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Does anyone remember this style?

274 replies

Pheasantlysurprised · 09/11/2021 16:52

I used to wear this stuff when I was 16-21, (which would have been 1990 onwards) we also bought army surplus rucksacks and embroidered into them, usually peace symbols and ban the bomb.. The skirts often had little mirrors on and were very long and swishy!

We wore patchouli oil or sandalwood and due to being in the north we shopped mostly at Afflecks Palace in Manchester. We loved the Stone Roses, The Doors, The Smiths, Velvet Underground, etc. Glastonbury was very different then, no paps or celebs in Hunter wellies all over it.

I also wore those very long tiny necklaces made up of thousands of multicoloured beads. When one snapped, as they invariably would, you could still find random beads near the skirting boards 20 yrs later Grin
We wore the dyed tights and woven bracelets.

Anyway I saw these items on ebay and it was such a blast from the past. It is amazing how the sensorial element of a particular time can crash back in.

And not forgetting the Docs. I still wear those. I still wear long skirts but don't reek of patchouli (prefer Guerlain) and prefer more minimal designs/fabrics and colours nowadays.
We didnt call it 'hippy' but it was classed as alternative, to a point. I mean, we used to hold burning joysticks in nightclubs whilst swaying around dreamily when The Sunday's were playing......

Does anyone remember this style?
Does anyone remember this style?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
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Livelifeinthebuslane · 12/11/2021 07:09

This was me too. Nice to remember it was a thing and not just me wearing weird clothes! I got floaty / mirrored skirts from Indian shops on Portobello Road, they used to catch in my bike wheels and rip. A friend told me that they were actually petticoats though. I also wore similar baggy trousers. It would probably be called cultural appropriation now.

My 18 yo DD has started to go to Afflecks, she said she'd take me but then decided I was too old. I got some great clothes from there. That was also about the time ripped 501s with cotton fabric in the holes was fashionable - end of the 80s.

MrsMadderRose · 12/11/2021 07:44

Agree with pheasantly - nothing to be ashamed about! I really enjoyed those days. Or about making your own clothes either - something I still do. I made myself a hippy style long cotton school uniform skirt and wore it with a gothy white lacy blouse as I hated the polyester stuff. The teachers turned a blind eye as I was a swot.

I associate this style with my first tastes of freedom and buying my own clothes and extracting myself from my dysfunctional family, which gives it extra sentimental value I think. Also it was in many ways a better time to be a young woman than now.

Fferny1 · 12/11/2021 08:51

I lived in this style from late 70's - early 80's - army surplus jackets, long hippie skirts, baggy Arran jumpers & when I was underage the Umist heavy metal disco where we all head banged. The ringing ears the following morning was not a good combination with my morning Piano lesson.

I still like long floaty skirts & oversized jumpers.

knackeredcat · 12/11/2021 09:15

We really did have the best music, didn't we? Listening to The Cure's Pornography as I type. Like the OP I'm looking at similar items on ebay, only black. I still wear mostly black at 45 but a bit more lagenlook, gothy Gudrun style, I suppose. And I like a good scarf and a bit of float in the summer, but I need more material for floatiness nowadays Grin

I'll never give up my red lipsticks and eyeliner.

But what was lovely was we all had a bit of a different twist on these sort of looks - some would be more gothy, some would be more hippy, lots of charity shop finds and personal touches - I even wore my granny's very old school rosary beads at one point. We experimented with our looks, we didn't always get it right, but it was our thing. Often our safety armour.

Lovely nostalgic thread Smile

poppym12 · 12/11/2021 09:18

Many happy memories from this thread. Thank youGrin

DerTrotzkopf · 12/11/2021 09:21

Anyone remember Boodlum in Leeds ? Sadly no longer there now. Smelled of patchouli and jasmine, jam packed with those flowery indian tops and tasselled skirts, afghan coats, beautiful scarves and Kicker shoes - only place you could get them at the time and so cool. Leeds had a massive goth following too, so many great venues like Phonographique and the Warehouse....

PWEI · 12/11/2021 09:42

PWEI...turn it on and turn it up high like a ten ton truck don't give a fuckGrin

This thread is the most comforting nostalgia fest ever! I met my DH in the early 90s and the first three presents he bought me (chosen by him without my involvement) were

A multi coloured crocheted jumper with big crochet "holes" and long bell sleeves
A big silver mood ring
Floor length black velvet skirt

Obviously I married him Smile I don't think we have ever really grown up. He still wears band T shirts and checked shirts but his jeans aren't as baggy Grin Yesterday I wore an ankle length men's grey wool coat, lace up doc style knee boots with tights, short black velvet A line mini skirt with pink fluffy jumper (this was a poor choice in retrospect as it shed all over the velvet) and my hair was in a purple quiff.

