Versace

Honestly the 90s and you will come to realize holds a close place in my heart, I love how flamboyant it was, almost grotesque, the age of the Spice Girls, Supermodels, the 'Rachel' haircut, the Wonderbra what more could a girl want! But most of all the height of fashion designer Gianni Versace. Extravagance but also accessible with R-T-W prices in autumn 1999 prices ranging from £80 for a pair of jeans, £1,300 for a suit and a whopping £12,500 for a hand appliquéd two piece. it is therefore not difficult to believe Gianni when he proclaimed in 1992 that 'I love money.'

Hurley in 'That Dress'

‘I like to dress big egos, if you haven’t got a big ego you can forget it.’

And that is what he did. His sexy, extrovert designs were worn by the famously rich of both sexes, from rock starts to royalty; Elton John to Diana Princess of Wales. A Versace dress could make a woman’s career (as Elizabeth Hurley found out when she wore his safety pinned column later to be coined as ‘that dress’ at the UK premier of Four Weddings and a Funeral in 1994 with then partner Hugh Grant).

Hurley described her first encounter with Versace, "within minutes my jean and t-shit were whipped off and I was shoehorned into a gold snakeskin number and six inch 'slavegirl' sandals. A bevy of exquisitely uniformed seamstresses descended on me and embarked on an orgy of pinning and tucking... I was ushered, gibbering, into hair and make up. An hour later, mousey english girl was transformed into Versace siren."

Versace is also credited with fuelling the supermodel phenomenon with his flamboyant baroque style by agreeing to pay high sums to Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington. He often seemed out of pace with modern sobriety, but Versace celebrated the breadth of fashion. the first non-British designer that Princess Diana wore was Versace, and what a choice, her 1997 Vanity Fair cover she was sporting a one shouldered white number... Sensational.



One day I will own some vintage Versace... Hot right

The best quote I have about Gianni is from a book that I bought at the 2002 Versace exhibition

"Gianni Versace was not a 'God of fashion,' nor a 'genius,' as some would have us believe. He was neither reactionary nor revolutionary. He was a talented designer and a remarkably astute business man, with a gift for capturing the mood, injecting it with a shot of sex and glamour and promoting it and selling it, not only to the stars he was photographed with but more significantly, to the millions of ordinary people who enjoyed the Versace fantasy."

 Which I do believe is the key to his success. Versace was sadly shot by a serial killer in 1997. Since then the brand has been headed up by head designer, sister Donatella and older brother Santo is the CEO of the company.The brand is still fabulous now, Donatella understands the brand values enough to carry it on with the same drive and appeal of the 90s. Long live the brand (so that when I marry my rich husband I can afford the couture!!).

Royal Weddings

I know, I know, who cares right? But I have never seen a full British Royal Wedding, seen the Funerals and Jubilees ... But a little nosey around what celebrities tastes are, always amusing, and what will the mother of the bride be wearing... Why else would you buy OK! or Hello...

The Royal Wedding, the whole shebang, commemorative Spode service and all (they had better put one out when I get married big seller i'll tell you that now). My street is even being closed off to have a party, how quaint! Probably be a disaster I can sense everyone bringing Victoria Sponges... what shall we do!

The Mountbatten-Winsors
Queenie probably has the best Royal marriage going for her, being the only monarch to reach her Diamond wedding anniversary (Henry VIII couldn't keep one alive that long!!). May be related (well they are related) claiming that Queen Vic is their great-great-grandmother, they were engaged in 1946 and married November 20th, 1947 at Westminster Abbey. Four children - Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward.

Wasn't she lovely.....

Princes Charles Weddings

Charles has wayyy more hair than Wills does now

To Diana Spencer - 29th July, 1981, at St. Paul's Cathedral. The nation loved her (the express still pour over her every day) but the marriage was turbulent, full or scandalous affairs, Charles with Parker-Bowles...

Formal separation in 1992 and divorce 1996... and then she was tragically killed in an 'accident' the following year (speculate yourselves on that one chaps).

To Camilla Parker-Bowles 10th February, 2005, the first Royal to have a civil partnership, ooh Charles how contemporary.

