The Alternative Look

It's difficult to escape the fact that in recent times the vintage look has been adopted by mainstream brands and designers. A look that was once restricted to daring fashionistas and over 50's who never buy new clothes is now a favourite amongst teens across the country. As a huge fan of all things non-mainstream, I must say that I don't wholly approve of the  sudden popularity of vintage clothing. With New Look doing parkas, Primark offering Flannel Shirts, River Island selling tie dyed tops and brothel creepers available all over the place, it often seems like the true message of vintage (and to that extent, all variants of alternative) clothing has been somewhat blurred. That message is to look unique- to wear something that you won't find anyone else wearing. Fortunately that look can still be achieved with through other styles- punk, goth and lolita for example. Hence I think these styles deserve a reanalyis. Who knows, they might be all the rage in 2 years time.                                                        

sequined, body-con mini dress from Mod Cloth- around £40 Mary Quant could have designed this

Fuschia skull scarf from attitude clothing, £6.99

Men's Red Leopard print Leggings (that's right- men's leggings) gothtastic! (£20 at Pyretta's lair)

gorgeous rockabilly 50's style Hell Bunny dress (£45)

The Fishtail Parka

The first word that pops into my mind when I think of parkas is: mod. Mod, as well as being the most fashionable subculture of the 1960s, is a very contemporary style which is definitely set for a come-back in mainstream fashion. Initially parkas were used for purely practical reasons- protecting the tailored pinstripe suits and mini-dresses of the sharp dressing, scooter riding mods. Yet the classic military coat has become an iconic garment in its own right, whilst retaining its original practical functionality.
Instantly recognisable in in khaki or olive green, the parka is a truly all purpose coat. It keeps the wearer warm, protects their clothes from the elements, and has (usually) huge gaping pockets for storage of phones, accessories etc. The furred hoods look fantastic, especially on classic vintage parkas. Another great thing about parkas is that they're totally customisable- most of the regular parka is pure untainted material, begging to have a band patch sewn into it, or host of badges pinned through. Personally I've always been a fan of the mod-tastic RAF target badge.
Parkas are becoming increasingly common in big high street brands, usually purchasable for around £90. These are really nice, but they aren't exactly cheap. Camden market is a great place to go for well priced, vintage parkas- and when I say vintage, I mean Brighton beach veterans- which usually cost somewhere between £40 and £60.

Womens parka at Topshop (£100)

aztec print lined women's parka at River Island (£95)

  

On David Bowie and the Renewal of the Kimono

The Kimono is one of the most undervalued items of clothing in modern fashion. To me, it is the perfect the laid-back garment- relaxed in a dressing gown sort of way, but tasteful in its style. Wearing a Kimono outside the home proclaims bravery and a certain degree of outrageousness, but I'm not necessarily saying you should wear it around the streets everyday; the kimono is more for inside-the-home sort of fashion. Picture the look on your house-guest's faces when they see you skipping in to the kitchen to make herbal Japanese tea, in a striking black Kimono with a beautifully stitched dragon on your back, the hemline creeping slowly up your thigh... Rawr!
The Kimono is by no means an exclusively female phenomenon- its gown like nature gives it a strikingly unisex outline. There's a great little gem in Camden Horse Market which sells lovely kimonos for men and women at around £20 a piece, a very reasonable price for such a beautiful garment. Ofcourse your friends will say to you: 'why pay £20 for something you'll never wear?' but think of the possibilities for a moment- firstly, those friends are the sort that will probably 'chill' at home in tracksuits (aka the least inventive item of clothing ever, rarely seen in any shade other than boring grey) costing around £20, so why not wear a kimono at home instead, and look permanently stylish for the same price?! It's a no-brainer to me. Secondly, Japanese prints are among the most intricate and exciting prints the orient has to offer!

a classic Japanese floral design on a beautiful silky upper-body kimono

a modern twist- the Kimono jacket at Topshop for £50 (can find the genuine article at a much better price in Camden market!!)

Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly: David Bowie wore Kimonos. And not just any Kimonos- the most wonderful Kimonos, designed by Japanese avant-garde designer: Kansai Yamamoto, easily one of the most innovative and under-appreciated designers ever to have lived. At the time of Bowie's Ziggy Stardust tour (1972), few people in Britain even knew what a Kimono was. Yet it was difficult for them to ignore dazzling Japanese prints and Kimono inspired outfits like these:

I don't know what it means, but japanese writing is highly funky

Bowie's revolutionarybodysuit, lovingly crafted by Kansai Yamamoto.

       

another Kansai classic

Some Boots I Would Like To Own

In this humble blogger's opinion, boots are a severely underrated weapon in the men's fashion arsenal. A good pair of boots has a versatility that one could simply not find in, say, a pair of brogues or converse trainers. From exotic snakeskin cowboy boots, to simple but practical walking boots, the inclusion of the right boots in an outfit can add a stylish edge to any look. These are some of my faves:

DOC MARTENS:

very patriotic!

shiny orange- a rarity in any  DM collection

what I wouldn't do to own all of these- even look great when worn and rugged.

I'm not embarrassed to admit to an undying love of doc marten boots. Personally, I own the classic style, black, oxblood and green boots (1460). Each pair costs around £90- a small price to pay for the contribution they offer to your outfit. The thing I like most about DMs is the similarity between men and women's boots- they're almost indistinguishable. This means you can use them to generate a masculine or feminine effect- for example, combining a chunky black pair with acid washed jeans and a maroon Harrison jacket will make you look very macho, whereas wearing a striking, shiny white pair with black skinny jeans and a vest top (suggest: tie dyed vest top) show that you're in touch with your effeminate side.

KURT GEIGER:

the Kurtis Boot (£135)

The Angus Wcap

These black beauties may be a little pricey, but honestly, who could resist the KG label??
I found a similar style in Primark for only £15. Goes to show- just because you can't afford it, doesn't mean you can't emulate the look, and Kurt Geiger boots are just screaming to be emulated!

Camden boot with burgundy rub off

GRINDERS:

The 'Queen' boot in cherry red (KNEE LENGTH!!!)

Rude Boy Black and White steel toed boot

ok, haters, you may argue that grinders are simply pricey DM copycats- and you'd be right about the pricey part- the queen boot, admittedly, costs £200. But a true fashonista isn't afraid to splash a little cash in the quest for the perfect boot. Also, the myth about grinders being expensive DM replicas simply isn't true. Perhaps DM-inspired would be a better way to describe them; after all, the first Grinder boot appeared in Britain in 1965- 5 years after Doc martens came to the country. I always think of grinders as the bad boys of the boot world- their fiery rub-offs (see the Stag Tritone boot) and steel toes never fail to intimidate me, especially in the dark corner of a spooky, gothy footwear shop in downtown Camden. Yet they bring a punky, rebellious edge to a classic boot style in a way that no other boot can. They might not have Doc Marten's heritage or Kurt Geigers exquisite style, but they make up for this in good old fashioned outrageous scariness. verdict: fabulous!