The 90s - Not so anti-fashion after all.....

The trends of the 90s originated mostly through the music of the era. Whether it was rock generating the grunge trend, pop producing a platform obsession for young girls everywhere or rap establishing bandanas and baggy jeans.

Often dubbed the decade of 'anti-fashion,' the 90s refused to obey the straight-talking rules of fabricating fashion. I'm talking slashed jeans, Doc Marten's and flannel shirts. Maybe not aristocratic style but hey, we're still wearing 'em!

Think Spice Girl Mel B's leopard print craze and those Irish popster's B*Witched, they were always rocking double denim. Take a quick look through your childhood photo albums, pastels, cropped tops and patterned leggings aplenty right?

Just picture the opening scene of the classic, Clueless; Rich girl Cher Horowitz is choosing her outfit for school through her computer-organised wardrobe, in that moment every girl watching had style-envy.

Cher's outfits kicked off an array of trends; mini backpacks, exposed midriffs, loafers, velvet, sheer chiffon and plaid to name a few. No-one does preppy chic quite like Cher, she was stylish but subtly sexy in her classic blazers, crisp shirts, knee-high socks and chunky Mary Jane's. I think it's safe to say Clueless has a place in every fashionista's heart (and wardrobe.)

And the celebs love it too. Below; Leighton Meester as Blair Wardorf, the ultimate preppy style icon of the decade wearing a white dress similar to Cher's for her big date, Alexa Chung rocking dungarees a'la Brittany Murphy as Tai in Clueless, Ashlee Simpson is often seen in grunge styles, Fashion icon Clemence Posey wearing double denim and slashed jeans and a flannel shirt for Miley Cyrus, also a grunge fan.

 

Below: Alexa Chung in a cropped top and preppy blazer, Fearne Cotton in preppy chic, Rihanna embracing the Clueless trend, Selena Gomez exposing the midriff, Mary-Kate Olsen wearing an oversized flannel shirt, the Olsen twins are often spotted in grunge styles, Rihanna again – clearly a 90s fan rocking double denim AND a bumbag!

 I think every girl (including myself) has a 90s inspired piece in their wardrobe and I beg to differ that the 90s is the decade style forgot.

Get the look.

Boucle jacket and shorts, Mango, Socks, Debenhams, Mary Jane's, Nine West, Backpack, Skirt and Blazer, Pork Pie Hat and Red Shirt, Topshop, Light jeans, Levis, Trainers, Converse, Shirt, Superdry, Jeans, Miss Selfridge, Boots, Etsy.

Confessions of a lazy beauty addict....

From primers and plumpers to brighteners and balms, you name it, I own it. I'm the first to admit I am utterly captivated by every new product pledging to hydrate, boost and soothe. As a result of this, my family and friends take great joy in preparing for a night out in my bedroom, my sister once told me: “I love getting ready in your bedroom, it's like being in Superdrug.”

Despite my shameless obsession with all things beauty I can't resist a shortcut if it means twenty minutes longer in bed. Like most girls I love big hair, however I simply don't have the time or patience to sit or uncomfortably sleep in rollers. My answer to this is quite simple, I wash and blow-dry my hair as normal then I'll throw my head forward and back (much like Willow Smith whipping her hair back and forth) then set with hairspray, instant volume.

The truth is, brilliant products can do a lot for your hair. I openly admit that once I didn't have my hair cut for over a year despite this people would often tell me how great my hair looked. I would bathe my hair in intensive conditioner, lather on the MorrocanOil before drying and rub wax into my shabby split ends. My reasoning for not booking in for a trim was more fear of leaving the salon distraught because the stylist got 'scissor happy' than lazy, but still I found a way to conceal the unfortunate state of my over-dyed, parched hair.

Given the option of waking up thirty minutes earlier than necessary and wash, drying and styling my hair or sleeping in and dousing my hair in dry shampoo, it's a given I'll take the second option. My number one product dry shampoo both camouflages the grease and creates volume, ideal when time is in short supply. Now you are familiar with my laziness regarding habitual haircuts and washes, you'd be correct to presume the same rules apply with hair colouring. Hair colouring is both costly and time-consuming and if I want to look fabulous whilst leaving 6-8 weeks between hair appointments I have the perfect product. It's cheap, takes ten seconds and no-one will ever guess the secret; hair mascara. 'What?' I hear you say, 'I haven't used that since the 90s' well, hair mascara isn't just for purple highlights at your best friends bouncy castle party. I simply run the wand over my visible roots, then it's good to go, flawless root coverage in seconds.

Picture this, I'm sure you've been there. I've put on a great outfit; a simple white blouse with cropped black trousers. Then just as I’m about to leave the house I see it, the dreaded leg stubble. My train leaves in fifteen minutes, I don't have time to jump in the shower and shave, so I wet the razor and run it over the visible part of my leg, similarly I'll paint the only two toes exposed through my peep-toe court shoes. When it comes to nails it's always assumed a manicure means time, but for glossy polished looking nails I rub a little Vaseline into the cuticles. If I do have time to paint them, it's still an inconvenience to wait for them to dry, I'll leave them for 2 minutes then immerse them in ice-cold water to dry them quick.

As a firm believer in life-changing products, I have faith that when you find that miraculous piece of make-up you can often minimise your daily routine. Before I discovered HD Brows I could spend the entire afternoon and several products attempting to make my eyes look how I wanted them to. I soon realised that shaping and colouring over my brows (not like the 'Scouse Brow' mind) changed and flattered my whole face. For days when I'm just popping out for ten minutes and don't want to cover my face in foundation and powders I simply shade in my brows and brush on some mascara, it really is enough to make me feel better and takes 2 minutes.

So for those days when you'd rather have time for a coffee than a shower or you think you can't wear those cropped jeans because of stubble, consider taking a beauty shortcut. If no-one will notice the difference, why waste your time?