with black opaques and ballet pumps and a black cashmere cowl neck jumper.

NOT a red satin blouse with big shoulder pads, electric blue tights, and a giant yellow satin bow in a my hair.

I am no longer interested in what Siobhan Fahey wears, m'lud.

supersal

I too used lewisham clockhouse got a orange jumper dress there.

I was more into going to Roman Road Bow to buy my clothes they had a lovely boutique there.

I used to wear a pink tracksuit talking eighties for the life of me I cant remember the brand any ideas ??? It was a more expensive brand and not the rip off fake/market ones ??

Has no-one mentioned buying their shoes from Freeman Hardy & Willis yet? Or was it just me that bought my white stilletos there?

Supersal My first Sat job was in Lily and Skinner and DH's sat job was at Dolcis. Defo on a par with Saxone.

I earned £3.20 p/h

I remember saxone and lilley and skinner both had heeled brogues that I wasn't allowed for school and I was desperate for tehm.

Does anybody remember the branch of shops 'Martin Ford'. Really cheap and poor quality even for me, a schoolgirl at the time with not much pocket money.

Aged twelve, I cried for burgundy suede pixie boots and was not allowed them. Everyone had them in either maroon or navy with the top of the boot folded over on the ankle. In the end I was bought tan leather round toe boots 'for weekends'. I cried even harder.

bump for my question re tracksuit not any of the brands around now ...

I remember crying for 'wooden wedges' aged 12. All the cool girls at school had them. They were t-bars with, literally, wooden wedges which were about 2'' high at the toe, 31/2'' at the heel. I cried all the way home from the shops when my mum screeched said I couldn't have them.

oh yes Freeman Hardy Willis (or Semen HardOn Willy as we very maturely called it age 15).

Feeling very nostalgic for cuffed suede pixie boots - wish they would properly come back in, they were bloody great.

And burgundy - what an early 80's colour that was, SURELY due for a revival.