Before we were the flawless success stories that you see before you, team Debrief liked to party. And nothing says party like low slung jeans and spaghetti straps and foam sandals and body jewellery and hair mascara and polyester. 2001, lock up your sons and daughters…
Rebecca Holman, Editor
Polyester ribbed black boot cut trousers
Matching crop top
White plastic sandals I’d decorated with glittery nail polish
Millions of those butterfly flower clips on my head
That is all
Chemmie Squier, Features & Beauty Writer
The first time I ever went 'clubbing' I was 15. Natch I chose a tight white smock top with a blue floral print that tied under the bust to, you know, enhance my really womanly figure (not). This was essential because I was using my brother's girlfriend's ID. And she was 21. Go figure. Pared with some classic blue jeans (probably slightly flared), flat pumps (an essential) and some dangly earrings that were like big silver plates, by some miracle I got in and wasn't even chucked out. I went for 'understated' (read: middle aged woman) on my first ever night out and it totally paid off.
From there I got a bit more daring – usually an A-line skirt, some kind of vest top, a nice big stretchy waist belt to cinch it all in and maybe a heeled ankle boot if I was feeling particularly fruity.
Jess Commons, Deputy Editor
Bootcut jeans with the top ripped off so my 'horny devil' red thong hung out. Then one of those bandana triangle tops (ah to be a teenage size 8 again) Poker straight blonde hair, Nivea pearl lip balm and massive silver hoops.
Oh let's not forget about my friend's too small leopard print stilettos that I borrowed. 'Streetwalker chic' I like to call it.
Ps I was 16 and a virgin.
Stevie Martin, Staff Writer
My go-to clubbing outfit (I used to go to 'Banned Night’ at Winnington Recreational Centre) was a purple snakeskin spaghetti strap top with low-slung jeans I’d added extra flares to. Consequently, I’d have big triangles at the bottom of the flares that I’d cover with Nirvana patches (I didn’t listen to Nirvana). I wore stilettos from New Look which I can’t knock because I still wear stilettos from New Look.
Sophie Wilkinson, News Editor
An Ellesse tracksuit that I WISH I still had. It was an Ellesse Jumper with the stripes down the side, the trousers with the panel down the side (with the Ellesse logo) and Ellesse sliders. We bought them from a sports shop in a tiny town outside Glasgow on a rainy holiday where I was totally consumed with what the local Scottish girls were wearing.
And then I think the next year I did the same with a Reebok outfit - a Navy polo shirt, shorts and Blue and white reebok classics. All of this was a great and bold move and really I don't think I've put on much weight since it'd still look fantastic today.
Charlie Gowans-Eglinton, Fashion Editor
I had a navy silk (ok, not real silk) camisole top with a lacy trim that I used to wear under a black blazer – almost a suit jacket - with bootcut jeans, black Topshop stilettos with a bow on the end (these were my pride and joy) and one of those really thick eyelet-studded belts. By this point I’d stopped dying my hair blue/black in favour of a streaky gingery colour, and had discovered GHDs, so it was poker straight. I was also really keen on green metallic eyeliner to match my green chandelier earrings from accessorize.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.