But it is the marketing to go with these things now, my Grandmother still has so many Charles and Di commemorative bits and bobs lying around the house, the full tea set and tray, tea spoon, thimble, flag, I think there may even be a bell lying around somewhere. So when ever you are there you eat something just to uncover Di's face on it, its sort of like when people see Jesus in pots of Marmite and but with this you realize it is actually just the plate.... Disappointing. But you know what Granny will say, they will be worth something one day, the coin is selling on eBay for a grand total of 99p. Well I say selling, current bid count... 0. Check out some of the bits on sale for the latest royal shindig.... hilarious, personal favorite the replica engagement ring, a snip at £37.95...!!


King George VI and Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon

Really sweet, she initially refused and Prince Albert (later to be King George VI), hopeless romantic said he would marry no other. Married in 1923 and had two children, Elizabeth and Margret. King George died at a young 56. Really 20s in the fashions and Liz the first of the running tradition of laying her bouquet on an unmarked grave... trend-setter... 

Victoria and Albert
My favourite queen of them all, I mean Empress of India and all that history in the Victorian age she reigned for 63 years and 7 months, a longggggg time. She Married Albert on the 10th February 1940, they had nine children, longest reigning British monarch and nine kids jeeez the woman had aspirations!






And my winner for the best Royal bride goes toooooooooo........... (Drum rolll)

Grace Kelly Princess of Monaco, who else, no British Royal could beat that....

no not even Camilla haha, don't be too downhearted Cami!

I will probably do a post on our street party (let you know if anyone has bought any commemorative plates!) 

The Supermodel

Ahhh the late 80s and 90s the markets on the rise, the age of money money money, extravagance, the World Wide Web, the perm (uh oh), the boombox and oh also the age of the supermodel. Multi-million campaigns, household names, tears, tantrums.

From Left: Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz,
Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford  

Lindberghs January 1990 cover for Vogue is notorious as the supermodel photo the same 5 appearing in George Michael's Freedon '90! video the same year.

My personal favorites:

Guess? Campagin 1989 by Ellen von Unwerth

Claudia Schiffer

She secured the Guess? campaign in 1989 and since then was one of the most sought after super models appearing on more than 500 magazine covers.

Height - 5'11"

Bust - 34"

Waist - 24"

Hips - 36"

But an absolute stunner, no wonder she was so sought after and secured so many covers, even the face of Chanel after Lagerfeld himself picked her.

She was also the first model to make it onto the cover of Vanity Fair that usually refuses to place a model on its cover.

Check out her 15 favourites shoots on Vogue.com

Still from 1996 Pepsi ad-campaign

Cindy Crawford

Crawford is a step away from the classical blue eyed blonde of Schiffer but perhaps had more sex appeal being voted number 3 on 'VH1's Hottest Hotties of the 90s.' And you can see why, if I had turned out like that I would be mighty happy!


Height - 5'9"
Bust - 34"
Waist - 24"
Hips - 35"


But a fabulous career with representation from Elite Model Management and over 400 magazine covers (ooh lagging behind Schiffer somewhat!)


Famously down to earth, she once said: "Even I don't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford." - PAH!!

Cannot find a year or photographer....

Linda Evangelista 
The model I definitely remember as a child, she was beautiful in a different way, and was in two George Michael videos, Too Funky and Freedom 90! (I was a big George fan...). The key to her success was her ever changing style, a haircut made her and a haircut kept her!


Height - 5'9.5"
Bust - 34.5"
Waist 24"
Hips - 35"


600 covers......

By Mario Testino

Kate Moss
Young, fresh, natural the Kate Moss of the 90's. Yes, yes there has been some questionable history with her (ahem Pete Doherty) but then look at Naomi and she is a saint.


Height - a rather short 5'7"
Bust- 34"
Waist- 23"
Hips- 35"


Graced the cover of British Vogue alone 27 times..... and linked to huge photographers like Testino.




Anyway love them all, classic image of beauty but all in their own 90s kind of way, I will leave you with the best of Lindbergh and the supers.......

The Wild Ones - 1991