BEING COOL WAS everything back in our schooldays, right?
No matter your clique, all kids secretly wanted to be in with the in crowd. And in order to do so, there were certain things we all wore and did.
Brace yourself for a bit of nostalgia – and a lot of cringe – as we take a trip down memory lane…
1. Gotta have it
Every school-going generation had a must-have fad item: be it a Space Hopper, Subbuteo, a Furbie, a Tamagotchi, pogs, or Soda Stream… The list goes on.
These things seemed SO essential at the time – what’s more, there was a faint sheen of exclusivity around the kids who managed to purloin them from their parents.
2. Dem bones dem bones
Crutches carried an inexplicable (but undeniable) level of cachet in school. Everyone wanted a go on them, so you were hot property for as long as your sprain lasted. See also: getting everyone to sign your cast when you broke a bone. Social goldmine.
3. On the box
In order to master the schoolyard banter, you had to be watching the right thing. And in the ’90s, that meant what was going on with Ray D’Arcy on Blackboard Jungle – or taping Zig and Zag on The Den…
4. Make your mark
Scrawled graffiti – especially declarations of love or hatred - were essential for maintaining social status. SEÁN 4 SINEÁD.
5. Shine on
There are haunting pictures in everyone’s past that reveal a horrific run-in with a blade zero razor, perm, gelled fringe or – horror of horrors – the dreaded Sun-In highlighted tips. WHAT were we thinking?
6. Accessories to the crime
Never mind the woeful hairstyles – in order to rule the school, the right accessories were crucial. This varied from year to year and from school to school, but the right school shoes and bag (bedecked with Tippex signatures) were usually key. And then there were some wildcards - these necklaces, anyone?
Moone Boy is back for its third series tonight at 9pm, only on Sky 1. Watch as Martin Moone, his imaginary friend Sean (played by Chris O’Dowd) and his best mate Padraic navigate growing up in 1990s rural Ireland. Get set for more adventures from becoming door-to-door salesmen and hunting for UFOs to wrangling pet donkey, Donkey Kong. Check out an exclusive clip here:
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