Too Cool for School

That 'old school' is out and 'retro' is in, is nothing new. Every fashion spread is filled with collages of 80s style inspired looks and from high street to high fashion, everyone seems to have jumped on the bandwagon. To see it for real, however, is a different matter. Fashion editors would like to have us believe that the look on the streets is a literal translation of the latest Vogue issue, but real-life dressing generally abides by its own set of rules. Or so I thought.

Enter 'Egg' the newly launched night club in North London where the coolest of the coolest crowd dance the night away to electric beats and synth pop. No longer content with pretty dresses and sipping cocktails it would not have suprised me if someone confided they came straight from a Culture Club video shoot.

The first person I recognised was Danish born model-turned-stylist Lisa Samoto. Clad in a low-down zipped black boilersuit and stilettos, she looked every inch an electric diva. Mind you, she didn't much stand out in the crowd.

More striking were the tight black washed denim tucked in ankle-length boxing boots (for men) and harlequin off the shoulder tops teamed with iridescent tights and multicoloured heels (mostly women) that caught my eye. Add a few gloves, silk Adidas jackets, sweatbands, one eye shadowed and pirate hats and the story starts to unfold. That the dj was wearing an emerald prom dress with sleeves puffed like watermelons didn't amuse as much as the boy wearing a cut-off mini with ripped fishnets and converse trainers.

Still, I hadn't made the trip to see the new fashion force come out en masse. It was the music that interested me. Hosted by Outland Recordings, the uber cool dance label, live bands played electro-clash until the early morning hours. Whether it is the music that is inspiring the fashion or vice versa, the retro vibe is filling the air and the look is set to dominate the summer.