1990-2000

 

Decade of Grunge, Heroin Chic and Girl Power

The Supers say Hello!
 
The 1990s were the heyday of the original supermodels;  When Linda Evangelista mentioned to Vogue that "we don’t wake up for less than $10,000 a day”, the modeling changed from being fashion focused to being a celebrity industry.

'Heroin Chic'  



Kate Moss became the face of the nineties fashion industry and caused controversy with her pale skin, gaunt features and being such a young age. Creating the heroin chic look. Moss's waif look became desirable until the insurgance of the 'sexy' supermodel in the late nineties, Giselle Bundchen led the way...

 

The Grunge Look
 
In the early nineties bands such Nirvana, Green Day and Placebo led the grunge charge. The great unwashed became fashionable, think black and grey, baggy and loose, unstructured and simple.




Girl Power!
Pre millenium, five ladies became heroes and the Spice Girls were born. Baby, Scary, Sporty, Ginger and Posh became more than nicknames: they were global fashion trends. The high street couldn't sell enough platform trainers, mini skirts and leopard print. The Spice Girls were a lasting legacy, and are still everyones favourite fancy dress opportunity.



Long Live McQueen...

The nineties saw the birth of a British fashion genius, Alexander McQueen burst onto the scene with low slug hipsters, scottish influences and an attitude to match. One of the greatest designers that ever came out of the nineties. A riot of controversy and clothing. 

1980-1990

The decade that fashion forgot!
 

No other decade is as notorious as the eighties, from neon leg warmers to 'MC Hammer' style trousers, the decade had everything.
Colour was everything in the eighties, and contrasting and clashing were at there peak.

Shoulder Pads

As female identity in the work place rose, so did the need to show power and this came in the form of fashion, especially shoulder pads. Usually worn with bow ties, ties or decorative scarves to accessorize, and very commonly lined with femanine colours then rolled sleeves to show this colour creating an accessory in itself and promoting femininity.

Mini Skirts

Although many designers tried to drop the mini skirt, in the beginning of the eighties, the public wouldnt let go of it and it stayed strong throughout the decade.
Mini skirts were being made in many fabrics including denim, leather and knitwear. They were popularly paired with leggings, and fish-net tights.
 

 

Leg Warmers

 

Leg warmers were a huge part of eighties fash that developed from leg warmers worn by dancers for practical uses, however leg warmers of the eighties were neon, patterned and as many colours as possible. The rise of leg warmers was due to movies such as fame and footloose. However by the mid eighties leg warmers had had their day and were never worn as part of the fashion.

 

Parachute Trousers

 

During the early eighties parachute trousers were tight and shiny made of synthetic materials. They were originally designed for break dancers who need trousers that would be versatile and durable. To add detail they were made with added zips for an edgy feel.

No longer seen in high street fashion and rarely seen on the catwalk parachute pants will forever be known as a mens eighties craze.

Stretch-stirrup Pants

 

These were another eighties fashion fad that created a triangular shape leg,consisting of a knit fabric that tapers towards the angle ending with a stirrup, making anyones legs look larger than they were.

Stirrup pants really came into their own in the mid eighties and went back into fashion about a year later.