I love reading stories in newspapers that make me smile.

 

True it doesn't happen very often as the news is often filled with terrible tragedy and disaster from around the world but when a lovely wee story pops up that makes you feel all happy inside or causes you to reminisce and laugh out loud it can really brighten up your day.

To be fair though, there were a few stories like that this week for example it was announced that the lovely and very talented Gary Lamont, aka Robbie from River City is joining the Evening Times family as an online columnist every Wednesday.

I've had the pleasure of working with Gary many times and he's someone I'd call a real friend so if his columns are anywhere near as wonderful as his real life banter you, my dear readers, are in for a fabulous treat.

There was also the news that Welsh songstress Charlotte Church challenged nonentity Katie Hopkins to a boxing match (I can't believe I broke my vow to never utter her name in my column but I'll make an exception for this) which I for one would pay to see, but it was actually a story I read in the Evening Times headlined, 'The fashion trends that defined your childhood in Glasgow' that really made my week.

Read: The fashion trends that defined your childhood in Glasgow

It focused on the 90's and the fashion at that time which we all remember was nothing short of awful but utterly fabulous, just think of Edina Monsoon from Abfab and you've got it.

I actually keep waiting for that era to become retro and cool like the 70s or 80s but alas it's never quite happened.

I remember absolutely loving the fashion when I was at high school and if you were a teenaged girl there were only two looks you could pull off and still be considered 'with it'.

First up was the very colourful and very feminine look.

Satin shirts, mood rings, long ankle length lycra skirts with block heel shoes complete with a short bob haircut with with a corkscrew perm or a shaved doorstep undercut layer at the back.

If that wasn't your thing you could opt for the ned but chic look.

Gone were the shellsuits of the 80s and instead we had Nike trackies with perfectly positioned white socks over the top of them.

It was a Sweater Shop Jumper/Berghaus jacket combo up top complete with gold rings on every finger.

My sister Lynsey had a sovereign and a square ring.

She also had the most beautiful hexagon gold bracelet which I wanted very badly, in fact I must ask her what happened to it.

Yes fashion was immense in the 90's especially in Glasgow.

We actually recently found a video tape of me standing in my living room, circa 1992, with a mouth full of metal thanks to the braces, wearing a green polo neck, green jumper and wait for it emerald green lycra leggings playing the violin for my family in Australia who thankfully never received that horror show of performance, even to this day I still can't listen to Dalys Polka without shuddering a little.

There was of course a downside to all of this fabulous fashion as turning up to school wearing anything short of the genuine label or brand was a fate worse than death.

Something I discovered when I had asked my parents for a pair of Timberland boots for Christmas and was instead presented with a pair of black plastic Caterpillar Boots spelled with a K.

To top it off I'd also asked for the Beatles Anthology and ended up with Meat Loaf's greatest hits so it's fair to say that as an angst teenager it was a dark Christmas Day that year in the McManus household and I wore black for a full week afterwards mourning my losses while listening to Bat out of Hell.

I think someone needs to organise a 90s themed party in Glasgow soon with hits like, "Rhythm is a Dancer," and, "Set you Free," belting out top blast.

Yes it might be time to dig out the old mood rings and brace plate.

Wishing all of the gorgeous ladies taking part in Sunday's Morrison Great Women's 10K Run in Glasgow all my love and the best of luck.

Truly sorry I can't make it to this awe inspiring event this year and I would like to give all the Brightest Star Charity runners a very special mention.

Brightest Star is a charity I can barely speak about without filling up with tears of unbelievable adoration for its founder and Jack's mum Arlene Clark and all the incredible work that she and her team have done over the past few years.

Jack's Army will be shining bright this weekend.

For more information about the charity log onto www.brighteststar.org.uk