Arriving with a thud and a squawk a few days after my 22nd birthday, my daughter plopped into the world. Little did I know at the time, that a twenty-two year age difference is the sweet spot for history to repeat itself.
Fashions come round again in a cycle. A lot of clothes I wore in my late teens mirrored things my mum wore in the 80s. I was my mum’s youngest child so the gap was bigger between me and her. Everything comes round again though, and your child will always act like they invented it.
When the Spice Girls had a revival, I noticed my daughter seemed keen on them. They were big news back in the day, it’s not surprising their hits are still loved. It turns out that was ust the start of it. The beginning of my my tween years being rehashed ready for another generation to consume. There were only more similarities to come…
9 Ways My Daughter is Re-Living My Tween Years
A love of the Spice Girls can be shrugged off, but when all my daughter’s friends look like they could have walked straight off the fashion pages of Sugar magazine circa 1998, I knew exactly what was to come.
So far, these are the trends she has already got caught up in:
1. Having two skinny strands of hair at the front of any up-do
You’d think the point of tying your hair back was to get it off your face. Obviously you’d be wrong. Whether it’s braids, a ponytail or a top knot you’re rocking, the only way to make the hairstyle fashionable is to pull two skinny strands of hair out at let them dangle in front of your face.
They’re totally impractical. They get greasier as the day goes on, and mine definitely dipped in the gravy on my dinnerplate more than once, but needs must. You cannot be stylish without them.
2. Tie-dye
The 90s was big on tie-dye. Why have solid, clean patterns when you can have a messy, psychedelic swirl instead? I remember tie-dye was a real must-have, but by the time I was 14, it had already become and unacceptable option.
Emma is so keen on tie-dye that no white top is safe in our house.
4. Crop tops
I didn’t wear crop tops but I was very envious of everyone who did. I wasn’t allowed to wear them so had to settle for a shortish normal top that occasionally exposed a centimetre of flesh if I lifted my arms up.
Emma had to beg for a crop top and because all her friends had them, I eventually caved to the peer pressure of a group of 10-year-old girls. I kind of regret my decision because I’ve seen her belly-button every day for the last two years. Even in winter. She has special winter crop tops that have long sleeves and are made out of fluffy warm material. Kinda seems pointless when the bottom’s missing.
4. Friends is her favourite TV show
I ruined Friends by watching it too much when I was a teen. I absolutely saturated my tolerance for it to the point I can recognise any quite but cannot bear to watch another episode.
Emma watches it and re-watches it. She shouts things like “PIVOT” and “WE WERE ON A BREAK!” She has Friends merch – clothing and accessories. I used to have a pencil tin with the Friends cast drinking milkshakes on the front and I can see her asking for one to take to secondary school.
5. Platform trainers
I don’t know how platform trainers became a trend the first time round (something to do with the Spice Girls?) but somehow they’re back for a second coming. They were the top of her Christmas list and her most prized possessions. They also serve no purpose as trainers, as you might expect.
6. Ripped jeans
Why wear nice, whole jeans when you can look like you caught yours on a nail then fell down some concrete stairs?
7. Tattoo chokers
Is it a necklace? Is it a pattern on your skin? Confuse onlookers with a stretchy, black tattoo choker. I used to tell boys at discos that mine was a real tattoo.
8. Scrunchies
Scrunchies are once again the height of fashion. This time it’s just as essential to wear one on your wrist as it is to wear one in your hair. I’ll always remember learning scrunchies were so over by hearing Sarah Jessica Parker going on and on about them in Sex and the City. She made fun of Berger’s protagonist in his novel and absolutely deserved to be dumped via post-it note.
9. Tiny backpacks
Almost certainly something else to blame the Spice Girls for originally, but whose fault is it that they’re back? I used to use mine to carry round my tiny change purse and a scrunchie or two.
These are my predictions for the next trends to return…
Obviously my formative years were so stylish that they’re all coming back via my daughter’s generation. Here are a few things I things I think might also show up in the next few years:
- Tiny clips in the shape of butterflies that you twist your hair into.
- Really thick fringes that cover one or both of your eyes.
- Trainers worn with prom dresses.
- Super low-rise jeans.
- Massive baggy jeans that drag in puddles and leave you soaked.
- Heather Shimmer lipstick by Rimmel.
What do you think could make a come-back?
I think we’re due for a seventies revival .