We're into December and I'm SO thrilled to see more Christmas party looks coming out of the wardrobe and hitting the streets of Manchester. Give me all the sequins, the sparkle, and the Christmassy colour palettes.
The markets - although never exactly quiet - are getting busier as December 25 creeps closer, with shoppers and day-trippers enjoying a mulled wine or Bailey's hot chocolate between browsing the stalls and bagging gifts in the Arndale.
This week, we headed down to Exchange Square to see who was wearing the best winter outfits and spotted some stunning fits, including some incredible sequin trousers from M&S that are the ultimate partywear piece.
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I've very much been enjoying people using their coats as a statement, with big long jackets offering both style and practicality, with many opting for fun accessories to keep warm, including bargain Zara scarves and lilac knitted hats.
This time of year always inspires me to get out all the velvet and sparkles I own, and when I asked shoppers where they get their inspiration, they told me that they're looking to celebrities like Trinny, Michelle Keegan and blogger Anine Bing. Had I have popped down on Thursday, I might have even bumped into Molly Mae, who has often been cited as a style icon for young women.
If you're ready to get into the festive spirit but aren't quite sure what to wear to your next December event - or even to the markets - the latest installment of Steal Their Style may just help. Let's get into it.
Amanda Spencer
St Helens Christmas shopper Amanda loves a spot of leopard print with every outfit, and accessorised her festive look with an M&S printed scarf. The 52-year-old said: “I love animal print, I even have a leopard coat. I always have at least one leopard print thing on me.”
Amanda wore a pair of Dr Martens with a Next coat and some thick M&S jeggings under a dress to keep warm in the cold weather.
She added that she enjoys Trinny’s style, and loves to shop in high street retailers like M&S and Zara.
Amanda added: “I like Trinny, she’s very slim though. I do watch her on social media, she’s very good at it. I like a good high street shop, I like the prices as they’re very affordable for the quality. I got a lovely leather shirt dress from M&S and we’ve popped into Zara today too, they’ve got some lovely stuff in.”
Chemonie Alexandra Atkinson
Lancaster lass Chemonie, aged 35, looked lovely in a leopard print pinafore dress from H&M, and nodded to Salford's own Michelle Keegan as her style icon.
Having originally come out in a different pair of boots, Chemonie purchased a £20 pair of boots from Primark on Market Street that day and swapped her old pair out, as the Primark version ‘looked better’.
She added: “I came out in some shiny boots but I wanted some new ones and swapped them today as I think these ones looked better. I’ll definitely get my wear out of them.
“I like Michelle Keegan, she’s my favourite at the moment. I love her in Brassic, it’s really good. She’s very good at doing comfy with a bit of chic.”
Chemonie also enjoys an accessory like a good hat, or a pair of boots. She added: “I’ve got quite a few hats and scarves to change up my outfits without spending a fortune.”
Lauren Bauer and Amie Kingston
Best friends Lauren and Amie were out with a group of girls who all went to school together, having a fun, festive day out at the Christmas markets. The 32-year-olds, from Manchester, looked glam in their heeled boots and smart coats as they dolled up for the day out.
Lauren admitted she gets a lot of her style inspiration from Amie, and even raids her wardrobe for things to wear. In fact, her coat was one borrowed from Amie’s wardrobe - although originally from Zara.
She said: “I look at Instagram a lot for style inspiration or just copy everything that Amie wears. We always steal Amie’s clothes because she has the best wardrobe.”
She styled Amie’s coat with a jumper from H&M purchased in the Black Friday sales, with some leather trousers from Zara and Mango boots, as well as a woolly hat from M&S.
She joked: “My wardrobe is excessive - I have a lot of clothes. It’s a floor to ceiling wall to wall wardrobe and my husband has a tiny bit at the end.
“Coats aren't included in there either. I’m a bit of a hoarder and never get rid of things. I’ve been told I can only have a coat for Christmas if I get rid of two.”
Meanwhile, Amie also wore a Zara coat, with a jumper and skirt from & Other Stories. Her friends describe her style as ‘a bit extra’, with them often borrowing her outfits for nights out and events.
Amie added: “My boots are from Zara and they were around £60, then my bag is Anine Bing. She’s one of my style icons, her and Olivia Palermo.”
Amie’s friends described her wardrobe as ‘Extravagant and extra, glittery and colourful’.
One commented: “She always out-dresses everyone. If we go on a night out we all go straight to Amie’s wardrobe. She’s always got the feathers and the sparkles. We did a tennis whites party recently and Amie turned up in this stunning backless white gown - she’s so extra.”
Siann Cousins
With an outfit that totally embodies everything that’s fantastic about Christmas was Siann Cousins, from Belfast, enjoying a hot chocolate from Clarke’s Bar in Exchange Square.
The 37-year-old said she loves the Bailey’s hot chocolates and espresso martinis, and had been enjoying her long weekend over in Manchester.
Siann doesn’t often buy new, but when she does, she likes to make sure it’s versatile and wearable to be in keeping with her sustainable wardrobe.
She said: “My sparkly trousers are from M&S and cost £35 new. I don't really like buying new, especially sequins, so I know I need to get my wear out of these. I know I can dress them up and dress them down and it’s made me feel very Christmassy.
“My trainers are TK Maxx and cost £15, the top was £30 from Stradivarius and the coat absolutely ancient from a clearance store. I love bargains and second-hand clothes, I’m always on Vinted looking for slow fashion.
“I don't dress up too much so if I do buy dressy pieces I need to be able to dress them down. I’d say my wardrobe is fun, colourful and a mix of old and new. Everything is well worn and well loved. You can still have fun with a sustainable wardrobe.”
Charlotte Allsopp
Finally, we have the lovely Charlotte who was enjoying a day at the markets before heading to Band on the Wall for a concert. The 27-year-old, who lives in Sheffield, talked me through her outfit that would need to take her seamlessly from day to night.
She said: “My Dr Martens were a Christmas present and the dress is French Connection which I got in the sale for £50. The scarf is Zara, which I got in TK Maxx for no more than £12, and the coat is really old, but that was also from Zara.
“Today I had to go for an outfit I could wear all day, looking a bit dressy but not too much. I really like some musicians for style inspiration, like Greentea Peng and Erykah Badu.”
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