I sometimes worry my DC will be embarrassed by me but they seem OK. I keep all my clothes and had a brief flirtation with wearing jeans in the 90s so my DC are wearing those jeans now with my corset tops, see through tops with bras underneath, and leopard print coats etc all from the 90s. (Can I just say these times are nowhere near as fucking wonderful as the 90s though, poor DC Grin)

For all 90s patchouli fans, can I recommend Byredo Velvet Haze perfume?

(I also miss men with long hair, not 90s curtains but proper long hair. You don't see that so much these days).

ADreadedSunnyDay · 12/11/2021 09:48

The old corn exchange in manchester was my favourite building - i seem to recall there was a vegetarian / vegan cafe there too ...

PWEI · 12/11/2021 09:53

About 2am the other morning I got a Snapchat video from my DD and her friends in 42nd Street singing along to Ten Storey Love Song. They were extremely drunk and the video was somewhat out of focus. One of them appeared to be wearing a leopard print bucket hat GrinI had to check it was 2021 for a minute (esp as DD looks a lot like I did back then!)

Young people don't seem to take drugs on the scale of the 90s though, I think? Weed is still popular especially with uni students but they seem to be a lot more well behaved. I think not being able to drink underage in a lot of places has changed things - DD was amazed you cld get into 42s (as they call it) at the age of 13, no questions asked!

(Sorry that was slightly off the topic of style, but having DCs recreating those times is very weird! Maybe every generation is the same - I used to go out wearing my mums 1970s big floppy wedding hat in the 90s!)

thenightsky · 12/11/2021 09:57

@DerTrotzkopf

Anyone remember Boodlum in Leeds ? Sadly no longer there now. Smelled of patchouli and jasmine, jam packed with those flowery indian tops and tasselled skirts, afghan coats, beautiful scarves and Kicker shoes - only place you could get them at the time and so cool. Leeds had a massive goth following too, so many great venues like Phonographique and the Warehouse....
Yes, I loved Boodlum. I posted about it further down this thread. Also, the Corn Exchange shops. Kirkgate Market also had some great stalls for flowery Indian tops too.
MrsMadderRose · 12/11/2021 10:02

God yes I had a "local" by the age of 15, we would all go and drink pints, no one gave a shit! Also, we did smoke weed, but in a minor, occasional way. Being a dopehead and having it every day was seen as tragic. And as I understand it, it's generally much stronger and more harmful today. I have also heard that today's students drink less but do drugs more, I don't know if that's true.

poppym12 · 12/11/2021 10:42

There was a fantastic small live music venue I used to frequent which was brilliant. Saw many bands there when they were starting out: levellers, pwei, wonder stuff, neds atomic dustbin, stone roses, Jesus jones....... Such happy times and I felt comfortable in my own skin and the clothing style of the time. It felt easy, relaxed and bloody brilliant.

Fferny1 · 12/11/2021 10:45

Oh yes the scent of an era - For Patchouli & Sandalwood lovers may i recommend Marina Barcenilla's Patchouli Clouds. Hands down the best ever Patchouli Perfume.

givememarmite · 12/11/2021 11:17

@kennycat

There was a great place called the oasis in brum which was a bit like afflecks palace. Full of all this stuff. I thought I was the bees knees if I’d been there for some random odd earrings and a joss stick or two.
Thank you, I've been trying to remember the name of the one in Brum! I went to uni there in the 90's and got my nose pierced in Oasis after an afternoon drinking in the pub Grin Also spent many Saturday afternoons mooching around in there!
ErrolTheDragon · 12/11/2021 11:48

I didn't share the patchouli love... a few schoolmates in the 70s used it and I used to wonder why they reeked of flea powder. (I'm not sure when more modern alternatives were invented, that's probably very much a historical association now.)

AnotherCrazyBirdLady · 12/11/2021 12:00

Oh, this thread has brought back some wonderful memories!
I remember using a patchouli fragrance oil that was made by Spiritual Sky, I think, it was lovely. Not found one as nice since.
Does anyone remember what brands of incense were floating around at that time? I'd love to buy some (or similar) to rekindle the memories!!

