20 things from the 90s we want to comeback MORE than S Club 7!
The 90s rocked. Fact. And the reunion of this pop-tastic septuplet has us hankering for more 90s nostalgia. And in the words of S Club itself, Bring It All Back. Pronto.
Getty ImagesWhat? Britpop
When? 1994
Why? Putting Britain firmly on the musical map, the likes of Blur, Pulp, Elastica el al made 90s London THE place to see and be seen. The rock landscape just hasn’t been the same since, and neither have the Brit Awards – compulsive viewing in the 90s. Remember Jarvis’ stage invasion? The chart battle ‘tween Blur and Oasis? Ending every articulated sentence with a well-timed ‘Parklife!’? Live Forever, Britpop.
NickelodeonWhat? Ren & Stimpy
When? 1991
What? The misadventures of a psychotic Chihuahua and a nonsensical Manx cat – what’s not to love? The twisted genius of this satirical animation still makes for essential viewing more than twenty years after its premiere. Vomit, hairballs and rubber nipples have never been funnier, and if you don’t agree, in the words of Ren; “be quiet, you idiot!”
Getty ImagesWhat? Adidas Gazelles
When? 1993
Why? They were the trainers that defined an era. Ever since Kate Moss first stepped out in her streamlined, stripped treds teamed with a satin nightie, girls the world over wanted to wear Gazelles. And wear them we did. With our school uniforms, baby doll dresses, body warmers… everything. These simple trainers represent a lump-in-throat symbol of a time when music was exciting, Britain was glamorous and Brett Anderson was the sexiest man on the planet. In fact, we’re digging out our clapped-out Gazelles and bringing them back right now!
Getty ImagesWhat? Underwear as outerwear
When? 1993
Why? Or specifically, satin slips and baby-doll nighties. Yes, the 90s was a decade when you could wear this seemingly-bonkers style staple on a night out without looking like a hobo. Teamed with hipster Adidas Gazelles or badass DMs, it was an ensemble that cued a thousand copycats, but Kate Moss and Courtney Love did it best.
Rex FeaturesWhat? Raves
When? 1991
Why? Okay, so the appeal of driving around the countryside ‘til the small hours, in search of a just-announced mass raucous in a freezing warehouse, with kids in neon wearing tiny sunglasses and ‘vogueing’ to Strings of Life, may not seem obvious to everyone. But it sure was fun at the time.
Rex FeaturesWhat? Clueless
When? 1995
Why? Teen flicks are ten a penny, but none has more heart, humour or fabulous fashion moments than this. The flick that coined a thousand catchphrases, is there a 90s gal on the planet that doesn’t adore Clueless? From their ‘courageous fashion efforts’ to their ‘way existential’ life musings, the ditsy, hymenally-challenged, total Betty that was Cher Horowitz will always hold a special place in our hearts. Just imagine a sequel! Perhaps Cher and her Baldwin of a stepbrother, Josh are married, and raising a mini-Cher in Beverley Hills? Sigh. If you could make this happen, Hollywood; major snaps.
Rex FeaturesWhat? Over the knee socks
When? 1994
Why? And speaking of courageous fashion efforts, no one rocked a pair of over the knee socks like Cher. This lengthy leg-warmer makes a periodic comeback for the likes of Alexa Chung and Kate Moss every festival season, teamed with short shorts and trusty wellies. But maybe, just maybe, one day we’ll see a crisp, white OTK sock outside of Mudville, perhaps even partnered with a tartan mini…and a pair of Prada pumps…
Rex FeaturesWhat? Buffy The Vampire Slayer
When? 1997
Why? The premise was simple enough; a hellish high-school and a blonde cheerleader turned butt-kicking saviour of the world, but it was the sweet melange of action, romance, horror and humour that gave this show weight. Not to mention, the array of demonic babes on offer (Spike or Angel, anyone?) and Buffy’s notoriously cutting one-liners that will never go out of style, even if beepers and scrunchies have. My daughter’s called Willow. Enough said.
PA PhotosWhat? Blow Up
When? 1993
Why? A bona-fide legendary club-night, if the walls of Camden’s The Laurel Tree could talk, there would be deliciously-juicy chatter literally seeping out of the wallpaper about some of the 90s biggest names in music. Cited as the birthplace of Britpop and an indie institution, the super-cool likes of Suede, Blur and Edwyn Collins frequented regularly, as did every undeniably-hip in London – think gleaming scooters parked outside, sprayed-on Fred Perry and Justine Frischmann (pictured) androgynous-crops. Blow Up also spawned Menswe@r, remember them?
Getty ImagesWhat? Friends
When? 1994
Why? Can you believe that Friends first aired 20 years ago? It makes us feel old, sure, but it also makes us feel all warm and fuzzy. Weekday tea-times just aren’t the same without comedy high-jinx from our favourite ever Stateside sextuplet. The rumours are out there – could there soon be a Friends reunion to quench our thirst for more Joey love, Smelly Cat and classic Rossisms? We can only hope.
