Issue 1247 - The Courier

20.fashion
thecourieronline.co.uk/fashion
c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk
Tuesday 6 March 2012
Th eCourier
Miles Freeman
#5 The urban gentry -
from pasture to pavement
For a long time there has been a cold reception
from city dwellers towards what they deem the
welly-wearing country folk. Folk who, apparently,
know nothing about the hustle and bustle
of the metropolis. When it comes to attire, it
used to be easy to distinguish your home postcode
by whether your staple piece on a rainy
day was a battered Barbour or a Harrington
Jacket. However, in recent times, we have seen
these fashion opposites merge into a single collective
that embraces the styles adorned by both
groups.
The first sign of this symbiosis became apparent
when the quilted Barbour and wax jacket
grew exponentially in popularity and acquired
distinctive esteem amongst the streetwear elite.
Now we see the quilted jacket being replicated
in high street stores, influencing the design
of many niche outerwear companies. Once
upon a time, the utility quilted jacket obtained
its character with year-old stains, tears at
every workable joint and pockets full of empty
cartridges. Now, you’ll see it strutted down
Northumberland Street in pristine condition,
worn over a nondescript hoodie with a pair of
trackies and grubby trainers.
This amalgamation of fashion trends doesn’t
stop there. Hunter Boots Ltd, one of the most
famous Wellington boot brands, has grown
into an internationally-acclaimed company.
A staple item on the summer festival scene,
you can now see a pristine box-fresh pink pair
powering down the street even when rain hasn’t
been sighted for weeks and the closest thing to
mud is last night’s donner kebab on the floor.
Capitalising on this popularity, Hunter is now,
unfortunately, catering for its new market with
some ‘interesting’ adaptations to the traditional
boot. With new editions featuring buckles and
lace-up loops from top to bottom, I worry that
the brand is losing its flawless heritage. I must
apologise in advance to the poor person who
chooses Hunters in gold or pink, as my lunch
may inadvertently make a re-appearance all
over their feet.
In terms of menswear, we’ve seen the classic
walking boot influence style, with new editions
of footwear taking clear inspiration from the
outdoors staple. Whilst the designs are a push
in an exciting direction for street-wear, for me
there is an underlying complex that prevents
me from buying them. As a child I was bought a
pair of walking boots and refused point blank to
wear them, simply out of childhood rebellion.
Now this has come back to bite me. When I
see the latest Native Fitzsimmons being repped
around the UK, I want to like them, but an inner
gremlin just says I can’t.
It is clear there is now a stronger sartorial
relationship between our urban and countrydwelling
demographics than ever before.
Whilst we have seen the country influence on
urban wear, I cannot see there being as strong a
reverse relationship. Tweed has been used as an
accent material on jackets, shoes and sweaters
and the rural utility jackets have inspired much
of our streetwear, but I will be intrigued to see
if it extends much further. I will be severely
annoyed, however, if there comes a day that
Nike release a limited capsule collection of the
Air Max Wellington 90, as then I will have to
remove my bid for that flying pig on eBay.
what’sinyourbag?
Alice McLinden
Second Year
Business
Management
What did you
buy?
Tweed blazer
Where is it
from?
All Saints
How much
did it cost?
£79 (reduced
from £197)
Why did
you choose
this?
“I tend to
steer clear of
All Saints, but
I absolutely
love the blazer.
You’d never
guess where it
was from!”
Fashionista’s Verdict?
“With the classic fit, the
blazer is the perfect preppy
addition to any spring
wardrobe. For a pure
English rose look, throw it
over a floral tea dress and
team with a pair of pastel
brogues.”
On trend
Fanciful florals
Amanda Old picks the prettiest prints of spring/summer 2012
What did you buy?
Polo tee
Where is it from?
Burton
How much did it cost?
£18 (with an NUS)
Why did you choose
this?
“I very rarely wear
polo tops and it’s perfect
to take you from a day to
night
look without needing to
get changed.”
Fashionista’s
Verdict?
“You can never be too
far ahead of your time!
Burnt reds and olive
greens are going to be
huge for ter so this contrasting
burgundy collar is going
to ‘spring’ Ben right
Autumn/Win-
into next season.”
Ben Hales
Second Year
Business Management
Topshop, £36 Topshop, £55 Miss Selfridge, £35 Zara, £40
Hannah Walsh