OnyxOryx · 12/11/2021 12:54

For those who tell how they used to dress with a blush smilie, seriously, was it so embarrassing? I don't think so. I think it had it's own sort of perfection. I would absolutely love to dress like this again, it is a free spirit, always comfy

My Blush smilie was because I was myself back then. What happened to me since? Men. Men happend to me. Bastard men, specifically. I'm getting back to myself now. I still have a lot of clothes like this. I bought them even if I didn't wear them. I also own a collection of crystals, some Joss sticks and possibly some tarot cards somewhere Grin.

Craftycorvid · 12/11/2021 13:06

Anyone remember The Duchess of York pub near the Corn Exchange in Leeds? Sadly long gone but I went to a few gigs there back in the day (and emerged deafened for several days afterwards). Not everything back then was brilliant - I don’t miss the thick fug of smoke in pubs, for example, your clothes would reek of it for ages after.

SallyOMalley · 12/11/2021 14:49

@Craftycorvid

Anyone remember The Duchess of York pub near the Corn Exchange in Leeds? Sadly long gone but I went to a few gigs there back in the day (and emerged deafened for several days afterwards). Not everything back then was brilliant - I don’t miss the thick fug of smoke in pubs, for example, your clothes would reek of it for ages after.
Me! (Then pelting back up Boar Lane to the station to catch the last train home).

I remember seeing the Levellers there, who were brilliant.

Also makes me think of You Slosh who were from the Leeds/York area, big on the uni circuit, and were utterly amazing live.

Feeling very nostalgic now! runs to YouTube

Pheasantlysurprised · 12/11/2021 15:00

^My blush smilie was because I was myself back then. What happened to me since? Men. Men happend to me. Bastard men, specifically. I'm getting back to myself now*

I'm with you Flowers. A lot has happened since...

I only even realised I missed it when i saw that duffle bag on ebay. It all just rushed back in.
People go on and on nowadays about wanting to look wealthy, Parisian, groomed, etc, which is ok I suppose, but the creativity of this time period has a special place in my heart. I certainly think a version of this is still around and can be done in a more mature, considered way.

OP posts:
Pheasantlysurprised · 12/11/2021 15:10

@PWEI

PWEI...turn it on and turn it up high like a ten ton truck don't give a fuckGrin

This thread is the most comforting nostalgia fest ever! I met my DH in the early 90s and the first three presents he bought me (chosen by him without my involvement) were

A multi coloured crocheted jumper with big crochet "holes" and long bell sleeves
A big silver mood ring
Floor length black velvet skirt

Obviously I married him Smile I don't think we have ever really grown up. He still wears band T shirts and checked shirts but his jeans aren't as baggy Grin Yesterday I wore an ankle length men's grey wool coat, lace up doc style knee boots with tights, short black velvet A line mini skirt with pink fluffy jumper (this was a poor choice in retrospect as it shed all over the velvet) and my hair was in a purple quiff.

I sometimes worry my DC will be embarrassed by me but they seem OK. I keep all my clothes and had a brief flirtation with wearing jeans in the 90s so my DC are wearing those jeans now with my corset tops, see through tops with bras underneath, and leopard print coats etc all from the 90s. (Can I just say these times are nowhere near as fucking wonderful as the 90s though, poor DC Grin)

For all 90s patchouli fans, can I recommend Byredo Velvet Haze perfume?

(I also miss men with long hair, not 90s curtains but proper long hair. You don't see that so much these days).

lovely post! I also miss men and boys with longer hair - and especially letting their curls flow free.
OP posts:
Pieceofpurplesky · 12/11/2021 17:54

I agree about missing long curly hair! I went to a concert a few years back
Of a band I had seen many times. Curls had been replaced mainly by bald heads

Tailendofsummer · 12/11/2021 20:13

I used to choose boys on the basis of their hair. I didn't really think ahead with that one!

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 12/11/2021 20:20

PWEI...turn it on and turn it up high like a ten ton truck don't give a fuck

Oh wow PWEI, there's a blast from the past. Clint Mansell must be the musician who's had the most surprising career pivot ever. From grebo to Hollywood composer!

Itsnotdeep · 12/11/2021 20:24

I got a long skirt like that, complete with tassels and little bells from my mum's Freemans catalogue.

I wore it with doc martens and a granddad cardigan from M&S. And possibly a scarf in my hair.

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