One thing I love about Manchester is that people aren't afraid to dish out a compliment, making it one of the friendliest cities to live, work and visit. On occasion, a passerby may comment on my jacket, or a pair of shoes, and it puts a bit of a spring in my step for the rest of the day.
For me, that's what Steal Their Style is all about, too. I stop dozens of shoppers each month to ask them about their outfit and their style identity, and sometimes, people don't even consider themselves fashionable. "Me? In this outfit? Are you sure?" is a response I hear quite often, and it really does make me smile that these people are going about town completely unaware of how fantastic they look.
I hope that in letting them know, they walk with a new-found bounce, too.
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This week, I've been chatting to the owner of Chinatown's newest vintage shop, a TV and film worker who has met the one and only Beyonce and a photographer who has papper the Gallagher brothers.
And if you want to be on top of the trends in 2023, then you need to go and buy the viral Uniqlo bag. This is the second week in a row I've stopped someone wearing one, and have seen several others sporting them in town. They really do happen to be the must-have accessory - one I've caved and purchased myself, too, and can attest to the claims it fits EVERYTHING in.
Here are this week's six most on-trend and fashionable people in the city - and how you can Steal Their Style.
Fern Deacon
Small business owner, Fern, loves anything vintage - particularly from the 70s era - and even based her store around the theme. The 24-year-old owns Stare Society in Manchester’s Chinatown, a relatively new fashion store selling vintage and one-off pieces.
Fern cites musicians like Fleetwood Mac and glam rock icons like David Bowie as her inspiration, and has been collecting vintage for the last six years.
One of her most prized possessions is her leopard print Biba coat, which she paid nearly £100 for.
She added: “I love this Biba jacket, I love leopard print - but it has to be quite a specific kind of leopard print. I am also wearing a velvet shirt from Urban Outfitters, and the velvet trousers I’ve had for ages. They aren’t part of a set, but they go really well together.
“Then these are my black Converse that I live in. My hat is from the shop, Stare Society, and the necklace was passed down to me by my nan.”
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Caitlin Jones
Ska fan Caitlin was celebrating turning 18 in Manchester. The teenager, from Wrexham, donned a pair of white Dr Martens with fishnet tights and a Fred Perry Amy Winehouse foundation dress, which she bagged for £35 in the sale.
She said: “I love anything Ska and even have a The Specials tattoo. I love Amy Winehouse and Two Tone, and it’s deep rooted links to British modern culture.
“I was raised on this kind of music and picked up this style as I got a bit older. It allows me to express myself more and it's a way of letting people know the music I enjoy through fashion.”
Christy Farrow
Christy Farrow is a sucker for a pop of colour, and even told me where to find the best jeans on the high street.
The 27-year-old, from Salford, works in the Northern Quarter and was on her lunch break wearing an ASOS coat - which cost £70 - and a £30 jumper from Zara in a vibrant green shade.
She added: “The jeans are F&F at Tesco, their jeans are the best, and my shoes are Nike.
“I’ve also got the viral Uniqlo bag, which I own in four other colours to go with every outfit, too. They fit everything in it, and they go with everything.”
When it comes to style inspiration, it’s Manchester’s own influencer Megan Ellaby that Christy loves to follow. She added: “She’s so cool. Her colourful outfits are amazing and she wears some really boxy silhouettes and they look great.”
Shirlaine Forrest
Photographer Shirlaine Forrest, who has snapped stars like the Gallagher brothers, Morrissey and Elton John, said: “Life’s too grey, throw some colour at it.”
The 49-year-old, originally from Newcastle, has lived in Altrincham for last 20 years, and says she’s mostly influenced by cartoons and film, ‘like the Powerpuff Girls and Jem and the Holograms’.
She said: “My trainers are from kids Next - they’re elastic so really comfortable. My jeans I got from a shop in the Arndale, my jumper is from Shein, the scarf is Primark and jacket is from Boohoo.”
The biggest bargain though, was her bright bag, which she got at a cat show on a bric-a-brac sale for £5.
Anne Ward
Sunderland music lover Anne had just enjoyed an Ezra and Gill brunch following a Sticky Fingers gig in the city the night before.
The 27-year-old loves a monochrome look and a capsule wardrobe in order to mix and match her pieces.
She styled a pair of Dr Martens with a H&M jumper dress and a sweater vest, also from the high street retailer. She added a black JWPEI bag, which cost £30.
She added: “I see what I like on Instagram and TikTok. I really like watching styling videos but I threw this outfit in a case panic packing last night, I'm just glad it’s not too cold so I could get my legs out.
“I usually go for monochrome looks and a capsule wardrobe so that I can mix and match. I love sales and bargain hunting, never buying something without a discount code.”
Francesca Davies-Caceras
Working in TV and film, Francesca is often brushing shoulders with the stars, and is currently working at Media City on Britain’s Got Talent. Byt the most famous person the 25-year-old Londoner has worked with has to be Queen Bey herself, Beyonce.
She met the Crazy in Love singer and husband Jay-Z when covering a premiere - and accidentally, it looks as though her outfit may have even been inspired by the singer’s upcoming Renaissance tour.
She said: “My gold metallic boots are from ASOS and cost £35. But I love them and wear them all the time.
“The coat, I call it vintage because it’s Topshop, I also have a cute little vintage Coach bag from a place in Texas - I’m really sentimental about the things I own and love remembering where I bought them and what I was doing.”
Fran also wore a H&M dress layered over a Zara blouse with an oversized collar, since she likes to ‘dress to the excess’.
She added: “This is one of the most toned down outfits I own. Life is meant to be interesting, people who don't express themselves how they want are just lame. Don't be lame to yourself - do what you want to. Be cool.”
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