If you could steal the style of any celebrity, past or present, who would it be? I think it would be David Bowie, for me.
That canary yellow suit in the 70s, bold jumpsuits and wardrobe of accessories - there are so many iconic looks that spring to mind. But what I love about Bowie is how he used his frame as a canvas of ever-changing personas to express himself.
While I might not be bold enough to do the shiny striped jumpsuit, I did wear a Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars tshirt into town as I hunted down the most fashionable city dwellers for this weeks instalment of Steal Their Style.
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Beth Podesta
Beth was out enjoying the Manchester sun with her five-year-old daughter in matching cream coloured gilets - although the mini-me was far too enamoured with the half-term sights and sounds of Manchester city centre to be papped.
The 32-year-old mum, originally from Winchester, moved to the city to train in nursing, where she met her husband, from Wigan, before they settled as a family in Chorlton.
For her trip into town, she wore some M&S shoes with a pair of Hollister jeans which she bought at the Arndale centre. She added a pink jumper and a Zara gilet, all tied together with a bright pink Johnny Loves Rosie crossbody bag.
She said: “I get some inspiration from people on Instagram and love to match with my daughter. I get a lot of her stuff on Vinted, she’s wearing a leopard print top and a gilet and I love to dress her like me.”
A fan of affordable, yet good quality high street brands, Beth typically shops in places like Zara, M&S, H&M and New Look.
Megan Baker
Soaking up the sun before the first day of her new job in engineering recruitment, Megan Baker wore a long black and brown leather trench over a casual office look. The 23-year-old, from Yorkshire, moved to the city for brighter career opportunities, and loves to mix her work wardrobe with her everyday style.
She said: “The coat was £95 from Topshop, the jeans are Santa Cruz from Urban Outfitters, the top is a H&M basic, and my boots are Vagabonds. I love versatile pieces, so I like that I can wear these boots for work or for a night out, too.
“The office dress code is casual but I like to feel a bit professional while still dressing like myself.”
People-watching is one of Megan’s favourite pastimes, and Manchester is one of the best places for it. She added: “People wear what they want here, and I love to see that.”
She added that her wardrobe must-have is a good pair of denim jeans - “I love Weekday Denim, but ASOS own is also really good, too.”
Maria Cooper
Bury teen Maria was just getting ready to start her shift at Wax Works, in Afflecks, when I spotted her incredible boots, which she snapped up at Beg Steal and Borrow - also in the Palace. We’ve featured the store’s owner, Erin, on Steal Their Style in the past.
The 19-year-old styled the boots with an Urban Outfitters skirt, a charity shop leather jacket, a hat from Afflecks, and a Firetrap top that was her mums as a teen.
She added: “My mum's very fashionable - she has some good stuff but I've stolen most of it.”
Usually, Maria opts for head-to-toe black, with a love of gothic style. She added: “My wardrobe is very black, but I love boots and a good long jacket, however this outfit is much more summery. Working in Afflecks, I get to see a lot of different kinds of people and the community is incredible.
“I shop secondhand quite a lot - it’s a lot cheaper to buy on Vinted and you can get some really good stuff so it’s the thrill of the find a lot of the time.”
Jack Wood
Stepping out onto Tib Street, Jack Wood, from Oldham, says he likes to ‘look like I’m in a band’. The 30-year-old works for a local music label, so looks to a number of musicians for inspiration.
He pondered his muses out loud, commenting: “I always like Noel Fielding - fun, a bit colourful, I have a little bag because I drive a Vespa and things fall out of my pocket.
“Bowie is always good, Alex Turner, a bit of Jagger. Baggy is very in now though so looking at 90s stuff, bit of Liam, bit of Noel.”
Jack had chosen today to go for a bright Lazy Oaf cardigan, with a pair of black Dickies trousers and a pair of Kickers. He added: “The top was a present from my mum - instead of an Easter Egg she got me a t-shirt from Percival in the sale for a tenner.”
Caitlyn Warburton
Inspired by the fashion influencers of Manchester, Caitlyn Warburton, 24, and her pooch, Cooper, live in Castlefield.
She adores the sense of style shared by the likes of city fashionista Libby Faulkner, who she describes as her ‘favourite style guru’, as well as the Ellaby sisters, Megan and Faye.
She said: “My dress is from Tesco and cost around £20 but the jumper is from Daisy Street on ASOS and was on offer for just £12. I also have this Cocopup bag - I take it everywhere even when I dont have the dog with me because it’s so practical. The little treat pouch is the perfect size for Airpods.”
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