Thursday 12 August 2010

A Century Of Style: The Challenge (1990-2000)


Welcome to the final day of my challenge by the lovely Alex to dress in the style of each decade of the Twentieth Century. Today is the turn of the 1990's.
Before you despair, the 1990's weren't all beige Chino pants, Jennifer Anniston haircuts, fleeces and combat trousers. For us music fans the first half of the decade was all about the Grunge scene, the alternative rock genre that took the Western world by storm in the early 1990's with bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam.


Followers wore tatty second-hand clothing, oversized holey jumpers, beanie hats, flannel shirts and bleached-out denim. Chunky heeled, platform soled shoes made a welcome comeback. Influenced by the fabulous Courtney Love we Riot Grrls dressed in the Kinderwhore fashion, satin slip dresses, bleached hair, hot pants and tight cropped tees with smudged black eyeliner and red lipstick. Tattooes and pierced belly buttons were hugely popular.


In 1992, I was dressed in a similiar style to this and playing pool with a couple of Hell's Angels in the local biker pub. Jon, fresh from touring the world as lead guitarist with The Charlatans spotted me and asked for my number. Eighteen years on the blonde hair's gone but we're still going strong.



And so ends the Century of Style challenge! Hope you've enjoyed it. I'd love you to let me which decade you enjoyed the most.

1990's embroidered platforms and leather belt  (Charity shop), Customised shorts and vintage Kangol cap (Jumble sale), Plaid shirt (Jon's wardrobe), Ramones teeshirt (Had since the 90's).

41 comments:

  1. Thank god you didn't go for combat pants! I really love this look on you - it seems a lot more personal than some of the others and the story of how you and Jon met was such a lovely thing to include.

    I'm ashamed to say I spent quite a few years of the 90s wearing Adidas tracksuits or babydoll floral dresses with white tshirts underneath and glittery jelly sandals. Other than the music-driven looks, it wasn't a great decade for style really, was it?

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  2. I didn't know that denim shorts + tights was in back then! The story of you and Jon was sweet.

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  3. I'm sorry that this is over, Vix! I love the fact that you and Jon are still going strong. What a great meeting! The decade I enjoyed the most was 1930-40, I think, but they're all fab. you did a brilliant job! xxxx

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  4. Ah, Seattle scene style... ripped jeans and huge shirts and tons and TONS of kohl. When chipped nail varnish wasn't a disaster and no-one really cared that you were wearing cheap knock-off Converse because you'd already drawn all over them with marker pens and written bad poetry down the side and that was, somehow, deep.

    I'm sure I remember a pair of jeans more hole than denim. I suspect my mother quietly disposed of them in the bin one day when I wasn't looking...

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  5. God I remember cropped tops being really in! x

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  6. This is the 80s all over again. You have made a rubbish fashion decade look fabulous! I know you'd look good in a bin liner but you could try a bit harder to look like the rest of us looked in the 80s and 90s i.e. cr@p!! I don't think you have it in you to dress badly though. GREAT challenge. This should be in a magazine or something. I'd almost suggest an alternative challenge called "What the average woman with no sense of style looked like in the 20th century" but it'd be too much of a stretch. ;o) LOVE your work, kiddo.

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  7. White Jeans and body suits, i spent the first half of the 90's wearing, second half in maternity wear. 1930-40 was probably my fave, followed by the 1980-90. Although loved every minute of all the posts!!!!

    Sharron x

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  8. Love ur blonde hair:-) I knew about the grunge scene since Marc Jacobs did a grunge collection and got fired for it. I do have to say I like Jen's hairstyle..Thanks for the lovely posts on the century fashion. Loved it!!

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  9. I was a child in the 90s and shamelessly wore many an addidas tracksuit and padded jackets...ahh!

    You look fabulous, such a different look all over again. I like that you're wearing an original piece of 90s in the Ramones t-shirt.
    This challenge has been fascinating and a real insight into fashion. I am ever envious of your immaculate styling and collection of wonderful items xx

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  10. I don't know what I'm going to do now that you have wrapped up your challenge. I enjoyed the daily fashion report and learned a lot through your commentary.

    Vix, the 90s, I know they weren't all that long ago but I can't remember what I wore. Must not have been that interesting to me. I was working so I usually wore jackets in jewel tones and for casual wear I wasn't into grunge but I did enjoy oversized plaid shirts and I'm positive I had a pair of ripped jeans or at least one with a hole that I encouraged! I really liked Ralph Lauren and Polo...so the opposite of grunge!

    Enjoyed learning how you and Jon met. Any chance for a pic of the two of you back in the day? I have come to know you as someone with dark hair so it's hard to imagine you as a blonde!

    xo, Bonnie

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  11. Oh yes, remember this period all too well.

    My favourite era (and I know its your least!) is the fifties. Sorry! But you do look super glam in that lace dress.

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  12. Your final outfit has brought back many memories for me, as black opaque tights and cut off denims were one of my staple gigging/clubbing outfits that I'd wear to either Edwards, XLs or The Institute in Brum - those were the days!

