Top Tips for Teens Utilising their Parent’s Wardrobe

The 80s, 90s, and 00s are back - and to quote some music of the era, they’re “back for good.” The fashion of the generation has tunnelled its way back into the mainstream but costs are on the rise.

However, when the going gets tough, the tough get thrifty. Google Search Data highlights that searches for terms relating to vintage clothing hit 515k per month in May (2022), up from 219k in June 2018.

Reselling platforms are unsurprisingly revelling in this trend and on every street corner in a major UK city you’ll find a vintage clothes fair. What was once a concept only your granny and her pals spent their afternoons doing or Macklemore was singing about, thrift shopping is now the done thing…

That said, what if we told you that you didn’t have to spend your weekends traipsing round second hand clothing markets and the fashion of the season was right on your doorstep (well more like in your roof space)?

The clothes bank of mum and dad

Let’s be honest, your parents have probably been dressing you from day one. But, now, the choice is yours when it comes to deciphering your own fit.

Although none of us like admitting our parents our right, when it comes to replenishing our wardrobes for free, surely we can be a bit less reluctant to accept it. Let’s delve into some of the things to look out for in your parent’s 80s and 90s wardrobe that you could be re-introducing to keep things fresh in 2022.

Jeans

The skinny jean trend that heavily dominated the noughties and teenies is no longer. The looser, more comfortable fit is now the go to with straight leg, flare, and mom jeans dominating current styles. These cuts are by no means new founded, however - they will

have existed in your mum and dad’s collection in the seasons of twenty-something years ago.

Hunt through your parent’s collections and you might find yourself some levis, a pair of guess jeans, or even a more niche set of bongo jeans. Frayed or slightly tethered? Carefully alter them into a vintage pair of ripped jeans or chop them into some cut offs.

Graphic tees

So many big brands have called upon graphic tees to update their collections in 2022. Whether you’re topping off a pair of stone washed jeans with a graphic tee, styling it with a long-sleeve underneath, or completing the look with an over jacket, there’s no denying this 80s inspired garm will land a few likes on instagram.

Accustomed to mickey ears tee and a coca-cola logo alternative? Yeah, their roots were in the 80s too! There’s a hot chance your dad will have housed some of these classics in his back catalogue of clothes - tucked in or rolled up, once you’ve found it, you can work out how to style it.

Jackets

If you Google snaps of Drew Barrymore, Winona Ryder, Brad Pitt, or Jared Leto from the 90s, you’ll see an eclectic mix of styles - these guys were just some of the hundreds of icons of the decade and they worked jackets well.

Bombers, denim, leather - you name it, the 90s had it. Versatility crossed the boundary into fashion and as of late, these classic jacket styles have become staples of cool. Whether it be oversized and acid washed denim from Dickies, GAP, or Carhart or satin printed bomber jackets, you should find what you’re looking for among a pile of mum and dad’s ‘bags for the charity’.

Platform shoes

While the history of platform shoes stretches back to well before the 80s and 90s, it was during this era where they began to find their place and truly took prominence. Sported often by the Spice Girls and their distinctive style, despite dying out during the 2010s, platforms are back with a bang.

Dua Lipa and Nicola Peltz Beckham are just some of the iconic names papped of late wearing a pair of platforms, with both Nicola’s husband, Brooklyn, and Ryan Gosling also delivering iconic looks in a pair of Dr. Martens - a brand you’ll almost certainly be able to get your hands on from your parents shoe rack!

If you can’t find some DM boots, try hunting for a pair of platform heels or some Converse All Stars, the latter being an ever present in the modern day fit.

Saving a penny and looking trendy

Here, we’ve detailed just some of the things you should keep an eye out for when rifling through your parents' old threads and kicks.

So, there you have it - If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for, it might be in your parents wardrobe!