Rex FeaturesWhat? Doc Martens
When? 1992
Why? The footwear that defined a decade, worn with either floral dresses for the ladies or rolled up skinnies and sprayed-on Fred Perry for the dudes, there was nothing sexier than seeing a potential mate clomping around in a charming pair of 12-pound, stomp-heavy, chunky rubber-soled boots. Go figure.
Rex Features/Getty ImagesWhat? Brown lipstick
When? 1995
Why? Soft, burgundy-brown and undeniably glossy; there was only one shade to slick on in the 90s. Our personal favourite was Rimmel (back before it was Rimmel London) Heather Shimmer - that was boss! And while we’re at it, anyone remember Revlon’s Rum Raisin?
Rex FeaturesWho? All Saints
When? 1997
Why? There was a period in the 90s when every teen to 20-something woman in the UK wanted to be an Appleton. And why not? They looked hot, they partied all the time and they dated the sexiest boys in Celebdom. But aside from that, All Saints were cool – like the anti-Spice Girls. They wore combats and crop tops, and sang credible pop (over 10million peeps worldwide agreed). We’re also pretty sure they’re the only girl group in history to cover a Red Hot Chili Peppers track and, dare we say it, make it work…?
What? United Colours of Benetton
When? 1992
Why? The iconic Italian brand gained notoriety in the 90s for their shock-tactic – not to mention cleverly executed - advertising campaigns, and we ate it up. Trademark bright hues with that infamous sewn logo-ing, we pretty much had a sweater in every colour for every day of the week. And no, it certainly was not CHAVVY. Okay?
Channel 4What? TFI Friday
When? 1996
Why? Our get-ready viewing, TFI officially meant the weekend had landed and was compulsive early Friday evening viewing throughout the latter half of the 90s for every Britpop teen and lad/ladette across Blighty. Sigh; It’s your Letters, Fat Lookalike, Freak or Unique, The Lord of Love (veteran actor Ronald Fraser in a quilted smoking jacket reciting love poetry, anyone?) and Wiiiiiiiiillll! Silly, yes, but it defined a decade. And who can forget that infamous moment when Shaun Ryder’s undeniably filthy mouth meant it could no longer be broadcast live at 6pm…
Rex FeaturesWhat? Grunge
When? 1991
Why? The grunge movement actually began in the late 80s, but found legs and crawled its dark and seedy self out of Seattle in the early 90s. Cast your minds back to the glory days of Nirvana and flannel shirts, when music was angstsy and Kurt Cobain was the sexiest man alive. Anti-fashion; seemingly-rubbish hair; burgundy lipstick; Pearl Jam; beanies; a couldn’t-care-less attitude; Drew Barrymore; cut-off jeans; Soundgarden; DMs; sigh.
PA PhotosWho? The Supermodels
When? 1990
Why? In the 90s, models weren’t just well-sculpted clothes-hangers – they warranted cult-status obsession, they had big hair, they smiled, they had boobs… Why do we still love '90s supermodels? Because they were the ultimate ‘cool clique’ and we all wanted in. Whether attending the world’s most glamorous parties, starring in music videos, walking runways hand-in-hand or huddled together for a certain iconic Vogue cover: nobody does models like the 90s did models.
Rex FeaturesSMTV: Live
When? 1998
Why? Yes, we were horribly hung-over, but we still managed to roll ourselves over and hit the remote to ITV come sunrise, for our weekly dose of Cat, Ant and Dec. SMTV: Live’s thinly-veiled comedic innuendo had us smiling through the hazy fog that was our post-Friday blurry mind. Who can forget Ant’s inane screaming at the children who failed to guess the weekly Wonkey Donkey conundrum? Ant’s homoerotic, booming-voiced superhero Captain Justice? The trio’s seductive homage to the beautiful Corrs? These were the glory days of children’s TV programming, people.
Rex FeaturesWho? Garbage
When? 1995
Why? ...Or more specifically, Shirley Manson. If e’er one frontwoman truly ROCKED, it was flamed-haired, feisty, Scottish Supervixen Shirley. This gutsy, sultry-toned rock goddess not only penned some of the greatest electronic grunge hits of all time and inspired vulnerable teen girls everywhere with her outspoken wit, but became a bona-fide style pin-up with her oh-so heavy-kohled eyes, glitzy shift dresses and badass DMs. Shirl, we salute you!
Rex FeaturesWhat? The Big Breakfast with Johnny and Denise
When? 1997
Why? In my school circa 97, we’d always greet one another with the words: “did you watch The Big Breakfast this morning?” Back when Johnny Vaughn was funny and Denise Van Outen was the ultimate ladette, the show regularly pulled in two million viewers. Sure, it’s odd to think now that we were highly amused by a segment entitled More Tea, Vicar – featuring Vaughn as a reverend with a penchant for quoting The Exorcist and Van Outen as a raving nun with bad teeth and an inferiority complex. But amused we were.
