Manchester was scorching earlier this week, and shoppers, graduates and city workers alike were all doing their best to dress for the heatwave. I’d opted for some loose denim shorts and a racerback crop top from H&M, with a lime green Stradivarius shirt to shield my shoulders from the sun. I’d snagged it in the sale at the Trafford Centre earlier this week, and was feeling smug about it.
It’s safe to say that most looked far more glam than I did, with hundreds of MMU students graduating in the city on Wednesday. Many of them took their families to St Peter’s Square to snap a photo later to be shared on social media, donning suits, co-ords and dresses under their cap and gown.
Others were dressed up for a night of celebrations in the city, and some were out meeting friends or running errands. Either way, the sunshine had brought with it some killer outfits, including monochrome co-ords and denim jumpsuits.
For this week's instalment of Steal Their Style, I chatted to a new-mum who was getting her confidence back after having a baby, as well as a 32-year-old enjoying a city break with her boyfriend. Because we all know Manchester is the place to be.
I’ve been taking on all the tips, tricks and styling advice, and even discovered a little-known ASOS hack that’s well worth giving a go, too. Here are some of the most fashionable people I spotted in Manchester this week, and how to get their look.
Esme Ruia
Esme, from Knutsford, was spotted on King Street showing her friends from Jordan around the city. The 32-year-old mum looked stunning in an emerald green plisse co-ord from Manc brand PrettyLittleThing.
Usually Esme works for the United Nations on the world food programme, but is currently on maternity leave. She said: “I’m a new mum with a five month old baby so I’m trying to get back in shape. This outfit is from PrettyLittleThing - it’s a co-ord and I love it because it’s bright.
“When you’ve just had a baby and you’re not feeling very body confident they always have loads of different styles. I feel comfortable but also quite glam. My friends are visiting from Jordan so I still wanted to dress up and look nice at the same time as feeling comfortable and body confident.”
Both items are still available on the PLT website, costing £25 for the trousers and £26 for the shirt. Esme’s shoes are from a boutique called The Edit, in Hale, which she paired with her beloved Christian Dior sunglasses.
Heather Wealthy
Thrifting enthusiast Heather found herself in Manchester on her first corporate work trip, and stayed over in the city this week. The 23-year-old, from Liverpool, works for an Italian restaurant chain and had attended an event surrounding Christmas bookings wearing an almost-entirely pre-loved look.
She said: “I wear this jacket every single day because I love it - it was £2.50 in a charity shop. The shirt is originally from The White Company but I also got that in the charity shop. It was about £5 at the British Heart Foundation.”
Heather clearly knows what she’s doing when it comes to rooting through the rails, seeing as a White Company blouse would typically set you back at least £50.
She added: “My shoes are from Primark and my bracelet was my nans - but my hat was from the charity shop in Llandudno. I love things that look like they’re from films. My girlfriend said I look like I’m from a film like When Harry Met Sally today. I like an 80s vibe and anything that looks like it could be from a movie.”
Chunhua Chen
Visiting Manchester with her boyfriend, Chunhua Chen was strolling down Peter Street wearing a summery gingham dress while pondering which bar to grab food at. The 32-year-old Londoner says she isn’t ‘really into fashion’ - yet clearly looks like she’d made some great stylistic choices.
She said: “My dress is from a Chinese website online, it’s called Nihao. It cost maybe around £30 and the back is more funky than the front. My shirt is my boyfriend's because I get a bit chilly. It's from Amazon. My bag I bought at Bicester Village in the outlet a while back. I am not really into fashion so occasionally I look at Chinese social media for inspiration.”
Megan France
Sheffield lass Megan was in St Peter’s Square having graduated from a Filmmaking degree at Manchester Metropolitan University that morning.
The 24-year-old had ditched her cap and gown in the heat to show off a stunning 70s jumpsuit that was a last minute find. She said: “My jumpsuit was a panic buy graduation ‘dress’ from Urban Outfitters. I picked it up a few days ago and I was cutting it quite fine, but it was in the sale for £48.”
The Versace Medusa heels have been going viral recently, and many shoppers - including Corrie’s Lucy Fallon - have discovered some brilliant dupes. Megan found a lilac pair that looked just like the £1,100 pair for less than £50.
She added: “I’m a graduate, I can’t afford Versace, these are the main star - they’re from a website called Katch Me.
“I just go for whatever I’m feeling. Sometimes I like really femme things and other times I like to dress quite masculine. And I'm clearly going very 70s today.”
Tom Stirling
Wearing loose paisley patterned trousers and a white top, Tom certainly looked cooler than most in the Mancunian sun. He’d been in the city to get a fresh hair cut, and have his nails manicured.
The 22-year-old, from Bolton, said: “I got my shirt and trousers from ASOS, I think they were £20 to £30 but I got a student discount - and then my shoes are Converse.”
But Tom won’t have the added bonus of student discount much longer, as he graduates from his Geography degree next week. Tom says he enjoys the style of Spanish celebrity Rosalia, but adds, “I don’t style myself based on her."
“For myself on ASOS they have blogs and when you save items they recommend more items they think you’ll like, so that's how I find a lot of things I buy," said. We’ll be using that one ourselves, thanks Tom.
Nina Bebbington
Nina was out at The Oast House enjoying the brand new pop up Piazza Aperol, celebrating an industry award win with her Asics colleagues. The 37-year-old works for the footwear brand, and was sporting a pair of their new trainers with a dress and blazer.
The fashionista, from Warrington, said: “We’re here on our Asics party - we all work for the retailer and we’ve come to celebrate winning an award. My dress is from Topshop and so is my jacket, then my shoes are the new 1090 Asics trainers.”
Nina says she looks for most of her style inspiration on Instagram, seeing what bloggers are wearing. She added: “I shop a lot on ASOS and every so often Topshop. I like to look at local influencers and see what they’re wearing and what’s on trend.”
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