jowen32

Gorilla arms Sue! Mine came from Etam and was red it had a really long panda collar and cuffs with 3 buttons, I had a little red short sleeved jumper and a red skirt - all red, how horrible! I also had a couple of tank tops from Chelsea Girl. One had a number 1 on it and the other 999 - for whatever reason. I'm killing myself at the thought of you going into a pet shop and buying a budgie bell, my cowbell was really heavy - the budgie bell was a better idea! Did you ever buy in Richards? I think it was on Wheeler gate.

Beefsteak - thats so funny! Those saloon style doors were a nightmare for teenage girls, they were wrong on many levels: the gap between the 2 doors, the slats of wood and also the gap at the bottom and the top - might just as well have tried on in the middle of the shop! The communal ones are also vile. I'm blushing with horror, I thought all of the boys were boyfriends of girls getting changed. I was dead jealous. But it was you and your mates walking slowly through!

It is Coast now. The shop wasn't the door-less unit called 'I'll Leave It'? Jeffs used to be on the top floor I think, were you a tomboy who wore boys clothes! I know I had some boys sta-prest from there in a two tone greeny colour and a Ben Sherman shirt - this was during my very brief skinhead (clothes only) phase which was also put an early stop to by my long suffering parents! Do you remember 'Campus' on Victoria Street? Opposite Jesse Boots old place which used to be the Victoria Club.

I also had some purple loons which I was spotted in the Market Square during my hippy moment wearing with a cow bell round my neck! I had no shoes on - yuk. Mine came from 'Trend' in Jessops, Mother bought them for me as she deemed them as sensible. Cow bells on strings were a popular item sold at Goose Fair that year so I decided to wear mine with my loons, I had just been into Selectadisc and was carrying a bag with Wishbones Ashes latest. I'd seen them at the Boat/Britt/Union. When I got home that night the cow bell was removed and chucked in the bin by my Father - I looked a right twit.

Thank you for your ferreting Cliff Ton! What is all the rubbish on the front? I remember the name of the boutique on Goldsmith St next door to Paraphernalia, it was Grapevine. I'm really hoping someone remembers them so I didn't think I had a fashion related dream from the 70's! Trouble with a lot of these independent fashion shops is they were here today.....gone tomorrow.

The clothes were often made in the back of Birdcage in the early days, and boutique was indeed a new fangled word to describe a ladies clothes shop that was 'trendy'. I forced my poor Mother to buy me a confirmation dress from Birdcage - 'Its white - whats your problem Mum?', I was 15 and horrified that she was insisting I got confirmed! I didn't want to shop in anything that wasn't called a boutique because that was where my Mother would shop! I was a right little madam! Jeanettes on King St was very popular for your 'drawers', my Mother would go to Johnstones or the very wonderful 'Phone-a-

Yes, It was where TK Maxx is now - upstairs, very glamourous and stylish! Ms Aston indeed couldn't do sums and her shop didn't last too long so possibly there was a link there! When she opened it lots of press turned up, I was lurking at the back trying to get noticed in my Chelsea Girl outfit and platforms from Dolcis. I do remember Madcap - thanks for that hippo girl, and also Ralph's the fur shop opposite The Bentinck. All of my memories of the 70's are boutique related! I used to parade myself in The Babel on Huntingdon street with a Cinzano and lemonade thinking I was totally fabulous,

I'll Leave It had a woman who worked in there with a curly perm dyed green! She also worked Mansfield Market. I too remember Mates, and also Wakefields but does anyone have any recollection of Anne Aston which was on the parade of shops opposite the clock tower side of the Vic Centre. Her boutique was upstairs and had lots of glass panels. I had a Jeff Banks 3 piece suit from there and various other bits and bobs. The Tokenhouse used to be up Tokenhouse Yard (I think) off Bridlesmith Gate. I remember the lovely owner sitting with her hand sewing machine making little things to sell. The

I think The Jam were one of the last bands to play as the sign stayed up for months after the place had closed down.

At the bottom end of Goldsmith street (now the stage door) were 2 boutiques. One was called Paraphernalia, and the other was called something beginning with G. They were unique little shops with lovely window displays. Does anyone remember Razzamatazz on Trent Bridge which is now a vacant lettings shop? Also Image which is now Savills round the corner from Bridlesmith Gate? I bought Ossie Clarke and Radley dresses from downstairs in Image. Bus Stop on The Poultry and Chelsea Girl all took most of my spending money! There was also a cafe called The Rainbow on Chapel Bar? It was a very