With the runways awash with many a homage to the 1980s and Instagram jam-packed with scrunchies, banana clips and pair upon pair of high-waist acid-washed jeans, it seems no trend from the 1980s, 1990s or 2000s is too small, too awful or, indeed, too unflattering to be revived.
Mom jeans, which do absolutely no one any favours, seem to be clinging on for dear life in autumn / winter collections, while patchwork, that 1970s staple, has been cropping up on jeans, jumpsuits and jackets alike.
While those revival battles have been sadly lost, the larger style war wages on. Here are seven trends we hope don't get the do-over treatment…
1. Streaky highlights
Spice Girl Geri Halliwell was one of the biggest perpetrators of this crime, which leaves you looking less like you went to the hairdresser and more like you laid in the middle of the street and waited for a road line painter to drive haphazardly over your hair. The chunky highlights did threaten to make a comeback late last year, but luckily, the style became synonymous with the dreaded Karen and her "Can I speak to the manager" hair, which put paid to its attempts to go full-blown.
2. MC Hammer pants
You can call them harem pants or parachute pants all you like, but they will forever be MC Hammer pants. With zero disrespect to the man who created one of the most enduring bops of all time, ultimately his trousers of choice were not what you'd call flattering. Don't get me wrong, they were perfect for performing in onstage thanks to all that wiggle room for his signature ants-in-your-pants dance, but it's just not a good look for the rest of us.
3. Men tying jumpers round their necks
This style, which arguably says "preppy by day, budding psychopath by night" was beloved of 1980s teenage movie villains, the kind who would crush your face into your locker and say stuff like: "Get out of my way, loser, before my big-shot father buys this school and turns it into my personal hot tub. Come on, Chad, let's get fondue." As a look, it's a lot less casual than you'd think. Merely one black ball at the country club away from going full-on Patrick Bateman.
4. Juicy Couture tracksuits
Bonus points for going a size or three smaller for that "And here is my midriff" vibe, the Juicy Couture tracksuit was the athleisure of choice for hot young Hollywood, when hot young Hollywood was actually fun, circa the late 1990s. Paris, Nicole, Britney, Lindsay, J-Lo… everyone who is still vaguely someone wore them. Popular colours included pink, yellow, white and baby blue, each unfeasibly teamed with expensive handbags and trucker caps. Never again, please.
5. Mullets
When you're so busy growing a mullet that you manage to lose Liam Hemsworth, then it's time to look at your life choices, Miley Cyrus. The mullet, all business upfront and party at the back, has been on the periphery of comeback hairstyles, threatening to go mainstream for a while now, but never quite getting there. And for that we can heave a collective sigh of relief.
6. Power suits
The ironic thing about this 1980s staple, was that it was arguably unempowering, with its uncomfortable shoulder pads, rigid form and sharp, unforgiving cut. Even Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson would struggle to look and feel powerful in that.
Championed by designers such as Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, Anne Klein and Donna Karan, and finding cinematic fame in the 1988 film Working Girl, the skirt (or trousers) and jacket combo was meant to make everyone sit up and take notice when the wearer walked into the boardroom. We'd rather wear a big hat or bold colours, to be honest - anything that doesn't require shoulder pads.
7. Perms
Be afraid, be very afraid, because the male perm is back. This time, however, it's been dubbed the Cherubim cut, and has been spotted on the heads of Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, Troye Sivan and V from BTS. Anyone interested in trying the style should note that this is lockdown hair grown out a little and not, we repeat not, Bradley Cooper in American Hustle.
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HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
I Care A Lot
Directed by: J Blakeson
Starring: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage
3/5 stars
Asia Cup 2018 final
Who: India v Bangladesh
When: Friday, 3.30pm, Dubai International Stadium
Watch: Live on OSN Cricket HD
Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh875,000
On sale: now
Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
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Ibrahim's play list
Completed an electrical diploma at the Adnoc Technical Institute
Works as a public relations officer with Adnoc
Apart from the piano, he plays the accordion, oud and guitar
His favourite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach
Also enjoys listening to Mozart
Likes all genres of music including Arabic music and jazz
Enjoys rock groups Scorpions and Metallica
Other musicians he likes are Syrian-American pianist Malek Jandali and Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou Khalil
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE