It's Saturday and that means it's once again time for us to take a look at some of the city's best dressed to get your weekend off to a fun and very fashionable start. I headed into the Northern Quarter on Wednesday to stop and ask shoppers, workers, makers and shakers about their outfits for yet another vibrant edition of Steal Their Style.
It's been quite a thrift-heavy week this week, with many of the people I stopped having shopped second-hand, had clothes handed down to them, or sourced items in a charity shop. Music to Steal Their Styler Erin Thomas' ears as the owner of vintage consignment store Beg Steal and Borrow at Afflecks.
Meanwhile, Abbie Dillon has vowed not to buy any 'new' clothes in 2023, opting for more vintage pieces, with not one, but two shoppers having nabbed their grandparent's garms to complete their look. As someone who is always borrowing clothes from my stylish grandmother, I fully approve of this.
So, what trends are we seeing in 2023? I'm no expert beyond experience, and I'm certainly no fashion predictor, but I can anecdotally tell you some of the themes I've already noticed from spending time in the city over the last few weeks.
The 90s trend is very much here to stay, at least for a while, anyway. Denim - particularly blue denim - is a statement, with big jeans and maxi skirts feeling very on trend. In fact, Holly Willoughby even leaned into this trend on This Morning earlier this week, with a long denim Albaray dress.
Dr Martens are still the Mancunian shoe of choice for many. I'd need to count up how many people from Steal Their Style I've seen wearing them, but I'd say it's a good 40 per cent. But without further ado, here are the six coolest outfits I spotted in Manchester this week, and how you can Steal Their Style.
Victoria Louise
Fine art student Victoria wore the widest jeans I’ve ever seen, and views her wardrobe as ‘wearable art’. The 22-year-old creative, from London, was wearing a number of thrifted bargains, including a pair of Dickies walking boots for £2 - cheaper than a pair of new Dickies socks.
She added: “My trousers are from a seller on Depop in Canada. They got sent to a warehouse here and I didn't pick them up in time so they got sent back to Canada and redelivered again so it ended up costing me around £160 in the end. They are the best trousers ever though and have lasted me years.”
Victoria wore a number of layers on her upper body, but covered them all with a jacket purchased from Northern Quarter’s Blue Rinse, finishing off the look with her mum’s old handbag.
The student added: “I love tearing up clothes and wearing a top as a skirt and having a lot of fun with it. What I listen to might inspire my outfit, but it’s all art isn’t it. It’s supposed to make you feel something.”
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Bethan Owen
Bethan had just left a tattoo sitting where she’d had some dainty sparkles inked on her hand and arm. The 22-year-old lives in south Manchester, having moved here for university, but stayed after graduating for the city vibe.
She wore a long denim maxi dress with her granddad’s jacket, a Carrhartt bag and a jumper which she bagged in the Urban Outfitters sale, adding some gold jewellery and New Balance trainers.
She said: “I love vintage, I love anything oversized and typically dress inappropriate for the weather - it’s way too cold to be wearing a skirt today.”
Revealing her top styling tips and secret behind how to get the perfect sleek back bun, she added: “Just wearing something fun that feels like yourself. I’m not sure on the secret to the hair - I used to dance so old habits die hard. Lots of hairspray!”
Paige Forrest
On her way into work at Market Street’s Primark store, Paige wore a collection of pieces from the high street retailer, along with a vintage Nike jumper from one of Manchester’s many thrift stores.
The 30-year-old, who lives in the Northern Quarter, has worked at the store for three months, and said she ‘loves a bargain'.
Paige styled the vintage jumper with some zebra print Primark trousers, a Primark jacket, and a Primark scarf - the £8 ‘Acne Studios dupe’, in fact, completing the look with some Nike trainers.
She said: “Working at Primark means as soon as a new line comes in we’re piecing it up and seeing how many different ways we can style it for different tastes, ages and shapes. For me, I like anything bright and bold, animal print - colour brings happiness and that’s exactly what I want to do.”
Nicole Adam
Originally from Greece, 22-year-old Nicole was visiting Manchester for work in her role as a research analyst.
She styled a mixture of new and heirloom items, including her grandma’s 80-year-old Italian coat, which is in incredible condition.
She wore the black wool coat with a pair of six-year-old Dr Martens, Arket socks, an All Saints skirt and top, with her mum’s Italian bag and an additional tote bag which complimented the colours in her skirt.
Nicole said: “I love to invest in some really high quality pieces and then others I like to buy cheaper. I would always spend more on my coats and bags as they last for years. My nan is super fashionable but also walking around the cities I get a lot of inspiration, as well as from Instagram - Matilda Djerf is fabulous.”
Erin Thomas
Out on her lunch break, business owner Erin Thomas wore an entirely thrifted outfit, and is super passionate about clothes swapping and styling, which inspired her Affleck’s Palace store Beg Steal and Borrow.
The 25-year-old, originally from America, launched the second-hand clothing shop in 2020. She said: “There are a lot of consignment shops in the States where you can trade clothes and get cash or credit and I didn't see that here when I moved, so I really wanted an affordable way to shop. I change my style so much I wanted to be able to trade my clothes while they’re still worth something.
“I don't like Depop because the prices can be outrageous, so it’s great for people who want to offload some of their clothes but still get a good price for it.”
On this particular day, Erin wore a pair of boots that were $15 back home, and a $5 skirt. She snagged the top from the city centre RSPCA charity shop, picking up the coat for £30 from Bare Necessities.
She added: “And, it’s reversible. I had to get it, it’s two coats in one and my dream coat. The scarf I got as a leaving gift when I left the British Heart Foundation shop when I worked there.
“Mostly I get my inspiration from the people I’m around. All my friends have different styles and I just pick things I like and that attract my eye rather than a trend.”
Abbie Dillon
Elton John fan Abbie Dillon was a little ray of sunshine in the Northern Quarter this week, donning mustard yellow tights and a 70s print dress.
The 21-year-old, from Leigh, said she loves ‘anything a bit 70s or 80s’ and stealing her dad’s jackets. She cited the Rocketman singer as one of her biggest style inspirations, even naming her cat after the flamboyantly dressed performer.
She added: “My shoes are Dr Martens and cost around £150, but it’s the best money I’ve ever spent, I love them. The tights are from Snag and they were about £8 - they’re amazing, they just don’t ladder.
“My dress is from Sainsbury's and was £12 in the sale. It was very 70s. I bought it at Christmas and never wore it but when I got these tights I knew it was perfect. My jacket is from a charity shop for £3, and the bag is the viral Uniqlo bag that’s £14.90. I bought it today and it really does fit everything in.”
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