Miss 19 has just returned from a month in England and Italy, so I interrogated her to find out just what the latest styles are – and what they are wearing in Europe right now.
Middle Aged Mama (MAM): What are the fashion or style trends you noticed while you were in Europe?
Miss 19: EVERYONE wore Adidas-branded stuff. Boys and girls, the logo was literally everywhere. Especially shoes and jackets. No one wore Vans, those shoes which are hugely popular here (Maybe in her age group. Not so much in mine!). That was the biggest thing I noticed.
MAM: I haven’t worn Adidas since high school, I was so proud of my sports shoes with the three stripes!
What about puffer jackets – remember I told you how I saw heaps when I was in Europe a year ago?
Miss 19: Yes! The quilted type ones which I think are hideous.
MAM: They’re not that bad! I quite like the ones that have a bit of a metallic shimmer. Mind you I don’t think they would suit me – I’d look like a Michelin man! Was it just tourists wearing them do you think?
Miss 19: No definitely not, heaps of the people (family) I met in England wore them.
MAM: What colours did you see lots of?
Miss 19: I didn’t really notice what colours were in.
I did see a lot of boyfriend jeans, as well as those jeans that aren’t long enough for your legs – with no socks.
MAM: Yuk. I hate that look. Anything else?
Miss 19: Black. Scarves. Jeans. Anoraks. Mostly their fashion seemed pretty close to ours.
MAM: So what did middle aged women like me wear?
Miss 19: I don’t know … you should have asked me this stuff before I left so I could take notes!
MAM: Sorry, only just though of it! (Dammit!)
So there you have it ladies, your fashion report straight from the horse’s Miss 19’s mouth – all the latest styles from the streets of Europe.
When was the last time you wore Adidas anything? And do you think puffer jackets will take off here this Winter?
Jody at Six Little Hearts says
I still have an Adidas jacket from the ’90’s. Glad to hear it’s still ‘in!’
Glad to hear anoraks are the go too. I can’t get through winter without my fave anorak to hide under.
Now I just need to get to Europe to catch up with your 19 year old who is having a far more exciting life than myself!
Janet Camilleri says
Don’t worry Jody, I was 48 before I got my first trip to Europe!!!
Natalie @ our parallel connection says
Lol I feel like I am talking to my teenage daughter
Janet Camilleri says
Good to know I captured it well! 😉
Vanessa says
I think Addidas was “in” last time I lived in the UK! Though I thought it had a bit of a chav attitude to it…maybe the brand has changed since then…
Janet Camilleri says
“Chav”? I’ve heard of “minging” or “minger” but what does “chav” mean – something similar?!
Tracy says
Those puffy jackets are hideous! However I think they are super warm as they are filled with down. There has to be some reason why they wear them!!??
As for adidas, it’s huge with the Italian population in Adelaide too (who knows why!).
And I agree with Miss 19, you should have given her a list of things to take notes on before she left!!!
Janet Camilleri says
They look really warm, but are best left to stick thin 19 year olds and celebrities I think!
Nicole @ The Builder's Wife says
Ha ha ha, had the same conversation with my daughter not so long ago.
Janet Camilleri says
What would we do without our girls to keep us hip and full of swag?!
Kylie Purtell says
I’ve never worn Adidas anything! When I was a kid I wanted to but now I just don’t care about brands at all. Hopefully I can instil this aversion to brands in to my girls, but I think that might be a fight I’ll lose as they get older and especially once they hit high school!
#teamIBOT
Janet Camilleri says
I’m with you Kylie – brand names are over-rated.
Renee Wilson says
Lol. I love being a fly on the wall in your conversation. When we lived in the UK back in 2003 – 2005, we noticed a lot of Adidas tracksuits. They must be comfy 😉
Janet Camilleri says
Hmmm so definitely not a recent phenomenon.
Vicki @ Knocked Up & Abroad says
I’m not so sure If I’m liking the sound of the current European style. Adidas and quilted jackets don’t do it for me. I’d like to think the fashion is very chic and on trend… I’ll keep living that fantasy in my head! How lucky is your daughter getting to spend time over there? Jealo as x
Janet Camilleri says
Maybe she just hung out in tourist areas, so this post might be more accurately called “What TOURISTS are wearing in Europe”. And let’s face it, tourists aren’t usually known for their style sense …
Bec @ The Plumbette says
I don’t own anything adidas and it’s too hot to wear a puffer jacket although I do own a few for when I travel down south in winter.
Janet Camilleri says
They do look very snug and warm!
Alix @ thebuilderette says
It would have to be very cold indeed for me to wear a puffy jacket – I don’t need to look any larger than I already am. Comfort be damned!
Janet Camilleri says
Lucky us, I don’t think our winters are anywhere near as cold so we don’t need to wear them!
Jodi Gibson says
The puffer jacket – nòoòoooooo!
Janet Camilleri says
Reminds me of the bulky quilted and waterproof parkas we used to wear in the 70s!
EssentiallyJess says
Puffer vests aren’t bad, depending on the style, but no to the jackets.
Also Vans are way cooler than Adidas. Europe is just backward. 😉
Janet Camilleri says
Miss 19 definitely agrees with you on the Vans!
Deborah says
Did you see some mummy they found recently with something on its feet that resembled the three adidas stripes?
PS. I’ve always been more of a Nike girl! 🙂
Janet Camilleri says
I know – how funny (strange not LOL) was that!
Rachel says
I’m English and live in Germany which I would say qualifies me as being European. I am desperate for a pair of real leather Adidas shoes but I can’t find them anywhere, while my daughter (age 13) talks about Vans all the time and rolls her eyes when I don’t know what she’s talking about.
And yes, there are too many puffy jackets about, it looks like an invasion of Michelin people (actually 99% Michelin women at a guess). They look ridiculous in Europe, too.
Janet Camilleri says
LOL thanks for letting us know what a real European thinks of the current stylings!
kit@lifethroughthehaze says
I can imagine my girls having that conversation with me with an incredible about of eye rolling and huffing.
Ok off to buy some adidas shoes and a puffer jacket!
Janet Camilleri says
We actually had this conversation via text so I didn’t see the actual eye rolls 😉