Ever wish your life was like a 90s teen movie? A celebration of everything great about the decade of cinema, Beyond Clueless is a documentary like no other. Getting to the heart of boys, bleachers and pep rallies, the 2015 movie has made waves across independent cinema and looks set to continue it’s success having hit Netflix very recently.  It’s crowning moment? The soundtrack. We caught up with Elizabeth Sankey of nostalgia-loving duo Summer Camp, a band whose score brings the film to life…

Hi Elizabeth! Firstly, how did the job with Beyond Clueless come about? I understand you’ve been friends with director Charlie Lyne for quite some time…

Hey!  Yes we’ve known Charlie for years I used to try to get him to write for an online magazine I edited years ago, but he was already doing his own thing and being much better than anyone else.  Then we ended up living round the corner from each other and becoming proper real life friends. Jeremy (Elizabeth’s bandmate) and I both love him very much.

How have the 90s influenced your day-to-day music making in summer camp? What music were you listening to in the 90s?

In the 90s I think I was listening to whatever the bus driver chose to play on the school coach I had to ride for two hours a day.  There are a lot of pop songs from that period I hate but know all the lyrics too.  I loved Blur more than anything in the world, still do really.  As for influencing our music, I’m a very nostalgic person and I love looking at things from the past for inspiration.  Especially films and TV shows.  It’s the wonderful thing of those worlds looking like something you lived through and knew, but at the same time it’s total fantasy.  Also the fashion was so dope then.

If you could be any 90s character yourself, who would you be?

I think I would like to be a cross between Rayanne Graff and Angela Chase and Jeremy would be a cross between Jordan Catalano and Brian Krakow.

Let’s talk fashion. You’ve created quite a name for yourself online for recreating famous outfits from decades past – who’s been the most fun to dress up as?

I loved every single dress up!  I always wanted to be an actress, and I’ve always been into clothes, so it’s kind of the perfect combination of that.  I liked dressing Jeremy up as Duckie from ‘Pretty In Pink’ as I think Duckie looked so incredible and I got to give Jeremy a quiff.  Dressing up as a character from ‘The Craft’ was also really fun, wearing black lipstick and a nose ring.  I like how different clothes make you feel different, I find it quite therapeutic to put something on and feel very much myself, but in a new way.  It’s deep.

What tips would you give people when looking to dress in full vintage, without ending up looking like they’re in fancy dress?

Oh man, in my 20s I only wore vintage, and it’s totally do-able but you have to commit.  I always find looking at photos of people, or characters in films and TV, really helpful.  Picking someone who looks a bit like you and is the same size and shape.  Then you can sort of piece together outfits based on that.  You won’t find exact copies obviously, but you can get the jist of it.  Also invest your money in good coats and jackets and get them dry cleaned.  You’ll wear them again the next year and they can just make the whole outfit feel special.  Also, pick fabrics like cotton, suede and denim that last longer, and look for details like embroidery. I’m so into embroidery at the moment. I also recommend getting good with a sewing machine. I used to buy loads of maxi dresses and turn them mini and so on.  And you can buy stuff that is too big for you and then take it in.

Where do you normally shop for your clothing?

I do all my shopping online these days.  I work from home so I’m always in and can get things delivered.  Plus I’m not a fan of changing rooms, I like to try stuff on in my own house.  However, when it comes to vintage I can spend hours in a shop rifling through everything, it’s always good on tour to look at the different shops and I have to say, Manchester is one of the best cities in the world for vintage.

So back to movie – why should people go watch it?

Beyond Clueless is smart, funny, beautiful and sexy – it’s the best teen film I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen them all. There are very exciting things planned for the film in the future but they’re all secret…

For more information on Beyond Clueless, check out their website here. To see what Elizabeth picked up when she came to our kilo sale, visit her blog here