How is your week going? Mine has been fab so far…
Did some crazy shopping yesterday, I have no words…I am in love with my new ‘baby’
Anyways, random tale here….I went to get my eyebrows threaded for the 1st time in 5 weeks (with the move and everything, I haven’t had time), I was already looking like Elmo LOL…so I went to get it done yesterday…damn, the babe showed no mercy, she just kept twisting and tugging away while making some strange noises (you know that sound u make when u r eating something hot…yeah…she kept on making that sound for some reason), I was just wincing in pain, my eyes were even sooo teary from all the pain! The babe now had the guts to start laughing at me, she was like ‘no pain, no gain blah blah blah’…the things women go through!
Soooooo I think it was my birthday and all my recent shopping that got me thinking about some of the fashion trends that I have experienced as an 80s baby and 90s/00s teenager/twentysomething.
Fashion trends come and go, they get recycled, reinvented etc… but some are just a trip!
Here are some of my faves, its all tongue-in-cheek, lets have fun with this!
Leggings
You know the legging and tights that girls wear now? They are quite different from the multicoloured ‘wonders’ that we used to rock back in the day! Looking at these just makes me cringe!
Camouflage
LOL! Remember ‘Camo’?! Stop hiding ur head in shame, I know some of you (us…lol), had the dresses, shoes, hats etc….LOL. This is one fashion trend I pray never comes back. BTW, I remember one ‘camo’ party that someone had back in the day…
Shoulder Pads
This is for the 70s babies and more of what we used to see our mother’s wearing. Sometimes, I think and wonder…why? Like why would a woman want broad, high shoulders? Another trend that should stay in the past!
Platforms
I am not talking about the slinky Christian Louboutins, I am referring to the thick, painful looking platforms. This is one trend that seems to re-emerge in every generation. Love the new looks tho, the 80s/90s platforms, hmmm not so much.
Jelly Sandals
These were a MAJOR trend for a minute. You just had to have your jellies! Trusting our brothers from the east, the flooded Nigeria with Jellies of all colours and shapes and the trend died a natural death.
Timberland Manolos
Yeah yeah, these were the most sought-after item for a while. Everyone just had to have a pair – different colours, designs, prints etc…I never bought a pair and I am sooo glad about that, though even Beyonce bought into the hype but this trend soon crashed and burned.
‘Patra Braids’
The Caribbean musician Patra and the musician from Soul 2 Soul (Remember that song….Back to Life, back to reality…) popularized this hair style - The thick, long braids. Girls were grabbing their packs of ‘Amigos’ and running to their braiders… lol.
Dungarees
Yup dungarees were ‘in’ at some point, and I know that they are presently experiencing a rebirth with the Chloe/Topshop dungarees but back in the day, it was all about the denim dungarees. I think some people can pull this off but even if it comes back in full force, its def not a trend for everyone.
The ‘Aaliyah Look’
You know when Aaliyah first hit the scene? With her baggy cargo pants with belly-baring ‘half-tops’. Girls were rushing to Tommy Hilfiger to copy this look. Ciara is a current advocate of this look. Awww, I miss Aaliyah!
Football/Basketball Jerseys
Football and B-ball jerseys were all the rage. Everyone was rocking those jerseys even people who knew nothing about the games. Guys with the regular jerseys while girls with the fitted jersey look. I think that at this point, this is less of a fashion statement and more about the real fans.
Newsboy/Kangol Hats
Some rocked it to the front, to the back, to the side, whatever…Everyone was wearing these at some point, it looked good on some and not so much on others but people were rockin it.
That’s it!
Have fun with it….which was your fave?
What am I missing? Do you look at old photos and hide? LOL, let us know!
OMG! AALIYAH BLESS HER HEART (RIP BABY GIRL)
ReplyDeletePATRA: I SO REMEMBER THAT, AND THE BUTTERFLY DANCE TOO. AWW U BRINGING BACK MEMORIES BELLA THANKX LOL!
AND PLATFORMS: THOSE WERE SUM SHOES.... HOW DA HELL DID WE SURVIVE THOSE??
DAMNN I missed first place by an inchhhh AHHHHH
ReplyDeleteMahn i remember the platforms ohh lord! I loved to rock them now im so ashamed
ReplyDeleteGod it seems like aeons ago that we were wearing those and loving them too
ReplyDeleteRest in perfect peace Aaliyah, I still find it hard to accept that you are gone forever.
ReplyDeleteLOL! I'm 28. I did all but the last 3.
ReplyDeleteThe last two i was a little older and was againstfollowing "fashion".
