Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Charlotte Hadfield

Desperate Scousewives: the show that encapsulated an era of Scouse girl style

Gold sequined skater dresses, stilettos and a curly blow.

These were just some of the looks that were inspired by the stars of Desperate Scousewives, after the show hit our screens in November 2011.

Despite the ill-fate of the reality series, which was scrapped after just eight episodes, the Liverpool stars led the way when it came to the latest fashion trends.

READ MORE: Travel advice for anyone flying to France, Greece, Italy, Portugal Spain and Cyprus

Looking back at photos of the stars when the show first aired in 2011, big hair, sequins and skater dresses were commonplace.

Although some of these styles may have fallen out of fashion since then, the show once encapsulated the trends of the time.

Amanda Harrington arrives for the MOBO Awards 2010 at the Echo Arena (Getty Images)

When Desperate Scousewives first aired in 2011, similar scripted reality shows, like The Only Way is Essex, Made in Chelsea and Geordie Shore were enjoying phenomenal success.

The E4 show initially pulled in positive viewing figures but ratings soon plummeted which lead to any future episodes being cancelled.

Since then, many of the stars have decided to focus their attentions on the fashion industry by launching their own businesses.

Model and former ECHO columnist Amanda Harrington was the highest profile star of the scripted reality series.

After the show was cancelled, Amanda, and sisters Debbie and Gill O'Toole, launched an online fashion website, Scouse Boutique.

The boutique championed the looks of the early 2010's, which were characterised by glitz and glamour, from bold colours to sequins and plunging necklines.

Photos of Amanda and Gillian on the red carpet at the premiere of the James Bond film Skyfall in Birmingham in 2012, also show some key trends of the time.

The pair both opted fluorescent pink outfits, with Amanda dressed in a sparkly peplum top and black vinyl leggings, and Gillian wearing a pink lace skater dress and black peep toe stilettos.

Amanda Harrington and Gillian O'Toole from Desperate Scousewives at the the red carpet launch Birmingham premiere of the new Bond film Skyfall starring Daniel Craig (BPM)

Today, Amanda is the owner of ZeroFat, located in Harvey Nichols, which is a lifestyle business specialising in light therapy aimed at encouraging fat burn as well as beautiful skin.

She boasts of 44.6K followers on Instagram, including Coleen Rooney and Erin Borini, and recently opened up about her time on Desperate Scousewives in a Q&A with her followers.

Asked whether she'd ever do another reality television series, Amanda said: "To be honest, I was a young single mother who took an opportunity to try and better my life.

"It didn't do me any harm but it was scripted and totally false. And they made us play up to characters that we weren't.

"They promised us the world and that series two we could be ourselves then series two never happened so it left a sour taste in my mouth.

"I would never do reality TV again. I'm in a good place now with a good life and a good business. I don't feel the need to put myself in that position ever again."

Other stars of the show similarly went on to swap TV for a career in fashion, including swimwear model and former Miss Liverpool Debbie O’Toole.

Debbie O'Toole attends Essex Fashion Week in April 2012 (Getty Images)

In 2015, the reality star flew out to Las Vegas to represent England in the Miss Tropic Beauty bikini competition where she finished in third place out of 100 women.

Debbie also made an appearance at the 2016 Southport Fashion Show and set up a fashion business called Farasha Boutique.

T he ECHO has launched a new 56-page nostalgia supplement in print. It's packed with photos from the recent past and the not-so-recent, from shopping, fashion and music to the Albert Dock – plus an elephant on parade in Woolton. You can order a copy here.

Although as a reality show Desperate Scousewives may have been short lived, it will always be remembered for the fashion it inspired along the way.

And while these trends may have changed over the years, the pride Liverpool women take in their appearance remains the same.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.