The Almighty Butterfly Clip

Ah, the 90's. Quite the iconic decade and super nostalgic for me in a lot of ways. Now, I’d like to point out that I was born in 1995 and so technically, I am not a 90's kid. I was too young to understand and follow 90's trends during the 90's themselves of course, but I consider myself a 90's kid all the same. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I grew up in India, where trends from the western world were a little late to follow. Maybe 90's trends were so iconic that they bled way into the early to mid 2000's. Either way, I grew up playing with Polly Pockets and listening to Backstreet Boys, and it was great.

I don’t think anyone was more excited than me when fashion trends from the 90's started making a comeback. Unlike boy bands and toys, fashion from that decade didn’t fully make it into the 2000's, and, horrifically, low-rise jeans were huge when I was growing up. For a chubby, very insecure girl, it was not the most fun time trying to stay trendy, and also look and feel good. And so, when high-waist everything came back in a big way, I was cheering all the way to the nearest mall. Throw in some leather chokers, crushed velvet crop tops and a scrunchie, and it was my idea of fashion nirvana.

I think the fondest memories I have of fashion from when I was younger though, has to be all the hairstyles and hair accessories. Looking at photos from my 10th birthday party, I cannot fathom how ANYONE thought crimped hair was a good look. Even Lizzie McGuire couldn't pull that monstrosity off. All the same, I remember how excited I was when I was getting my hair done for that party, and how cool and fashionable I felt when it was all done. Even though I'm saying this myself, I had gorgeous hair as a little girl. Silky, thick, and down to my waist (yes, adult me is extremely jealous). Back then, it used to annoy me, the sheer length and volume, but my mother absolutely refused to let me get it cut. She loved styling it in different ways for me and I begrudgingly had to admit it; she’d do a fantastic job, always. I’m sure if I search hard enough, I’ll find photos of myself sporting all the popular hairstyles of the time; braids, bangs (or a fringe as we called it back home), space buns, super high pigtails, hair clips in various sizes and colours, those scrunchies that looked like the wire from a telephone (the 90's kind that had a cord of course). But my favourite of them all has to be- as you already know from the title- butterfly clips!

I’m sure everyone knows what I’m talking about; those tiny little things that you basically put a million of in your hair at once. They were one 90's fashion/hair trend that did make it into the 2000's, and for good reason in my opinion. They’re cute and feminine, and add a youthful look to any outfit. The best part is, you don’t even have to style your hair a specific way to use them. Whether you wear your natural hair down, or have on braids, buns or an updo, butterfly clips will work just as well. They were really cheap and very widely available when I was younger, considering their popularity, and I had tons of them. Oh, how cool and pretty I felt when I had the whole rainbow in tiny butterflies on my head! I had a small collection of glitter ones too, that I saved for special occasions. I feel like even now, as adults, we can totally rock the butterfly clip look. It’s an instantly recognisable throwback and a pretty versatile hair accessory. Of course, they’d be adorable with flowy, flowery, bright clothes, but I think they could make for a very interesting contrast with darker, edgier clothing as well. I’d love to rock a leather jacket and combat boots and then put in hot pink butterfly clips in my hair. I’d love even more to recreate some of my childhood photos! Now how’s that for a Mother’s Day gift idea 😉

Perhaps the biggest reason I love butterfly clips and want them back so much though, is that the nostalgia they bring is from such a happy time in my life. Young, care-free, innocent. It's always nice to relive those childhood memories when I didn’t have to wake up at 5 am to get to work on time so that I can make rent next month. I did read somewhere that 2021 will see a comeback of the butterfly clip. So even though I can’t be 10 again (nor do I really want to if I’m being honest!), I can at least confidently rock the butterfly clips again, and pretend I have no responsibilities even as I chase down the bus to make it to work. Here’s to childlike innocence in your 20's! Cheers to the almighty butterfly clip!