Aaliyah 'cos I did not have rock hard abs.
I also include the salt "n" pepa ridiculous oversized newsboy hats.
Platforms also known as "Akpola" waffy girl will understand. lol.
Joka jelly spoilt it for the rest of us. hehe.
Paisley "shakers" shirts and gerbadine pants. This is also for waffy.
I could go on and on...ok stop.
I dare anyone from that era to say they never wore shoulder pads in their tee-shirts ( copying older sisters and cousins). Go ahead, open your mouth let me disgrace you with pictures.
ReplyDeleteBlast from the past indeed! I remember rocking platforms like i had no other shoes, the soul 2 soul braids, dungarees, and yes o, i also bought into the jellies craze. Shoulder pads hmn....... those were the days.
ReplyDeleteoops! not salt 'n'pepa, i meant TLC. thank God i had already shown my age, people would have been scratching theirs heads going hmmn salt"n"pepa, exactly how old is this anon.
ReplyDeletewhat about the granny jeans. the hanging tummy rise jeans which makes the butt look like its been plastered on the back... gosh! can't believe someone people wear that today
ReplyDeleteand we are all guilty of shoulder padding.
do you guys remember:
ReplyDeleteLumber jacks
bell bottoms
micro mini skirts
half tops
and lest I forget - Knee Length boots under Lagos sun - for the luv of fashion - razzness rears it's head!
Na lie, I made first 12. Awesome stuff. Soon I'll make it to that coveted number one spot. Great post as usual, some funny stuff you have there especially with dem shoulder pads, the Petra braids and the platforms, bringing back some memories...LOL!!!!
ReplyDeleteKofo @ STREETBRAND
Lol at this list..definitely brought back some memories...ok I am guilty of jellies, dungarees, platforms and sad to say shoulder pads too..hehe...as for the braids wanted to but my papa for kill me those days..lol..
ReplyDeleteYes I rocked lumber jack too..lol
Welcome back Bella...u always bring it..welldone...pele abt ur eyebrows o..I winced in pain too when I got my eyes threaded find they r hurt more than waxing.....
How about tying your tshirt to the side or behind...The BIG hair.....Lets not forget Hipsters...or Lycra, or micromini Lycra skirts and net tops. Ohhh Stonewashed jeans! Memories
ReplyDeleteSorry...the camo is back in full force in the UK..best believe, and the chicks are rocking it like wow this summer..and me likes.
ReplyDeleteand the dances we did to go with the clothes.... cabbage,breakdance, running man LOL
ReplyDeleteWow this post certainly brings back good memories. The fashion horrors of the 1980s and early 90's are hilarious now that we think about them. I remember rocking those leggings with oversize t-shirts, the dungarees, and when I was old enough, I did the "Patra braids". My mum never allowed me to get the jellies though, she thought they were disgusting. Those were fun times though, LOL! Bella you forgot to mention "Clogs", those shoes that every girl HAD to have.
ReplyDeleteOMG.... I remember A-line skirts, did anyone else wear cyclers? ***cringe***
ReplyDeleteLmao...I love this post! I remember going to parties in my A-line skirt, half-top & boots... what was I thinking? lol...
ReplyDeleteDefinitely had platforms, clogs, jellies, leggins, patra braids, dungs.....
I just hope we won't cringe in 15-20yrs when we look at pics of us in skinny jeans, peep toe shoes, puff sleeves etc.
@ Anon 10:34 am yes oh! I rocked A-Line skirts and cyclers.
ReplyDeleteI was way too cool for shoulder pads! I didn't wear them *lol* na yam!
Patra braids were it back then! I would so rock them again.
hehehe nyce ;o) :P
ReplyDeletehmmm, i remember the platforms and manolo's. bought the platforms though, wore them once for my LSAT, can you imagine! tried buying the manolo boots, thank God stores could not find them in 10 1/2. Did some spring cleaning a few weeks back and could not help but say "what the hell was i thinking?" when i saw some items i bought even as early as last year. God help us with all this "miss a beat" trends.
ReplyDeleteyes o, dungarees are creeping up in the states in form of rompers. cynthia vincent and a couple of others have them for summer. they look cute though if you have the shape.
ReplyDeleteLOL, memories. Guys rocked "dungarees" as well. I remember rocking them and having one strap fastened and the other hanging. With some timbs. We felt like BAD guys! Great post, Bella.
ReplyDeleteahn ahn bella you are usually spot on but on this occasion do not totally agree with you and some inaccuracies there as well.
