Shell suit voted 'worst fashion item of past 50 years'

London, June 7 (ANI): The shell suit, which was famously sported by the late Sir Jimmy Savile and was once a wardrobe staple for many Brits, has now been voted the worst fashion item of the past 50 years.

Based on the track suit, the brightly coloured polyester trouser and jacket outfits soared in popularity during the 1980s and early nineties.

But the nation's love affair with the suits was short-lived and it quickly fell out of favour. When it became the outfit of choice for comedy characters like Sacha Baron Cohen's Ali G, it was clear the shell suit had become the ultimate fashion faux pas. ow it has been officially named the worst fashion item by a study carried out by online retailer isme.com.

They asked 2,000 women over 50 to name their best and worst items of clothing since the 1960s. An overwhelming 91 percent of those surveyed said they thought the shell suit was the worst, followed by the Spandex mini skirt, at 88 percent and dungarees at 73 percent.

Other styles popular in the Eighties were also given the thumbs down with the jumpsuit, 68 percent, and shoulder pads, 62 percent, the next most regrettable trends.

The little black dress was voted the most classic item by 91 percent. And although the Spandex mini-skirt was unpopular, the traditional mini-skirt was voted a favourite by 79 percent.

The Wonderbra also made the top five, voted by 75 percent, as well as the maxi dress, 71 percent, and ballet pumps, 70 percent.

Designer Mary Quant, inventor of the miniskirt, was also revealed as the women whose style has been most imitated over the years - with 40 percent.

She was followed by Princess Diana, 33 percent, Twiggy, 29 percent, and Farrah Fawcett, 25 percent.

Debbie Harry, Lulu, Helen Mirren, Joanna Lumley, Diana Rigg and Joan Collins also made the top ten.

"1965 for many was the starting point for young women to express themselves," the Daily Mail quoted Jackie Lewis, from isme.com's 50-plus brand Savoir, as saying.

"They dressed like the stars and spawned a national fascination about the latest trends that has gone through the decades to the present day.

"Most of these women will have grown up kids of their own now, but having lived through flower power, punk and shoulder pads they know what works and nothing can surprise them," she added. (ANI)