MY LIFE IN FASHION

Monica Cafferky, 55, reveals how certain looks bring back special memories and perhaps one or two style regrets...

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Recently I was going through my wardrobe, decluttering to make room for new purchases, and I found my old Wrangler jacket. I last wore the denim piece two years ago on holiday in Ibiza, and it was too small for me then. But the jacket has been round the world with me for the past 20 years. I've taken it to Bali, China and Hawaii, so there was no way I could get rid of it because it held far too many memories. But would I be caught dead wearing it now? Not a chance!

My jacket got me thinking about all of the fashion choices I've made over the years - the good, the bad and the regretful. Every style hit or miss tells a story about a time in my life, and as I rummaged in my wardrobe, I was transported down memory lane...

1970s

I was obsessed with flared trousers as a child. It started when I was four in 1973. I wore flares all the time, even with dresses. Everyone wore them, including teachers at primary school and I felt part of a very cool club whenever I donned mine.

Flowery dresses were also big in the 70s. In 1979 I was 10 and loved my green peasant dress, it was very Little House on the Prairie (me and all my friends watched this TV show on Sunday mornings). I remember one day, two girls at school said I looked 'wet' in my dress - they wore cut-off jeans and trainers - but their comments didn't put me off. Then I hit my teens...

1980s