    Thanks Vix - I've really enjoyed these posts and I've narrowed down my favorites to 1940s-50s and 1970s-80s. Its been difficult as there have been fab outfits in every post.

    Its been an excellent ride!

    x

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  13. Ah, the denim shorts and tights haven't died! Hooray!

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  14. Oh, and I forgot to add: this has been such a great challenge, Vix, and I've enjoyed watching you chart the century so much, so thank you for this!

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  15. hehehe...thats some serious Britney spears!!!

    http://donotshoeme.blogspot.com/

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  16. Hehe, this is such a different look for you! When you've done this challenge, have you worn the outfit all day, or just for the pictures?

    90's has to be my favourite - because you met Jon. Well done on 18 years! I hope Hugh and I will be just as happy then.

    Lou x - craftyandquirky.blogspot.com

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  17. Awww, it's lovely to hear how you and Jon met. 18 years - wow! Congrats - you two are an inspiration. I like the grunge style although I much prefer your hair dark. The '60s was def my favourite look. The challenge has been brilliant, a little sad it's over already. Will need to think up the next one...xx

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  18. Phwoar,I would have asked for your number too!
    This has been so much fun!!Yay Alex!!
    I can't choose my fave,but I liked the 20's,60's and 70's best!
    LOVE Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  19. i really enjoyed this challenge so much! good work!

    www.wardrobexperience.blogspot.com

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  20. Aww I can't believe this is the last one :(
    I'd probably have to say this is my favourite one. The mid 90's I was in high school, listening to grunge and wearing my cut off army pants and doc martins. ooo and bodysuits!! I wore then in primary school! hehe.
    Great challenge Vix you are one stylish woman. xxx

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  21. WOW!, Your John was in the charlatans/?!!! thats so cool :), i remember that group growing up......:) interesting to know.

    G :)

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  22. Hi Vix, i have loved this challenge. Me and Russ met in the early 90's, apparently i was wearing a red mini dress and white pumps?? I had blonde hair too xxx

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  23. I've really enjoyed this journey. Thanks so much for taking us with you.

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  24. Awh its over :'( You should do some more detailed shots of your outfits, I always love them so much <3<3 (Even this one hah)

    Yeah, I changed blogs. I don't use the old one anymore :)

    x x x x

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  25. Denim shorts. Now those were the days and I am talking the 70's, lol.

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  26. Very well done depicting the nineties! :) Sorry I've been MIA in commenting but thats because Ive been really busy job hunting. You look sharp in all the decades!

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  27. LOVE the Ramones tee!!! Blond hair! I had to do a double take ;) You can pull off any look ;)

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  28. Is it over already? I was having so much fun! Ahh! The 90's were not my best fashion days ... but you are totally rocking those short and the blonde do! :)

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  29. Vix... you are AWESOME. I absolutely understand, know, etc why Jon was bowled over... not just because you're gorgeous but because... damn Woman... you are just.... AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!

    Totally enjoyed this series, only you truly could do this and thank you so much for how detailed each post is. xoxo

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  30. You look so cool. And to think I wasted the 90s wearing beige. No, not really, but I didn't look cool like you. I wore the flannel, but not like this, not this great. If only I had known you then...you could have helped my teenage self!

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  31. I spent most of the time in Martens, shabby dungarees, folklore blouse and long pigtails.

    Thanks for this challenge, it has been very entertaining to follow!

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  32. Hi Vix, I've been all over the country the last 10 days, so t's a treat to come back to reading several of your posts in one go! I know the 70s is your decade of choice but you look wonderful in all the outfits, wish I had your style!
    Please would you do a post with some styling tips for us lesser mortals?!

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  33. I adore those grungy blond braids...what an unexpected touch! And the whole 90's grunge thing is so 'in' right now...but I've secretly loved it for a while.

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  34. RAMONES shirt.. OMG. *jealous now. haha

    thyaudaciousness.blogspot.com/

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  35. Oh wow get you as a blonde! I love this look loads, my 90's was spent mainly in a black velvet mini dress and some time in Ski Pants!!
    Thanks for doing this I have loved it, I think my fave was the 70's you just looked so at home with it.
    Kandi x

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  36. I love it! I wish I'd been braver with grunge fashion in the 90s. I was secretly listening to Nirvana at home, but wearing pleated khakis, paisley turtlenecks, and white Keds to school.

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  37. How fab! I love this outfit. The 90s is the decade from my childhood I remember the most, and I DEFINITELY remember this trend!

    My fave was probably the 30s or 70s. Those were both incredibly brilliant. xo

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  38. I have to admit I was a bit worried about this one, I'm so glad you did grunge! It's been a really brilliant challenge and to be honest I can't pick a favourite because you've done them all so authentically and so well.

    xx

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  39. I used to love this look .. was only in my early teens in the 90's but tried to copy some of the looks!

    I didn't know your partner was in the Charletans - I saw them once but im guessing its after he left?

    Sal xXx

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix