Nineties Throwback

We’ve all come over a bit Nineties as of late. Well, not all. I realise my sweeping sartorial generalisation by no means encompasses everyone, but I think I’m right in saying that many can be included. It’s been in the pipeline for a while (and by the pipeline I mean East London) but we’re looking at a serious infiltration of mainstream fashion. Now it’s hit Oxford Street.

Denim jackets have gone oversized, ponytails have gone high, T-shirts have gone cropped and hoop earrings are swinging from straining earlobes in abundance. The slightly overwhelming resurgence of the New Balance trainer seems to have started a kind of Nineties avalanche. See Made in Chelsea’s Phoebe for a prime example of ‘ironic’ handbags and clumpy shoes. Admittedly it can all get a bit painful (think Little Mix) but there are certain elements that I’m certainly enjoying.

One such element is the spaghetti strap. Having been firmly out for at least a decade the skinny little straplets are back with avengeance. Pick a cropped cami version to wear with high waisted skirts and jeans (Topshop does great ones for £15) or do your own DIY version by picking one up in a charity shop. Trust me – you can’t move for spaghetti straps in a respectable charity shop and it’s easy to crop said garment yourself.

I recently went wild and purchased at least five in the charity shops along Balham High Street in a rainbow of colours at just a pound or two each. For warmer climes, try the dress version with ankle socks and heeled boots, but keep the shape loose to avoid any Clueless-style rom-com connotations.

Beyond Retro on Great Marlborough Street also does good oversized denim jackets and excellent printed denim. When it comes down to it, Nineties style is really done best with things actually from the Nineties, or it all looks a bit forced. So scour charity shops and secondhand stores for floral spaghetti strap dresses, chunky sandals and oversized shirts to sling over dresses or knot into a cropped style if you’re feeling jaunty.

If you fancy going all out with a statement item it’s best to keep it simple. Pair a denim pinafore or strappy dress with a Zara ankle strap kitten heel and simple silver jewellery. Or a bomber jacket and gold hoop earrings with a simple shift dress. Pick up fun bits and mix with classic pieces. But let’s not get carried away; if you look like you’re going to a fancy dress party then something has evidently gone wrong.

Image by …love Maegan courtesy of Flickr