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22nd May 2017
08:06pm BST
My-So-Called Life pretty much was my life. Not in the sense that it was similar to my life in any way, shape, or form (although I wished it was), but as in my life revolved around it. I over-identified with Angela Chase, the mildly depressed, flannel-wearing 15-year-old protagonist, to the point that I lobbed my hair off and dyed it a very dodgy £4.50 Sunset Auburn in my best friend's bathroom. Somewhat unnecessary, given that I was already a redhead.
But I digress. Angela (Claire Danes - she of the world's worst cry face), was a moany, straight A, strait-laced teenager who desperately wanted to break out of her mold and get closer to the mute but occasionally monosyllabic Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto), who sang in a super rad band called The Frozen Embryos. Angela's crush on the original locker-leaning bad boy was met with horrified disapproval by her sweet but friend-zoned neighbour, Brian Krakow.
Whenever I think of the 90s, Angela, Jordan, Rayanne, and Rickie Vasquez all pop straight into my head. There they are, like it was yesterday. Jared Leto's hair curtains and cord shearling jacket still make me swoon, many years later. No need to get into how many years exactly. Although, it must be said, the way they unnecessarily inserted the word 'like' into all their like sentence structures and like stuff would now grate on my syntax-loving parental nerves.
So, what has me reminiscing for all things 90s you ask? I'm surrounded by it. All the young wans are swanning around dressed, as far as I can see, head to toe in my wardrobe circa 1995. The only thing I'm yet to spot is a fully fledged goth in a Kurt Cobain 1967-1994 t-shirt and a pair of twelve-hole Docs. But I'm sure that's only around the corner in the style stakes.
You know that old saying about fashion "if you remember it from the first time round, don't wear it"? Yeah, well that's me. If I abide by that style rule, I can't buy a single thing in Topshop or any other remotely youthful shop. Muddy coloured matt lipstick, crop tops (and bellybutton piercings), chokers, high-waisted baggy jeans, floral dresses, and platforms... The other day one of my young(er) colleagues came in wearing a pair of stone-washed dungarees, and I knew; my youth was over.
via GIPHY
So now, I'm like totally like freaking out or something. I'm too young to start buying non-ironic cardigans in Marks & Spencer. I still have my original flannel shirt. I mean, I use it as pyjama top but nobody would know. I could totally just ease back into the 90s, one fashion step at a time. I'm not old.
Anyone happen to know if Boots stock Sunset Auburn these days? Asking for a friend.
