The Teen Outfits 3 Fashion Editors Never Want to Revisit

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Whether it's relationships or career moves, reflecting on past decisions can be at times both an amusing and painful process. But nothing says "Why the hell did I do that?" quite like the Ghosts of Fashions Past. We all have a back catalogue of cringe-worthy outfits, most of which seem to cluster around our teens (aka the most sartorially awkward years of our lives). With the '90s making a comeback this season, our minds keep drifting back to the wardrobes of our younger selves.

So in the name of fashion, we decided to mine our Facebook profiles and plunder our parents' photo albums to discover just how far we've come since our school days. Unsurprisingly, the results were not pretty, and there were plenty of ill-fitting fabrics, dodgy haircuts and questionable accessories. However, the process also showed us how far we've come in settling our style identities. We now know which shapes and colours suit us and, of course, which outfits we should never ever wear again. There were also a few good ones in the mix, though.

Alongside the horrible getups, we've each chosen an outfit we would happily replicate for 2018—just with a few tweaks here and there. Scroll down to witness the highs and lows (read: mostly lows) of our teen wardrobes. Enjoy.

Hannah Almassi, Editorial Director, Who What Wear UK

"Inspired by Kate Winslet, I thought that bias-cut satin was definitely the best option for my post-GCSEs school party. It wasn't, and it still isn't. This fabric and cut aren't forgiving at the best of the times, and I put my knowledge of this down to that very night. I don't think I've worn a slip dress or skirt since, and don't plan on changing that rule any time soon—no matter what the trends might dictate."

"I felt like a plonker that day in the big pink hat, but looking back, I think it's a rather fabulous thing for a 14- or 15-year-old girl to choose to wear to a wedding in your local village. From the mini bag to the ditsy floral dress (which feels a bit Reformation-y, non?), I'd be totally down for replicating this again at some summer nuptials next year. I'm sure I wore clompy, bad shoes, though, so that's where the modern twist would have to come in."

My 2018 Update

Related: Kate Moss's '90s Outfits That Look Just as Cool Today

Joy Montgomery, Acting Assistant Editor, Who What Wear UK

"Oh body-con, my fickle friend, you were my constant companion from the age of about 14 up until university. This photo was taken on a girls holiday when I was 18 and is fairly representative of what I'd wear on a night out. Let's just say that my style has changed fairly dramatically since then, and over my 20s, I've discovered the joys of midi hemlines and the appeal of androgynous tailoring and oversized fits. Less, apparently, does not always mean more. These days, if I did go shorter, I would balance it out with a looser silhouette or high neckline. Skintight, however, is still a no-go, as I'm not convinced it's the most flattering fit on me."

"This festive Christmas getup is hardly the height of sophistication (so many Clueless vibes), however, despite its many questionable elements, I actually quite like the matchy-matchy aesthetic and heritage fabric—both of which feel quite autumn/winter 2018. To update it for my wardrobe now, I would opt for a high-waisted, longer-length skirt and a skinny roll-neck knit."

My 2018 Update

Related: Gwyneth Paltrow's '90s Wardrobe Couldn't Be More 2018

Emma Spedding, Deputy Editor, Who What Wear UK

"Looking back at my teenage pictures, the first thing I learned was that I spent more time in fancy dress than actual outfits—making the challenge of revisiting my past wardrobe a little tricky. My style back then was a lot more preppy than it is now (I went to Durham University and adopted a uniform of Ugg boots and hoodies). Marissa Cooper from The OC was my ultimate style icon, so I wore plenty of skinny jeans, 'nice' going-out tops and oversized shoulder bags. I wouldn't wear anything with a big bow on it anymore, as it's very preppy, but I still live in blazers and jeans—kind of like the ones I'm wearing here at the age of 18."

"Although my style is less preppy, there are some items in these pictures that I still wear. I bought the black Donkey coat by Étoile Isabel Marant before I went to university and still wear it now, 10 years later. It was clearly a great investment."

My 2018 Update

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