RIP nu rave

Remember the days when every gig/club you went to was full of people decked out in Day Glo leg warmers, UV face paint and glowsticks? And if the night was above average, people would be shouting 'oh my god, this is just like a rave!'? Well, yes, just "like" a rave in controlled surroundings. Just like a rave without the three hour drive around the Peak District looking for the right field, following the directions given in a vague text message. And without the gurning, middle-aged pillheads, mangy dogs on bits of string and people shitting in a ditch.
Anyway. I'd almost forgotten about nu rave (or is that new rave?). That Klaxons album was so long ago. And all those other nu rave bands, like... Shitdisco... and... New Young Pony Club. When the trend officially began to decline I do not know, but if you take a look at the pictured shop window, I'm sure you'll agree that nu rave is definitely dead. I took the photo earlier today through the window of a shop called Price Mark. It's a bit like Primark, but further down the discount clothing hierarchy. A bit like nu rave has filtered down the pop culture hierarchy from a cool, alternative 'youth movement' to an excuse to hawk neon polyester tat.

Shiny shorts

Many people arrive on this site by typing words like 'shiny shorts' into search engines. Many, many people. See? I know what you're up to.
Well, the public gets what the public wants. I noticed another music video that includes shiny shorts. This time, there are shiny boob tubes too. Bonus! Voilá , it's Divine by Sebastien Tellier.

I previously noted that lamé clothes add some jazzmatazz to otherwise dull songs. But Divine is a song so amazing that it doesn't need the American Apparel effect. Sebastien hasn't even noticed there are two funereal ladies behind him in top hats and Bacofoil.

Trendspotting: Fairisle hats

This winter, you may have noticed there's a lot of people wearing knitted hats. The ones with ear flaps and tassles. You know what I mean, although I can't decide on a name for them. Knitted deerstalker? Fairisle bobble hat with the bobble? Head cosy-ing device? Anyway. I'm wearing one right now. (Edit - No, I'm not.) Hadley Freeman tackles this in today's G2. Hadley believes this trend is emanating from market stalls in Camden and that Amy Winehouse is implicated. Camden Town, yes. But Amy Winehouse? No. The culprit for this trend is actually Dappy from N-Dubz (him on the left). And maybe a little bit of Fonejacker.

You might not have noticed, but N-Dubz are very popular in the UK. Platinum-selling debut album popular. The UK grime/hip hop market is a niche, but a large niche. It's not a niche I know much about, so I'll be quiet. However, I did want half an hour of Channel U once. At my sister's house.

I wore one of these knitted hats throughout last winter, but back in those bleak days people would rudely point and laugh at such kooky headgear. Now we're in 2009 and everybody has caught up with me. They've realised it's practical and whimsical, especially if you follow Dappy's example and elevate the ear flaps. But now Topman is full of them. Fashion, eh?

My new favourite hat (ergo the hat trend for next winter) is pictured below. It's more of a hat/scarf combo. My parents bought it in Tallinn, probably on a market stall similar to one in Camden. It's like a knitted Dickensian nightcap featuring frisky stallions. If Dappy doesn't start wearing one of these by the end of February I will be very disappointed.