*Slips on rose-tinted glasses*
Remember back in the 90s when you still used to go to the shops IRL, and a trip to your local high road would result in you spending, like, a whole £4.90 on that week’s number one single, a poster for your bedroom wall, and enough pick ‘n’ mix to give you a belly ache for a week?
Well, nowadays £4.90 will barely get you a Big Mac meal, and most of the shops which fuelled our teenage dreams are sadly no more.
So join us for a trip down memory high street, where the sun always shines, for some serious reminiscing… #Mems.
1. Our Price
You probably bought your first single here. Chances are it was a tape, and in the intervening years you’ve realised the s*** song on the B-side is actually way better.
2. C&A
This is where your mum used to drag you, kicking and screaming, to get your vests, pop socks and school coat. It wasn’t cool, but now when you see them on mainland Europe, you feel kind of jealous that they still have them and we don’t.
3. Dolcis
Three words: Knee high boots.
4. Morgan
You weren’t anyone until you owned a pair of Morgan’s black bootcut trousers. Fact.
5. Whittard
A whole shop dedicated to tea? Who the f*** shopped there? You, every Mother’s Day. True story.
6. Blockbuster
Yes, they NEVER had the video you wanted, and you racked up enough late fines for a deposit on a two bed flat, but still, you really miss them on Sunday nights when there’s nothing on the telly.
7. Tammy
Too old for M&S kids, but too young for Morgan? Welcome to Tammy Girl – the store of your pre-teen dreams.
8. The Body Shop
Yes yes, we know The Body Shop is still around, but seriously, when was the last time you made a friend a bespoke basket of white musk five ways, eh?
9. Madhouse
It was down the dodgy end of Oxford Street, and THE place to get your Pepe jeans and Fruit of the Loom jumpers.
10. Kookai
Kookai – the only place to get your going out (read spangly) tops and cute little clubbing bags. Chic (or so you thought).
11. Ravel
Ravel is where you went for posh shoes for posh dos.
12. Athena
This is where all your pocket money went. Posters, watches, man and baby, sexy tennis girl. Need we say more?
13. Gadget Shop
Aka. a fantastic way to spend a couple of hours. No you never actually bought anything, but you did somehow manage to break something ev-er-y time you went in.
Can’t think why they closed down…
14. Sock Shop
A shop just selling socks – how was that ever a good idea? No one, but no one loves socks THAT much.
15. Past Times
The go-to shop for last minute gifts. Who doesn’t like a vintage-style mug/ picture frame/ necklace/ candle holder?
16. Sweater shop
Their T-shirts and sweaters were always on your birthday list, you wore them with cycling shorts or patterned leggings and thought… no knew, you looked too cool for school.
17. Woolworths
No round up of stores that will forever be in our hearts would be complete without Woolies. From the ultimate pick ‘n’ mix (or should that be nick ‘n’ mix), to pencil cases to make your best mates jealous, Woolworths was the absolute best.
MORE : 26 things we all desperately wanted from the Argos catalogue in the 1980s
MORE : 17 beauty products we wouldn't be seen dead without in the nineties
MORE : Life was harder in the 90s: 19 things that kids today couldn’t handle
Sign up to our guide to what’s on in London, trusted reviews, brilliant offers and competitions. London’s best bits in your inbox
Share this with