Spice Up Your Life!

The 1990s. Yes, I'm going there, but to one place in particular-- the posh, sporty, scary and girl power filled place known as SPICE WORLD. One of my biggest aspirations as an eight year old was to become a spice girl or to just somehow transform into an existing one (Baby Spice, was my personal fave). In the late 90s, my parents took us on a trip to London that I could never forget. Throughout this vacation I was actively looking for the Spice Girls hoping they'd magically turn up or we'd "coincidentally" bump into them. I didn't end up meeting any of them, but I was close enough. At the time of their peak, the Spice Girls were EVERYWHERE in London. There were Spice Girls postcards, bubble gum, lollipops, books, etc. I had such a wonderful time there that over ten years later I returned.

And today I remembered what it was that made me want to come back to London-- the fashion. During the 90s it was Spice Girl fashion. And even today, a decade later, their iconic looks are seen on today's pop stars. Even their feminist message- girl power, has inspired the music and styles of Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Rihanna and more.

Melanie Brown's Big Curly Hair

Before Scary Spice you would rarely ever see girls rockin' the big curly hair. Today it's turning into a bit of a trend. Both Beyonce and Rihanna frequently don the curly do. I appreciate women who wear big curly hair instead of straightening it. Today the look is considered verrry sexy rather than Melanie B "scary". I dig it.

Gerri Halliwell's Iconic Union Jack dress

Ginger Spice's union jack (just barley a) dress hit iconic status and is considered a symbol of 90s pop culture. The dress was sold at a charity auction and was bought for £41,320 by The Hard Rock Cafe making it the most expensive piece of pop star clothing to ever be sold.

Emma Bunton's Pigtails

Pigtails aren't exactly a trend that Baby Spice started, but it is a trend that she popularized in the 90s. I can vouch for that. I was one of the many girls who tried to look like Baby Spice by wearing pigtails, dresses and platform sneakers (still wish I owned platform sneakers). Today Lady Gaga has been rockin' pigtails for Mugler quite often. Is she bringing them back?

Victoria Beckham, The Fashion Icon

Today Posh Spice, now known by her real name, Victoria Beckham, is considered a modern day fashion icon. Even when she was a spice girl she was considered the best dressed. Her popularity as a stylish pop star in the 90s lead to being on numerous best dressed lists, a book deal, magazine covers and now even her own clothing line.

GIRL POWER

"Girl Power" was a phrase often used by the Spice Girls referring to the feminist empowerment that the group held. It was definitely not something that they had introduced, Madonna promoted a similar movement beforehand, but the Spice Girls version was distinctive. Their message appealed to all females from young girls to adults, and emphasized an importance on female relationships. Like Madonna, the Spice Girls have inspired similar feminist messages heard through the music of Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Rihanna and the like.