Vintage déjà-vu

A/W 2011 season brings back both the 60s and the 70s, reasserting that vintage is definitively here to stay.

But what do “real people” go for, when it comes to shopping?

I’ve been asking it to Shoreditchers, where vintage is not just a trend but a true lifestyle.

By Val Moro

Time to raid your grandmother’s wardrobe in search for that piece that will make your look unique.

For those addicted to high end fashion and the trends seasonally set by the industry, catwalks at both Paris and Milan fashion weeks showed a true interest in putting vintage in the limelight.

Heritage brands such as Gucci and Prada picked up, respectively, the most glamorous side of the Seventies and a certain playful approach from the Sixties.

That is, femme fatales against (unconventional) dolly girls.

Which look is going to win? Trendsetters and buyers from all over the world have different views on that, while the street has extremely clear ideas about it: always keep an eye on what’s going on around you, but in the end do it your own way.

No matter what glossies say.

Summer Trends Revisited

by Anne Z.

As we head into autumn we get bombarded with new trends and styles. But there is always more than one trend a season and not everybody is necessarily going with it. A short visit to Spitalfields Market reveals what summer trends young fashionistas have adopted.

This being summer in England, there are no sunshine trends in sight when I arrive at the market; everybody is warmly wrapped into jumpers and jackets. Even so, people are keen to talk about their favourite summer piece.

Expecting a more suttle colour palette for the future season, there seem to be two ways of dealing with the past. Wear bold and bright fabrics to mark the difference or save money by buying hot weather pieces like maxi skirts in earthy warm colours, like 19 year old Emma, a student from Epsom university.

Either way, this means reacting on and adapting trends. Besides that, there are also the ones who are always fashionable, but who insist that they are wearing the same styles for several seasons. For example denim jackets and shorts. But you`ll still find little up to date influences, e.g. the shorts being denim cut-offs combined with a vest this year.

Though I very much like and completely understand (!) the fact that people care about their lookings, I do have a secret heart for those who don´t listen to trends at all. „It´s jeans and t-shirts, like every year“, says Sagun, 32, trader at the market. Not very exciting, but in times of ever so fasten changing trends maybe even a little braver than the rest of us.

Emma and Olivia, 19, students

Bringing Street Style Home

It’s a balmy, mid-August day and the lunch hour rush is in full swing at Spitalfields, as urban professionals hurriedly chase down a cup of coffee from one of the street food venues. Jostling with them are the summer tourists who have come to London in search of our world famous art, fashion and design.

 It is no surprise then, to find them scouring Spitalfields Market for hidden treasures and original fashion finds. London is the leading city for spotting street style, with our laid back, eclectic and creative anything- goes -approach we turn out some of the best looks on the block. And our markets are the locals’ high street.

Along with the tourists, I love to wander the area. While no longer the fashion secret it used to be, there is still an air of excitement in rummaging the rails, breathing in the vintage fabrics or finding that one of a kind piece. But today it is the market vendors who have caught my eye. It is their home, and the sartorial choices they make, from paired down military jackets to ethnic print wrap blouses not only reflect their wares but the creative canvas of our city.

By Marissa Baxter

The style of the street

By Gabriella Albuquerque

This situation is common in London: you are on the streets, you suddenly see a person so full of personality and style that you can’t look away. Am I correct? The fact is the clothes themselves do not necessary draw attention, the most important thing is the mix of style with charisma and persona.

In Covent Garden, for example, this is always happening with me. We can see a lot of types of styles and street fashion. And, you know, study fashion journalism or design isn’t just know about labels or magazines, like Vogue. The streets are like a real book, you can learn about what the people really use. And more, why they use this? Actually, clothing is always more than just clothes.

For the photographer Gorde, for example, labels aren’t something important. “I prefer buy clothing in unknown stores and mix with my accessories, is more particular”, she said. For her, fashion is being free. But for the student Andrew is good learning about street style and is essential knowing about brands because he studies fashion design.  

So, when you go to the streets and talk with the people about what they are using, you can understand what exist behind the clothes. Who would know what the favourite brand of Jemane is if she doesn’t said that? “I love Fred Perry and the style of his clothes”, she said. Sometimes clothing doesn’t say everything about the people. Is essential for fashion journalists and designers learn about people too, not just about clothing and labels.

After all, are people who wear the clothes and inspire us.

Fashion start from street!

Fashion start from street!

By Fatma Kertikoglu

Wowed by fashion? Why not head down to Covent Garden where you can see some of London’s most stylish people, many of them visitors to the capital.

For me, fashion in Covent Garden is crazy; you come across so many different trendy people. Some of them don’t really care about fashion, they only wear what they feel comfortable in, some of them wear their own style, and some really care about brand names.

For example 26 years old Elena likes wearing thing which makes her happy such as colourful and trendy clothes, one of her favourite brand is top shop she found it quiet reasonable and trendy also she likes buying some different kind of fashion accessories from top shop.  

On the other hand photographer Garde wear what ever she finds, she doesn’t like spending much money for her cloths, she specially buy her cloths from charity shops or bargain sometimes she only restyle her old clothes make it wearable for the second or third times.

Fashion designer student Andrew thinks Fashion start from street, it is good for him to see many different trendy people around Covent Garden it gives him some ideas about his new design.

Obviously it is not very difficult to understand street fashion, when you look around. Easily it gives us some ideas about what kind of design people wear which brand they like. Also it is quiet useful to take their opinion about the street fashion and famous brand.

Wear what I say, not what I do

Ask people what they can’t stand and you’re guaranteed a passionate answer, even from the most casual looking hipster. That’s what I found in Shoreditch one afternoon when I asked what fashion trend or item was most deplored.

The responses were reassuring for most of us who don’t consider flip flops a valid complement to an outfit. Or those who firmly believe that if your shirt does not reach below the hips, trousers must be worn. I encountered a typical resistance to the revival of the more clichéd 80s staples and I confirmed that men do not appreciate the shapeless maxi.

Even in this scenario, I found that what you wear is often louder than the opinion you’re voicing. Louise, 21, right on trend and colour blocking like a champion mused, “I like a really classic look... I don’t like following trends at all”... even her Chanel quilted bag was cobalt blue. Or Ben, 21, who was raging against the lack of individuality in women’s fashion while adjusting his beige trousers.

Shoreditch is clearly the scene for strong opinions about fashion, whether you’re wearing a prison jumpsuit with heels or having a rant.

By Rebecca Pearson

It's a jungle out there.

Perhaps I’m just shy, perhaps I’m just young, or perhaps it’s just the fact I’ve lived in London for too long. But the idea of asking strangers –Londoners no less –to tell me their name, where they work, where they buy their clothes and the dreaded, how old are you. A very scary thought. 

It’s noon, ravenous office workers disperse onto Spitalfields as quickly as their high heels will let them, in desperate search for nourishment, their next fix of caffeine or that well deserved cigarette after a morning of meetings, endless emails and over bearing bosses. You can imagine these are not the people you wish to bother.

Detouring away from the madness, I came across Spitalfields Market –a place I had not visited since childhood. It seemed almost tranquil among the wildness raging on outside. Here I found, a magical array of bohemian chic and city sophistication. The range of products and garments available brings a diverse and colourful element to this city where grey concrete seems to be the national palette.

Hidden in the back of their tiny stalls, are the market vendors who with their proud individuality magically enhance the edgy an urban feel to this little known gem.

Written By Georgina Ardill