What were you wearing in 1994?

[vitaminC]

I've long had a theory that fashion follows a 20-year pattern and that has been well and truly proven seeing all the new collections just appearing. Some of the photos from the PFW are uncannily similar to things I owned back then!

In 1994, I was a postgrad student in Paris. I'd recently outgrown my grunge/raver phase and wore mostly midi-length flaired/pleated/tube skirts or culottes with soft sweaters and/or waistcoats. I still have (and have started to wear again) the brown high-heeled brogue ankle boots I bought that spring!

I also had a very lovely black and white kilt-style mini-skirt, which I wore loads with a black cropped jacket and a black bowler hat! I regret not having kept that skirt. It was lovely and would be perfect in 2014!

Another favourite outfit I seem to remember owning and wearing during that period (94-96) was a baby pink angora sweater with navy trousers and loafers and a pink patent doctor-style handbag. I still have the scarves I wore with that outfit, but not the other pieces, although some of the stuff in the shops right now looks almost identical!

So, where were you in 1994 and what were you wearing? Are you thinking of revisiting that look now? Maybe we can inspire each other and stay ahead of the curve with our inside knowledge

In 1994 I was very into my work clothes. I work a black and white Chanel style jacket with pencil skirt, figure hugging fitted suits. Even my casual clothes were smart. Lots of Lycra fitted skirts and jackets. I was 21/22.

I remember having a discussion with an acquaintance out of work in the mid/late 90s when I expressed an opinion that translucent polyester cream blouses worn with visible lacy bras were not a great office look, and were in fact a bit inappropriate. Inevitably she revealed that she herself wore them every day to the office and I was clearly a prudish judgy bitch who shouldn't be looking at her bra anyway.

1994 for me was short a-line skirts with button down fronts, over knee socks with knee high laced boots and long line waistcoat with tight top underneath. Also high waisted wide leg trousers with big clunky heels and tight cropped top (used to buy t-shirts from the kids section in age 5-6 so they were as tight as possible). I used to wear adidas tracky bottoms a lot too, but with a jumper rather than a tshirt or a floaty dress with doc martens and thick tights - also the t-shirt under strappy dress thing.

Those were the days

Lottie, re the see through top/wonderbra look, for me it was 1996 - but I had lacey type see through tops if I remember right. I had a lovely line in tartan trousers around that time too

leggings and mini skirts and cherry red DM boots.

long pleated skirts with chunky slip ons

skinny jeans with turn ups and skinny rib tops

floaty feminine frocks, with aforementioned DMs or platform espadrilles or flip flops.

I also remember a tweed skirt in shades of blues and purple, and wearing crew neck sweaters (usually stolen from my current squeeze) with a jaunty scarf thrown round. Still a big fan of the scarf as an accessory.

I think I still have some of my clobber from that time up in the attic. Unfortunately, it won't fit me any more

maternity clothes I hope that doesn't come around every 20 years....

I was 23. I remember I had some Armani beige jeans and some YSL cat eye sunglasses that I loved but lost.

That time was very much bias cut skirts with vest tops - I had a black spotty one from Agnes B, two flower print one ones from Jigsaw (one pink one blue) with matching skinny t-shirts (back when Jigsaw was good).

There was a lot of spaghetti strap dress over t shirts, wrap skirts, Gucci clogs, Patrick Cox loafers, reefer jackets.

I had a great fake fur jacket from Agnes B, and some excellent Emma Peel style black heeled boots from Pied a Terre.

And oversized jumpers. I had a chunky black Joseph jumper I wore with black cigarette pants, and a pale blue chenille one.

Yes I think 1996 is right monicalewinski. Something to look forward to then! (And what year was it for you and 'that dress'?)

My mother! She was pregnant with me at the time

Dungarees and mirrored waistcoats. Think I was going through my John Virgo phase.

I was a weird 4 year old.

Lol! That was around '96 too lottie!

I was probably behind the drag curve with fashions then, but I remember what I was wearing each year because every year from '93 to '96 I lived somewhere different, moving around for uni and holiday work and then dropping out and getting a 'proper job'.

I wish I was as 'fat' now as I thought I was then though - I was tiny, but thought I was vast. I had a fucking 26 inch waist for God's sake, wore kids tops and thought I was piling on the beef whenever I tipped 9 stone.

I long for that now!

Daley

I think I was in the first year of doing my A'levels in 94. I wore:
flared jeans with skinny Ts & converse
Khaki baggy army trousers with vests
Velvet jacket
denim shorts with tights and dms

The only thing from that era still in my wardrobe is converse

This thread is great!

So many items listed so far are already in this year's catwalk collections and will no doubt therefore be trickling down into the shops and streets over the coming months...

On the school run this morning I saw a young woman (mid-20s) wearing a heather suede jacket with purple velvet bootlegs! I could have been in early 90s Manchester

Denim pinafores and long sleeved polo necks, or brightly coloured leggings and t shirts. And Doodles, jellies or wellies, depending on the weather. Accessory wise I had one of those plastic basket bags that were in fashion a few years back. I used it to collect leaves and conkers

Was it then that the thongs under low rise jeans thing came about or was that later 90s?

Cropped tops - how I loved showing my 19 yr old stomach (sobs in corner)

Yep, I had a flat-as-a-board 24-inch waist in those days, too! I flaunted it all summer in floaty indian skirts with cropped t-shirts

I may be wrong, but I think the thong look came in quite a bit later - sometime in the 2000s, not the 90s.

School uniform, mostly :) And jodhpurs... And a floppy black velvet hat like Blossom's! I was 11, and for parties mostly aimed to dress like Claudia in the Babysitter's Club books...

So, today, two of my daughters have left the house wearing denim shorts (one blue, one white) over tights, with clumpy boots, a vest top and a cardigan! And my third daughter is flaunting the britpop look - wide legged pants, a red hoody and union jack converse low tops.

I'm feeling decidedly old!

Was thinking exactly the same as OP when shopping last week. I am elderly so had a good disposable income in 1994. It was was all pastels - baby pinks and blues. Angora sweaters in said colours. Shift dresses (not so many of these around). Beige Armani rip-off suits. Backpacks - so in right now. Everyone copying Prada. Main difference was in 1994 M&S was having a fashion moment and bought everything there. Not this time.

Oh yes, me too, Margaret, I bought loads of stuff in M&S that year!

French Connection was good then too. No more.

That was around the time they launched the FCUK logo and everyone was wearing the t-shirts, wasn't it?

I never bought into that trend (having spent the previous 5 years wearing my Inspiral Carpets "Cool as F*ck" t-shirt)