8 Fashion Trends Every Former M’sian ‘Lala’ Used to Wear & Will Cringe At Right Now

Do you remember back in the ’90s and early 2000s when we were still young and innocent? Most of us millennials were probably in secondary school then and those were the good old days as we were all carefree with barely any responsibilities. If you look back at some of the photos from that era, one of the things that will immediately catch your attention has got to be some of our fashion choices back then.

In fact, it’s probably at times like these that you realise you might have been a little bit “lala” (also known as Ah Beng and Ah Lians in Singapore) back then with your sense of style! Simply defined, the lala style is something that was quite trendy previously and it usually features a rather flashy, gaudy appearance that is similar to various street styles in Japan back then. You can actually see lots of similarities! So, here are 8 trends that you would recognise (and probably cringe at now) if you were a former lala!

1. Lots of black, white and red

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We’re sure you have seen this style before especially if you used to hang out at places such as Sungei Wang, Sunway Pyramid (Asian Avenue is the best!), Berjaya Times Square and many more. Black and white hues were featured heavily in this style and to complete the look, just add lots of chunky accessories!

2. Big, teased hair

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Be honest, you probably had this hairstyle before or knew someone who had one! This choppy style was achieved if you had very layered hair and then you would tease or backcomb it until it looks voluminous enough before destroying the ozone layer with your hairspray.

3. Dark eye makeup

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We don’t mean the classic smokey eye look as this is something that’s on another level. You had to draw on the eyeliner as thick as you could to truly emphasise those gorgeous peepers and make it look bigger. Remember, more is more when it comes to this beauty look!

4. Big hair accessories

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Almost any lala can tell you that the quintessential accessory that any self-respecting fashionista must have back in those days is a big hair accessory. In fact, the more eye-catching, sparkly and colourful the accessory is, the better! Usually, the accessory comes in the form of a headband with a big ribbon or a hair clip that must be placed prominently right at your fringe.

5. Those spiky hairstyles for men that you thought was oh-so-cool

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Yes, you know which ones we’re talking about! There was the spiky hairstyle that would get you in trouble with the guru disiplin in your school and this trend later evolved to the one with a long fringe in front and some spikes thrown in. Otherwise, your hair was probably really long with a few highlights to make it look even more outstanding.

6. Popped collars

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Remember back then when popped collars were all the rage and if you were wearing a polo shirt it would practically be a crime if you didn’t pop your collar? In fact, this trend was so popular that it seems like the more popped collars you had, the better; and sometimes, you can even see people wearing more than FIVE collared shirts at once! Wah, not hot meh?

7. Flashy pants

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Looking back, it looks like this is rather an era of self-expression as there were all sorts of outlandish pants available out there. Some had embellishments all over the pants while others came in quirky colours or had graphic patterns, making it a bold statement piece on its own.

8. The gothic/lolita style

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This style was made popular in Japan especially in Harajuku and gradually, this trend was brought over to Malaysia. For those who have more money to splurge on their clothes, they could buy the whole set complete with the dress and accessories while others would have to settle for a slightly more watered-down version! It’s essentially like cosplaying!

Of course, these are just some of the examples of the fashion trends that had us going crazy last time! There are so many other nostalgic clothing fashion mistakes we wore when we were younger that we can’t help giggling at when we look at our old photos now. Share with us your old photos in the comments section!

Also read: 11 Popular Clubs in Klang Valley M’sians Used to Party at Before They Closed Down