We’ve all undergone a major transformation—awkward adolescent years that gave way to the too-cool attitudes of our early 20s. It’s not until later that we stopped to reflect: What the hell was I thinking?
Most likely, fashion trends and pop culture had a lot to do with it. And while there are definitely a few cringe-worthy moments in all of our photo albums, we can be grateful that pretty much everyone else was dressed in similar styles. At least that’s how it seems in Nina Manandhar's What We Wore (Prestel), a look at British fashion from the past six decades as seen through the many home photos submitted by people just like us.
At home, on the street, or at a warehouse rave, the hundreds of submissions reveal boys in designer jumpers and ‘rude’ girls among ska rockers and skateboard punks—all accompanied with personal stories to create a time capsule of memories focused on fashion and society. Flip through The Daily Beast’s gallery and take a walk down memory lane, dressed in looks from Carnaby Street and designers like Vivienne Westwood, John-Paul Gaultier, Dungaree, and Tommy Hilfiger.
Here, Beverley Prompep from 1995.
"Some of the best dancers and the most finely dressed came to JJ’s on weekends. Luckily, Peter Williams captured these moments on camera. The music was imported directly from the States; the DJs weaved each tune seamlessly with the next, creating an atmosphere in which it was impossible to sit down. When you did need to kick back a little, you could retreat to the bar and observe the parade of beautiful, talented people filtering past, and just feel glad to be part of something that we all knew was special." -Jim Jackson
Courtesy of Prestel
"A slightly older bunch of skaters had a style that seemed to have its foundation in surf/rockabilly culture – checked shirts, low-top Vans, flat tops and dungarees. Punks would turn up – spiked hair, Chuck Taylors and destroyed shorts – then later came hip hop, with big tongues on basketball boots and baggy jeans. All of this was blended through skateboarding. People got to know each other and sharedinformation – art, music and fashion. We went to gigs: Sonic Youth, Stone Roses, Fugazi, Happy Mondays, Felt, Loop, Snuff, all types of music. Then came the raves …
Courtesy of Prestel
"I was only 11 when I got into punk, which was very young, even back then. The first punk garment I bought was a green t-shirt with a cheesy transfer of the words ‘punk rock’ daubed onto an unconvincing brick wall. My mum bought it for me on our first trip down the King’s Road in July 1977. I knew it wasn’t really punk precisely because it had the word ‘punk’ on it, but that’s all we could afford. I remember that Mum had to ask a punk for directions to [Malcome] McLaren and [Vivienne] Westwood’s boutique, which we thought was still called Sex but had by then been renamed Seditionaries. ‘What have they done to our Queen?’ said my great-aunt (who, bless her, had accompanied us) when she caught sight of Jamie Reid’s now iconic design. That day I was wearing a blue t-shirt adorned with dozens of safety pins, which I hid under my jacket whenever we passed menacing-looking Teddy boys. As The Clash sang, ‘What we wear is dangerous gear / It’ll get you picked on anywhere.’ Apart from the King’s Road, I also liked going to Portobello. The original Rough Trade record shop was nearby, and you could find lots of punk paraphernalia."
Courtesy of Prestel
"My girlfriend and I had travelled down from Slough to see my friend Cass, who was a photographic printer, and got drunk at a pub in Bloomsbury. I was 17 and Keeley was 15 and still at school."
Courtesy of Prestel
"These photos are from Rockley Sands, a weekender we used to go to. Dungarees were popular. I never wore them myself, but a lot of people did (yuck). It was quite hippy: there were lots of Save the Planet t-shirts. An abiding memory for me, and I don’t know how you can word this delicately, was seeing people I’d known for years from the pre-acid-house club scene on E for the first time ever."
Courtesy of Prestel
"I was 25 when this was taken, at my friend Danny’s house. We were having a few drinks before going out. My friend had a drag show at Madame JoJo’s and then we were going to Club Naive, which played garage, house and techno. They were days of excess. People had started taking a lot of heroin; it was the beginning of heroin chic culture. It wasn’t just a fashion name: people who didn’t have that switch-off button were dying from it or being sent to prison. We managed to get through relatively unscathed."
Courtesy of Prestel
"I can remember going to Roast at Adrenaline Village, near Battersea Power Station. It was one of the moodier events. Looking good was a top priority. Everyone dressed in Cheap and Chic by Moschino, Versace and Iceberg. It was a wonderful feeling dancing to wicked tunes all night, then the doors would be flung open and light would flood the venue. I didn’t need much make-up as I had youth on my side. A bit of mascara and Black Cherry lipstick by Rimmel. I still go out raving every now and then. I don’t think I will ever be too old!"
Courtesy of Prestel
"On the day this was taken, I was probably going to the park at the end of my road to try and hang out with my brother and his friends at the basketball court. I remember getting that bag free with some Tommy Girl perfume and being so proud of it. My Nike crop top was a staple item in my wardrobe as a teenager. I would often get my brother’s sportswear hand-me-downs, so I’m certain the jumper I’m wearing around my waist belonged to him; it was probably Nike or Ellesse. My favourite piece of jewellery, which you can just about see on my baby finger, was a small sovereign ring that I still miss to this day."
Courtesy of Prestel
