NOSTALGIA | BEING A 90S BABE

Nostalgia is a beautiful thing. How something as simple as a song, a scent, a photograph or an item of clothing can transport you back to a different place, time and decade entirely. Naturally with what I do I’m regularly taken through the decades of fashion through clothing, whether thats due to an item I’m wearing, how something is specifically styled, something I’ve spied in a magazine or a catwalk show or something my younger cousins are rocking, clothes are always sending me on a trip down memory lane.

I often find myself wishing how there was a virtual wardrobe somewhere, like i-Cloud for all the clothes we’ve loved and lost over the years. A place to store the currently-not-in-use items, only to bring them back out once they inevitably come back around.

I look back at photographs of my gorgeous mother from the 80s and wish that she too had that virtual wardrobe; that she still owned that floral two-piece, that insane buttery leather blazer or those oversized optical glasses that the eighties were known for and that I could totally rock today.
Or even photographs of myself when I was a wee babe; age 5 and adorned in rainbow stripes and polka dot dungarees, age 8 in lilac boot leg trousers, a striped halter neck and jelly sandals, I wish I had them all but this time in big girl sizes.
Even as close as just a few years ago when I was working at ASOS I regret so deeply how quick I was to give up some truly awesome items. Items that I'd LOVE to wear now and items that I'd photographed and that TimeHop just loves reminding me of, but hey, I was living in London and this girl needed to eat, so off they went to a new home.

Regrets and wishes aside this is life, Apple are yet to create a virtual wardrobe (srsly though how do we make this happen!?) and it’s best to pass on our no longer worn gems to others for those gems to get the love and wear that they deserve. I’m sure I’ll look back to today, the day I did my “every two month charity shop drop” and wonder where that Bardot top in sixties floral print or last seasons gingham jumpsuit got to!
But sometimes it takes just one piece to bring with it all the nostalgia that softens the blow of missing the original. A piece that transports you back to a time, that serves up all the feels and all the memories and suddenly that piece you missed so much doesn’t seem quite so bitter.

For me, this is that piece.
This little western button down dress.
I’ve had a few of these in my time; whether it was back when I was a little girl and my mum was still dressing me, and doing a mighty good job might I add (I have a lot to thank her styling ways for) or back when I was working as a stylist at ASOS, I had this very style of dress in blue denim that inevitably got the cut and went onward to a new home.
It’s an absolute failsafe style of dress for me and my shape, it’s flattering with it’s cut, sculpting in a way that makes me feel good but doesn’t make me feel too sexy (something I am rubbish at!) It’s the perfect length for my short little legs and it has the masculine meets feminine balance spot on, a scale you know I'm always keen to get right.

I truly adore a structured shirt dress such as this as they’re an absolute failsafe, something you wouldn’t need to part with as it’s a classic shape and style, unless of course you're living in London and needing to eat...
Of course this one is a little more statement in it’s bold pink velvet colour, however opt for black or denim and it’s a piece that won’t ever date.
This kind of look totally feels like a “Megan” look and I’m sure if you’ve been following me for a while, you will totally agree, only this time I'm paying homage to a totally different era entirely with the A-line silhouette and chunky white boots... The sixties of course.

The dress in question today is by Lazy Oaf, one of my go-to brands for all things kooky. I just love how much fun these guys have with their collections each season and it’s something I find super inspiring indeed.
If the bright pink shade or heart shaped patch pockets wasn’t enough for you, then take a closer look at the totally adorable gold buttons… Yep, thats right not only are they gold hearts, but they each have a smiley face on them too, cute right? I love little touches like this that make a piece feel even more special, especially something with so much nostalgic value.

Speaking of nostalgic value, I headed to the Spice Girls exhibition last week and got all the feels! My god what a time the nineties was for all things fashion and music. The exhibition was awash with stage costumes from our five fave 90s babes including ALL of the shoe inspiration. I’m desperately trying to work out if I could possibly pull off a pair of Buffalo platforms again. I’d LOVE to give it a go, but to be perfectly honest the nineties isn’t something I’ve experimented with in recent times. Granted there’s been the humble 90s slip dress, the chunky boots, plaid and distressed denim, but when it comes to anything outside of the whole 90s grunge scene, I’m terrified I’m a little “old” to give it another go, I mean, it’s the first time in my life that things of my time have come back around, do you know what I mean?
Next I’ll be rocking flashing trainers, heeled jellies (I mean I am keen!) and dusting off my yo-yo skills… Walking the dog anyone?
What do you think? Should I give them a go?

x M

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROSIE BUTCHER