ReplyDeleteenjoyed the reminiscing though.
How about people wore bodysuits,suspenders,knicker buckers.
ReplyDeleteplatforms, camo's, dungarees
ReplyDelete, baggy pants and jerseys...i was such a trend follower back then. haha
I thank God that I have now ound my own style sha cus i cant even look at some of my old foto's without cringing!
You forgot bell bottoms that came with the 80/90's platfrom trend...everyone remember sketchers platforms!?!?! Oh my...i hope all that stuff never comes back oh!
Good post as always bella...Miss u!
LMAO....chei..memories oh...how about cross colors, hipster pants, babydoll dresses with boots, bell sleeves, clogs, sanchos and chelseas (boots for guys)....wow..and the list goes on and on...
ReplyDeleteI think out of all those listed, jellies was the razzest oh....
Nice Post, Bela!
LOL! What about abortion belts and shaba skirts...
ReplyDeleteLOL
ReplyDeleteOkay, i have 2 say I am guilty of the shoulder pads and platform shoes. I especially remember this white pair of platform sandals. Girl, I used to think I was off the chains!! My father always said I would break my legs if I fell off of them, so just imagine how high & fugly they were. *Cringing*
...And the shoulder pads, don't get me started pls.
You know, there is some Igbo chic here (let's call her C) who still wears platform shoes. They r sooooooooo ugly!! I cannot even tell you how bad they look. My God, she makes me wanna cry.
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ReplyDeletehehehe, i had the jelly sandals in heels, i know they were 'quite' raz, lol. But i had a pair anyway(its becoming a trend in london tho.....i rily dont get it!).I see them in stores now and am like "shoes wey people don rock finish for naija", lol.
ReplyDeleteI still remember the knicker buggers, tie tops, and even the Shaba hair style(lawl!), i wont lie i had it about twice.....it was cool then(to me) tho, it was like on almost every girl's head apart from the patra braids .
OOOOOOOOOh. Can i say i am guilty of most of these except the manolo timbaland things...I did mc hammer pants and stirrups...leggings with the hook things? My my my....
ReplyDeleteMy favs: Dungarees, Patra braids and thanks to my mum, shoulder-padded dresses (so you thought it was just the mothers that experienced that fashion torture)
ReplyDeleteJerseys are still in and not mostly worn by fans. I just hated those razz jelly shoes/sandles, ewwww....and camos were a really cool trend you know, that's why we rocked 'em.
LMAO.....that was refreshing! OMG the camo, "Aaliyah look" and 'Patra braids'...those brought back some good memories. I used to love the camo short skirt, but now that I see it, i'm thinking to myself: what exactly did I love? and those Patra braids...wooooo! those are a NO-NO right now. Great Post!
ReplyDeleteGreat post... you really took me down memory lane and made me laugh! Shoulder pads became a trend in the 80s cos women were 'power dressing' in order to compete effectively with men in the workplace. The thought was - if we dress like them and give ourselves some big ol' manly shoulders, they'll take us more seriously. Thankfully, women eventually realised that that was so not the point.
ReplyDeleteOMG - dungs! and cyclers, leggings, 'ski pants'??!! LOLLL It's fun to look back - what were we thinking?
I defo rocked the patra braids with Dr Martins, leggins and Dungarees...lol Lawdy!!
ReplyDeleteNever ever have like camo totally not my thing!
Do you all remember puff ball skirts?? They were the lick bwoy!!
( maybe it was a London ting)
Memories oh memories!
Ciao Ciao..xx
wowwwwwwwww, i am guilty of the leggings, camo, platforms, jelly sandals also known as JokerJellies in nigeria, dont even fronttttt!
ReplyDeleteyea hipstersssssss too mehn...and u had to have tommy hilfiger no matter what it was, top, bag, jeans...
i had the patra braids for a while
but no shoulder pads or timbaland manolos...thank goodness :)
men, i don`t know what to say cos am so guilty of those fashion crimes, men i rocked those jellies had them in all colours,clogs,the shoulder pad under tee-shirts- and we would be feeling cool, hotpants and patra braids,any one remember sanchos(biker boot)i remember crying and sulking just so that my dad would buy them for me and i could pose at school. and yes the dances too; running man, wooden legs and the days of break dance na wa o,person don old
ReplyDeleteOMG!!!! Def rocked the shoulder pad esp on sundays. The outfit was like this: colourful frock (usually pink), lacy ankle length white sock and some ugly ass shoe!
ReplyDelete*Cringing badly*
Gosh this reminds me of my reminicing high school thread...kai!
