Every week around Manchester, at least five striking individuals are spotted making the city shine through their unique look. While this is most prevalent in the Northern Quarter, today's edition of Steal Their Style shows confidence is around every corner.
Harpurhey: A volunteer's charity shop pride
The journey begins in Harpurhey, where during an unrelated job, 50-year-old Tosim Orowa was spotted on the high street. He spoke proudly of his experience with the local Barnados charity shop as a customer, a volunteer of eight years, and a frequent donor.
"I'm about to volunteer for them right now, give them my four hours," he prefaced, before explaining his outfit: "I get it all from the charity shop. I feel cool about it - it doesn't even cost too much to look nice. I'm not a conformist, I'm just trying to live within my limits, stress free, and happy. Put on something simple, cheaper, as much as you can."
Asked for a few examples of the bargains he's found, Tosim estimated £15 for his shoes, £25 for the bag, and £4 for his beret. The outfit-defining hat was adorned with an elephant-shaped pin, which he had added himself: "I just like the nature of elephants, how strong and beautiful it looks, good symbol." Another accessory he singled out were red royal beads he was wearing, which he got in south-west Nigeria.
Northern Quarter: Students and their inspirations
Later in the Northern Quarter, 21-year-old students Amelie and Bee were interviewed, starting with Amelie: "This, I think is a paperboy hat, it was from Afflecks. My little badge on it that says 'dirty old man' is from a random shop in Edinburgh," she began. "I love my dirty old man badge. I feel very akin to dirty old men. My mum thinks I'm a dirty old man, I think I'm a dirty old man, I think it's my spirit animal."
Her stripy top is from a charity shop, her vest she's had so long she doesn't know, shorts were long skinny jeans from a charity shop cut up yesterday, tights from a costume shop, and boots from Vinted. Amelie's main style inspiration had Bee in stitches: "Vicars." "You can't tell right now, but when it's dead of winter I am cloaked up to the max, high neck, long skirt, big jacket. I went to a funeral a few weeks ago - the vicar? Style icon," she concluded.
Immediately after Bee introduced himself, an actual bee (the insect) flew into the interview. "All of this probably cost £25 quid, except the jacket, this was quite spenny, but it's lovely, good quality," he began, specifying that the padded outer layer is from Beyond Retro. He'd strategically layered a t-shirt over a hoodie, both items originating from charity shops, paired with trousers from somewhere in Berlin, and trainers from Flower Mountain.
"I have anti-inspirations more than inspirations - wear colour, wear a bit of a pattern, don't look boring. Most people are wearing grey and black and white, anything but that," he added: "Layering is everything."
Pam's seasonal coordination and Amal's London style
Next was Pam in her 60s. After the interview, she didn't feel comfortable having her picture taken, so a mock-up drawing of her outfit was made as a visual aid. "This (beanie headband) was a present from my next-door neighbour," she began. "It's from a business, but it is hand-knitted. This might be Marks & Spencer's, this coat, not quite sure." The skirt was picked out from the Bruar catalogue, which is from Scotland, where they sell wool things. The shoes are from Hotter's, which can be mail-ordered but are also in some shops.
Pam's main inspiration was revealed to be colours that match the seasons: "In autumn I tend to wear browns. It's the time of year really. I like things to co-ordinate."
Last but not least, 27-year-old copywriter Amal, who had travelled up from London for the week with some friends, ran through her look. "This coat is borrowed, but originally from Topman," she began, estimating it to have been either '£40 or a fiver'. A grey zip-up fleece decorated with a circle, not pictured, was from her little sister's wardrobe, for 'probably £5 - £10.'
"This top is really cute, it's one of my favourite shirts at the moment," she said about a piece featuring a grid of warm shades. "It has absolutely no labels, so your guess is as good as mine. It was probably from a charity shop. My jeans, I'm not sure where they're from, and my shoes are probably the most expensive, Asics, probably £50 - £60. The bag is, I think Radley. This is my go-to bag, makes me feel like a 'ready' 70 year old woman."
"My style inspiration is my mother, because I like to go for anything that she wouldn't wear, anything that she hates, anything that she insults, I feel drawn to. So that's why I dress so well and differently," she concluded. "These are quite muted colours, but I'm usually quite, pow!"
