The Resurgance of the 90's

Lately, I've been noticing a mass resurgence of the 1990's and I can't say that I'm not giddy about it. I viewed a preview of the fall line up from Fashion week in New York and thought, "Wow, those outfits look vaguely familiar!" An adornment of baby doll dressings, leggings and yes combat books. This week I learned hypercolored fabric was yet again back in style. (One thing from the 90's I'm ashamed is coming back.) I also learned that they are recreating the ever popular series of the 90's, Beverly Hills 90210 and even the New Kids on the Block are reforming. I thought I was awaking from a coma while I turned down my monitor while listening to my streaming radio station, Grunge FM.

Bands from the era are also rebanding together again and beginning those ever popular reunion tours. Last year, we saw bands Alice in Chains, Toadies and Local H reform. I heard last night that Mudhoney is touring again! I mean, come on Mudhoney!!! The very epitome of grunge as far as true grunge in concerned. I'm eagerly working on Lisa Loeb baby doll dresses, brushing the dust from my doc martens, pulling out that the plum lipstick and beanie.

The time is impeccable really. I mean I was 12 when I got my first sewing machine and I still remember trying to explain why I sewed zippers on my brand new, straight from the mall pants that my mom bought me. She just didn't understand why I didn't like anything she picked out for me or that none of the stores had the clothes I wanted to wear. I remember seeing this one eighth grader at school, brandy, and she was wearing torn up white pantyhose, jean shorts and fishnet oversized top and I thought, that's an awesome outfit. I asked her where she got it and she said that she put it together and a light bulb shined in my head, I could just make my clothes, put my own style together. What a concept!!! So I ransacked my closet and took every piece of extra fabric, remnant, button, patch and elastic to whip up my very first outfit. I took a long sleeve, boring navy blue mock top and cut the sleeves off, the neck and the bottom half, cut my jeans in to frayed shorts and made a garter belt out of elastic and suspender straps from my old suspenders and stuck some homemade stockings I made from these really girly tights my mom bought me with pictures of the earth, moon and clouds. When I had this all together, my jaw literally dropped, could I have possibly seen this all along? My creativity was truly coming out and when I came to school the next day, the mass reaction I got was astounding. I still remember I got like five guys' numbers that day and pissed off a reluctant ex-crush. I was excited, my mom was not too thrilled, but that was an ongoing problem we had throughout my teenage years. That was 1991.

By the time I was 16, I was submersed with fashion magazines, alternative handmade zines, and sketches I took everywhere in hopes of finding the perfect material or shirt at the thrift store. My dad could barely afford the rent and food let alone clothing for me. So I got a job at a comic bookstore to pay for my expenses. On $15 a day, I managed to create a wardrobe that had even the rich kids envious. I wore the latest trends through my interpretation. Once I made an awesome mod dress. I found this gray wool long sleeve, floor length power suit. I took it home, cut off the sleeves, hemmed it to an a line with just a whip stitch and walked into school wearing that and some contrasting black opaque tights. The next day I wore a cut off chinese dress, purple opaque tights and barbie platformed wedges. I was such a socialite as well, going to shows left and right, going to Woodstock, feeling completely trapped because I was just a teenager and couldn't fully experience the real world of 90's fully. I couldn't wait to grow up, but it was just as bittersweet, it was like the 90's when I grew up.

Fast forward 2008 and I'm about to turn 30 and after a very long and useless abusive marriage, I've regained my riot grrl identity I once had as a girl. I'm creating again, sewing again, only this time I'm making money on it. Only now the 90's has become retro. So yes, I am very excited about this trend, I can't wait for the styles, the music everything!!! So rejoice, dust your doc martens and let's do some moshing while sipping lattes and create again!!!