ReplyDeleteI remember all these ooo...
Aaliyah was so beautiful...even patra too...
Wish i could go back in time. I swear i wish it!
*Hnaging my head in shame at those leggings.* In fairness, my mother thought they were cool and MADE ME WEAR THEM!
ReplyDeletei think it's just the leggings i wore but i sure know about most of 'em. My elder sis was sooo crazi about the Patra braids and the bandana top.lol
ReplyDeleteI am rocking soul to soul.. I just took them out.. The microminis are fab too.... clutch purses with the bows, clogs... yep, clogs are back too..
ReplyDeleteMiss Bella!! So nice to know you have settled down enough to take back you page. Honestly i couldnt stop laughing.
ReplyDeleteWe really wore some weird suff in the name of fashion. Had almost allll of them things in my closet. Thank goodness i outgrew the fever.
yeah i'm guilty of the print leggings. thinking of it now...urrgh. shoulder pads; i always hated. clutch purses are hot now. anyways please y'all shld check out this blogspot http://wildvirgin.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteseriously, it's hilarious and frank.
How could you forget the Patra Skirts with the Slits reaching up yonder!! Those were the days!!
ReplyDeleteAs for the leggings, the day I amde a mistake to wear one on a day I ahd to pass through Oshodi bus stop was the last day i ever wore one. Trust my Ibo traders, they made so much fun of me. Very embarrasing day!!
LOL...infact sef..Lawl lawl!!!...
ReplyDeleteGuilty for still wearing leggings..rocked camo die sef!!
U need to chill on the Patra braids abeg.
Dungrees hell yeah...and i'd still rock them...to paint the house!!..lol
Football jerseys why the hell not...MAN UTD FOR LIFE BABY!!!
Nice one Bella
Not clothes related but VHS's and Tapes!
ReplyDeleteBella Have you seen the current GENEVIEVE Magazine?Your blog was mentioned a couple of times by avid readers who wrote to Betty Irabor.
ReplyDeletelol...dungarees r the thing in philippines..well not the denim type sha.. its more like coton most r checkared..
ReplyDeletethe joka jelly shoe u posted is also the thing here...i'm like damn..rubber shoes..and its so frigging expensive!!! asians r funny sha..even more expensive that ballet shoes or wedges...lol.
...lol nice post
anyone remember ski pants and clogs??? (YIKES!!) how about multicolored denim - they're back in fashion now.
ReplyDeletei did cyclers o!men i am so ashamed!nice post
ReplyDeleteyeah i saw ur blog listed as press for runway africa show!that is so cool!i just did a post on d show no1
hahahahhw waow nice nice nice
ReplyDeleteI just keep wearing the same clothes and let the trends follow me.
ReplyDeleteBella, update already
ReplyDeleteBella you make me remember when girls were girls,those rubber shoe waka this lagos no be small and those plaited skirt and when you land lite(in early 80s) and denge,everybody will just be hailing you.Our own yanka then na to dress well not going half nude and na book we dey take compete not guys but no be se we no dey impress boys o but secondary girls priority no be for that.
ReplyDeleteNo u didn't! lol! I did a post on something similar and the shoulder pads was definitely my weakness. Luved dem shoulder pads. I also rocked the Aaliyah look a lot!Trust u r well.
ReplyDeletePSA: The 2007 Black Weblog Award nominations are open until Aug 17.
ReplyDeleteIf you love www.bellanaija.com please click over to http://www.blackweblogawards.com/ and nominate this blog for the Best International Blog.
Let's celebrate our own and show people that Nigeria is more than scam artists and looting leaders!
hehe!!!! i remember all those looks..they were so fab then!!!!...i rockd some of those looks o, seeing them now, kinda makes me wonder, wat i was thinkin!!!!
ReplyDelete"the musician from Soul 2 Soul (Remember that song….Back to Life, back to reality…"
ReplyDeleteHi Bella,
The lady singer in Back to Life is CARON WHEELER.
Naija dancer WUNMI also appeared in the video working long braids.
MW
Cool set up here....& I remember how me and my click had to stay on TREND...if we aren't traveling, then it's L.O.P in VI...shopping...It was a few of those u mentioned...then A Line denim skirts with the buttons in front, then Bickers, Rock Sac, The Brandy Look, Swatch, Bodices with the heart in front, I could go on and on.....
ReplyDeletewho rememebers those little knap sack bags, scarf tops, whao i usd to love patra braids too. those shabba skirts and shredded jeans shorts!
ReplyDelete