It took me a long time to discover what made me feel good when it came to fashion. I often looked to celebrities, social media platforms and magazines for inspiration, but up until the age of around 20, I was still finding my feet with a mismatched wardrobe that didn’t quite feel like my own.
When I finally clicked with my sense of style, discovering the colours and cuts that suit me, or that I feel good in, it became a huge part of my identity. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been a fashion content creator for around four years, sharing my love of dressing up on the internet, with a small but friendly following of around 7,500 people.
Just as I was getting to grips with styling myself, dopamine dressing and power outfits, Covid-19 hit and I went from wearing my favourite midi dresses and vibrant suits to sporting slobs and anything with an elastic waistband as I began to work from home.
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Up until recently, there were clothes in my wardrobe with the tags still on that had been bought for Christmas 2019, left unworn due to a near-empty social calendar. But now, as life slowly returns to normal and the city streets are full once more, Mancunians' favourite outfits can be aired for the world to see again.
It’s got to be said that Mancs have some of the best sense of style around. Walking through the city you’ll see a real melting pot of fashion inspiration, which inspired this new series: Steal Their Style.
Each week I’ll be hitting the streets of Manchester and speaking to some of the best dressed shoppers, residents and workers about their outfits and where they find their inspiration, as well as about how the way they dress makes them feel.
This week, I spoke to a 58-year-old lady - whose skincare regime I’ll need to steal - about not dressing your age, as well as a 20-year-old student who loves to thrift her wardrobe. These six city dwellers stood out for the way they dressed, each one confident in their own diverse style, and I hope it gives you some inspiration to try something new in your own wardrobe, or pair items you already own with ones you may not necessarily have considered before.
Here are six of the most stylish shoppers I spotted in Manchester this week:
Dannielle Hunter
Interior design and styling student Dannielle Hunter caught my eye with a loud sneaker-print shirt peeking out from a pair of vintage denim dungarees.
The 26-year-old works at the pre-loved goldmine that is the British Heart Foundation Charity Shop on Piccadilly Gardens , and has been helping others shop second hand in between her time studying at university in Plymouth.
She said: “My dungarees are from Vinted for £25, the top I got from here [the charity shop] for around £15. It’s a bonus working in the shop because your colleagues will shop for you. If they spot something they think suits someone they’ll say ‘oh my god this is so you’.”
Dannielle admits she likes a bargain, and shopping on secondhand marketplaces like Vinted ‘gets very addictive’. She completed her look with a pair of prescription glasses from Firmoo, and a pair of Dr Martens . “I probably have 10 pairs at least,” she laughed.
On her wardrobe, Dannielle added: “I love bright colours and anything that’s a bit out there. Dungarees are just super comfy and you can throw them over everything. You feel like you’re in your slouches and it’s all good.”
Mohsan Chaudhary
Mohsan is a 26-year-old who moved to Manchester from Germany as a child. I caught him on his way to work ‘for the Government’ - although he was unable to divulge his specific role.
The well-dressed worker looked smart in a pair of check trousers and a leather jacket and a Fred Perry bag bowler bag.
He said: “I got my Dr Martens from the store in Manchester and the jacket I’ve had for a while, I think my Dad gave it to me.”
Underneath he wore a plain cream top from a vintage store and a simple silver chain. He added: “My pants are from Moss Bros - I thought they were skinny fit but they’re a bit baggier. I’m not big on brands but as long as it looks good put together it’s all good.”
Moshan takes inspiration from musicians for his look, adding: “I like Future’s fashion, Jimi Hendrix too - anyone with a platform like that really, but there are no footballers that do it very well though.”
Millie Jane Manners
Originally from Kent, Millie Manners has just moved into a new flat in Manchester for university, where she’s studying Biology. For a trip to the council offices to fill out council tax forms, the 20-year-old wore a layered combination of discounted or second-hand buys.
Her white blouse was a couple of quid from the charity shop. She told me: “I always see the vintage looking white blouses on Depop but they’re always overpriced, and I saw this one in the charity shop and knew it was perfect to be layered up. I love the vests to go over stuff like this - this vest is from TK Maxx. ”
Her black and white trousers are from Topshop ‘many years ago’, styled with a pair of plain white Nike Air Force trainers.
Millie added: “I get inspiration from everyone around me, as well as Pinterest and Instagram videos of people showing off their style as it gives you ideas to try something new.”
Melanie Merrills
Yorkshire lass Melanie Merrills was in Manchester celebrating her 30th wedding anniversary with her husband, with a reservation booked for 20 Stories in Spinningfields.
The 58-year-old looked like a film star walking arm in arm with her partner, oversized sunnies on and a spring in her step.
Melanie said: “I do a lot of Instagram and get some style inspiration from there. I like long floaty dresses and I try not to dress my age, but then again you don't want to look too young either.”
Wearing a skirt from Mango, which is still available for £49.99 , and top from Jigsaw , she added: “I like to mix my brands with my high street items. My shoes and bag are from Russell and Bromley, and the jacket is Marc Cain. My necklace I got on holiday in Greece and the sunglasses I got in Athens last year.”
Jo McCarthy
Salford-born Jo was browsing the rings in the window of Arthur Kay when I spotted her breathtaking red dress. The 54-year-old mum now lives in the Cheshire countryside and was meeting her sons in the city, adding: “I just love coming back into town, it’s fantastic.”
The statement striped dress, she revealed, was £75 from Asos , which she’d paired with Gucci trainers and heart-patterned pop socks from & Other Stories.
The housewife added: “My bag is from Penelope Chilvers who does very nice artisan things - she’s a shoemaker but also does totes. I’ve always liked doing my own thing even as I’m getting older - I’ll be winging it for as long as I can. I like a midi dress but I also like colour and drama, as well as mixing high end with high street.”
Matthew Oatway
Teenager Matthew Oatway has his peers to thank for helping him discover his sense of style. The 19-year-old Greggs worker admitted he used to ‘not dress very well’, but his look recently became ‘elevated’ following guidance from mates.
Matthew, who lives in Manchester, said: “Be happy, that’s the motto. I saw these jeans and the jacket in H&M yesterday so this outfit is new, and together they were £40. The top is from Primark, I probably bought it when I was 10.”
He completed the look with Converse high top trainers and a tote bag from Uniqlo. You can find Matthew’s jeans on the H&M website in the sale for £18 here.
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