Spice Girl Geri Halliwell championed the chunky highlights trend in the 1990s. PA Photos
Spice Girl Geri Halliwell championed the chunky highlights trend in the 1990s. PA Photos
Spice Girl Geri Halliwell championed the chunky highlights trend in the 1990s. PA Photos
Spice Girl Geri Halliwell championed the chunky highlights trend in the 1990s. PA Photos

Thank you, next: 7 fashion trends that should never ever make a comeback


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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

MC Hammer's trousers became as famous as his hit 'U Can't Touch This'. John Pyle/CSM/Alamy Live News
MC Hammer's trousers became as famous as his hit 'U Can't Touch This'. John Pyle/CSM/Alamy Live News

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.

The look worn by every preppy high school villain in every 1980s movie. Alamy
The look worn by every preppy high school villain in every 1980s movie. Alamy

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.

Paris Hilton was a huge fan of Juicy Couture. Film magic
Paris Hilton was a huge fan of Juicy Couture. Film magic

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.

Melanie Griffith wore a lot of power suits in 1998's 'Working Girl'. IMDB
Melanie Griffith wore a lot of power suits in 1998's 'Working Girl'. IMDB

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.

Bradley Cooper, showing how not to do the male perm in 'American Hustle'. Colombia Pictures
Bradley Cooper, showing how not to do the male perm in 'American Hustle'. Colombia Pictures
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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