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

A wedding dress, followed by maternity clothes!

I was a postgrad student - I was wearing Levi's 501s - straight legs, high waisted with a big belt. DMs. Coloured jeans - red, bottle green. Everything was oversized - I used to buy big check shirts and cord shirts about 4 sizes too big. Yes to waistcoats - floral ones from Petticoat Lane market with white shirts underneath. Floral mini skirts and a denim waistcoat that was more like a denim shirt with the arms cut off over bodies - oh yes, I had a lot of bodies. And thong necklaces with charms on or velvet choker necklaces.

I was 11 and in my first year of high school. I had black DM's and converse style high tops. I had a black leather biker jacket I wore to death (both the DM's and jacket were hand me downs from my brothers girlfriend at the time)

I was built like a rake (size 6 jeans too baggy) but had developed boobs so lived in baggy sweatshirts and skinny jeans that weren't quite skinny enough for my legs so just looked like the current slim fit style - I had a banana yellow pair! Yuck. I had a couple of crushed velvet dresses for school discos and special occasions.

Oh and not forgetting my light up X files watch and about 100 multi coloured rubber bracelets on each arm. My perfume was the vanilla one from the body shop or Charlie white.

I also really, really wanted a pair of silver Levi's that year but never got them

DM's on my feet

Flowery shirts with poppers

Waistcoats

Jeans with rips in.

Several outfits stick in my mind-

Black Agnes B city shorts to mid thigh worn with thick black Wolford tights, a cropped chunky Arran sweater and flat brogues made for clattering about the city cobbles of London. Worn when I was seven months pregnant too. I remember being wolf whistled by some random sexist and the look of shock on his face when I turned round and he saw my bump. I wore a pale pink Chanel tweed jacket over it all, one I found in the Notting Hill Trust charity shop for a few pounds. Wouldn't happen today and it is real- had it authenticated. It has a feather trim on the lapels and weighted chain in the hem- gorgeous.

A short flippy navy floral cotton skirt worn with thigh high black knee socks leaving that all important gap between hem and sock, two layered long sleeve cotton jersey T shirts- one cream, one silver grey and a black school blazer bought from the John Lewis school outfitters. Accessorised with a Bill Amberg leather backpack that I still have and a cap made from an old school uni scarf bought from my mates stall on Portobello.

Lastly my other pregnancy outfit - that same Arran sweater worn with thick Black Agnes B leggings, wool shetland nakle socks rucked up and lace up Wrangler heeled brown leather walking city boots. Women were starting to do the pregnancy body con thing in London and it was so good to not wear hideous shapeless sacks, the only thing available during my last pregnancy in 87-88.

I am rather sad in that I recall things like this!

Remembered some more-

Low slung linen striped pants with a drawstring waist and loose legs worn with a tight shrunken white or navy T shirt showing tummy and sometimes a cardigan over the top. Thought these were so cool and they are back this season!

Ragga girl at the dance halls- I had a pair of Chloe silver silk satin parachute cargo pants with gathered ankles. I wore these with layered tops- a string vest worn over a shrunken T in clashing shades plus Fly sunglasses, big clanking hoops from the Roman Road and gum. The feet were shod in stratospheric heels, tiny bondage strapped and laced and destined to be hung around our necks while we danced.

Has anyone said hideous Nan-heeled shoes yet? I see they're all the rage atm and I remember having a pair of incredibly ugly work shoes with blocky heels from Next back then. This may have been later on in the decade but I remember the Observer fashion supplement doing a whole article on the phenomenon entitled "Ugly Shoes" :o

I must confess to a love for a fugly shoe .

Yep. I had a pair of navy, block-heeled, square-toed court shoes my mum bought me for an interview

dungarees! I was 4

bright red doc Martin boots, Colourful denim dungarees, leggins and t-shirts which were mostly block coloured and bright. A line skirts with bright coloured tights....

I was 7!

Dm's and slip dresses over those all in one body things.
Oh and I loved my denim jacket.

I had a bodysuit I loved. It was cream satin and drapey - almost like a wrap top. It was stunning and I was heartbroken when it eventually fell apart and I had to throw it away!

Matchy suits with above knee pencil skirts. (!)

Thick soled loafers with horsy bridle bit or tassels.

Cream silk shirt with really wide collar worn with a pinstripe waistcoat.

From memory most of my work trousers were narrow leg. Which seem the only redeeming feature of this tragic list of recollections.

Except almost all the trousers in this years fashion weeks were wide-legged, so I think the narrow cut is well and truly past its peak and already starting its decline...

I saw a young teacher at my children's school in her 20s wearing black opaques with a pretty flared above the knee skirt the other day and thought that I was wearing that about 20 years ago. I wore it with black palladium shoes and a denim jacket I think. I saw a man in palladium shoes recenty. (Not sure if they have a different name this time round.)

palladiums and jelly shoes or they may have '95, lumberjack shirt, DMs, ripped jeans, dresses with tshirt underneath

I was wearing DM's/para boots or converse/karate slippers. Skin tight jeans with german army shirts or checked flannel shirts. Mini skirts with thick black tights were the alternative. Long indian skirts with mirrors and bells worn with tiny vests or t-shirts. Tiny, skintight crushed velevet dresses with thigh high boots for clubbing.

I was 24, with 2 kids and thought I was fat. I wish I was that fat now!!

I remember those skirts with mirrors in.

Oh wow, I just realised why I've done so much shopping in the past while.
I'm 15 again!!

Reading this has been a great bit of nostalgia. I was much more adventurous then.
I did so much shopping in 2nd hand shops. Of course, that would just be vintage now.

The songs to go with it...

Cringe

Yes to matchy suits! I just remembered I had my (one and only) suit - it was from early '93 and was my only womany grown up thing that was used for all grown up stuff. It may have been from m&s actually.

It had jacket, trousers, skirt and waistcoat and was a pastel green colour; my mum thought I should wear it with a nice blouse and loafers, but I was living on fashion's edge, so wore it with a black skinny rib polo neck, thick black tights and high platformy shoes - I felt ever so mature!

Towards the end of '94, beginning '95 I had dropped out of uni and was training as a croupier so had to dress a bit more worky, so tended to wear wide leg, high waist black trousers with knitted/crocheted long waistcoat (really cool one had chunky zip front) and tight polo or high neck top.

Lumberjack shirts, leggings, flowery dresses, Indian skirts, waiscoats, DM,
Velvet jackets,shorts dungarees, crushed velvet, wedding dress and then back to the same clothes staight afterwards.
Still wear velvet jacket with jeans and chunky boots.
I was 31 then and it never occurred to me that I was dressing too old for my age. When I see threads like that now it makes me laugh. Still refuse to succumb to the twinset and pearls or what ever I should wear!

Around that time t shirts suddenly came back after years lf bodies and tops. previously they had been big and baggy, suddenly they were tight - we found old school t shirts in charity shops. Long socks, platform Mary Janes I wore a lot. Jeans were quite wide and utterly high waisted, spaghetti strap dresses over a t-shirt - either long or very very short. I am not wearing any of those but I am not fashionable any more!