Walking around a busy Camden Town late this morning, on a sunny mild day was a good place to try and pick up on youth fashion to see what's in, just for a laugh.
I kinda wished I was 24 again, with my long hair, docs, skinny frame and tight black jeans. I would've fitted right in, being considered "fashionable" 14 years later. Instead, my far chubbier frame was clad in hiking boots, black jeans and a stylish DKNY blue sweater and my hair a non-descript cut.
About the only "new" fashions I noted, was a mix of asian, punk and goth - think of the cartoons from The Gorillaz.
London is once again going through a sixties revival, but this time, it's head on direct copying. You could transplant the youths that follow this fashion into 1968 and they would look like they belonged. Shops selling army jackets, tight black jeans, winklepickers. Then there's the more "David Blunt" style - subdued casual 60's mixed 50's american college. Think of that famous Dylan album cover, the name of the album escapes me now - where's he's walking down the street with his girl, in a brown suede jacket. Freewheeling Bob Dylan ?
There were some old style punks in Camden, although I had a notion these were Eastern European. They were all working handing out various pamphlets, or holding up signs for the Doctor Martens shop. Quite sad really. Not exactly "youths" either, most looking in their 30's or 40's.
The occassional goth wandered past.
A horrible fashion trend, not really noticable in Camden, is the return of the 80's - not so much the big hair, but women in cowboy boots with jeans tucked into them and gaudy belts. It was horrifying then, it's even worse now. It's a kinda Britney Spears meets Pat Benatar.
The biggest overall "alternative" trend seems to be a relaxed 60's attire, a bit of early mod, a bit of late 60's stones. Bands like The Stokes look and sound almost identical to that era. I like it.
There are a few differences, hair gelled into scruffy ridges for instance.
But as usual, generally speaking, the majority of people are just casual. Only the few are fashionable.
Fashion has been this way for some time - there are very few clear cut overwhelming youth styles, it's all mixed up. There's no longer a clear definition, like Mod & Rocker, Punk and New Romantic, Skinhead and Hippy.
Of course, there's the tail end of the "chav" still happening, with a few sad losers hanging in, although the entire scene was always based on sad losers in burberry and bling in the first place.
The black fashions are very much sports orientated and form the bulk of the "hoody" style of dress, with the women in R&B atire. Sad white folk try to emulate this style, but not everyone can carry it off like 8 mile.
Then there's the skateboard crowd, following the US mid-70's fashion. Baseball sneakers, all round shoulder length scruffy hair, faded blue jeans and caps. Dogtown style. If I were 18 these days, I'd probably be into that.
Where I'll soon be living, I'd probably look best with grey hair, complete with bald patch, a zimmerframe, sensible brown lace up shoes, a chunky sweater and a suit jacket. I'll fit right into life on the High Street, Odiham.
Fasion left me behind 10 years ago, or rather, I left it behind. Good riddance too, for the most part. I'll be buried in my Jeans, favourite scruffy t-shirt and boots, unless it's summer time, then it'll be shorts and bare feet.
I've ended my day in London here at Nicholsons, on the banks of the Thames, for a bit of whale watching. Haven't seen one yet. I hope that lost "little" whale gets back out to sea.
Strange days indeed.
