Paris, Milan, New York and London. These are the cities synonymous with style. But don’t overlook Bath, Edinburgh, Manchester and York. These are the cities where street style is born and fashionistas are made.
With London Fashion Week upon us, our latest blog considers why the British capital holds such sartorial importance and takes a look at the UK’s other big hitters in the style stakes.
London
Bold, brash and trail-blazing, London is arguably the most important city in global fashion. The UK capital has long been an incubator for world-class talent, with names including Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano and Stella McCartney made here. This is a city where the streets give birth to styles that acclaimed innovators could only dream of.
London’s multiculturalism, alongside its rich fashion history, means the city nurtures a unique blend of tradition and innovation. Prestigious institutions like Central Saint Martins, alongside world-recognised events like Fashion Week, place the big smoke at the forefront of nurturing talent with global ambition.
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Bath
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bath’s historic architecture provides the perfect backdrop for fashion influencers. Sartorial inspiration can be found along every impressive high street and quirky backstreet. Bath’s Fashion Museum is home to a world-class archive of almost 100,000 items – each of them the latest thing of their own time period.
The city’s thrift stores, meanwhile, are living museums of social history and fashion change – there are around 100 of them dotted across the ancient city. Once named Britain’s Best Fashion Street, Milsom Street – referenced by Jane Austen in her 18th-century society novels – remains a destination for spotting cutting-edge style.
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Edinburgh
The cobbled streets of this historic city contain a network of around 130 vintage clothes shops housing the styles of the fashionable Edinbourgeois throughout the decades. Independent boutiques, designer stores and modern shopping centres also make Edinburgh a fashionista’s paradise.
With a huge student population, the Scottish capital is at the forefront of street style, which can be seen in hip neighbourhoods like Leith and the West End. At The National Museum of Scotland, you can walk the catwalk, try your hand at fashion design and explore centuries of creativity and innovation in textiles and fashion.
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Manchester
The former capital of textile production, style is woven into the very fabric of this city, otherwise known as Cottonopolis. The street styles of Manchester throughout the 20th century have birthed global youth movements, while international brands such as Boohoo call the city home. Shoppers can explore everything from trendy vintage stores to high-end boutiques.
Manchester Art Gallery has one of the largest British collections of fashion and clothing in a new dedicated gallery. It’s no wonder that the designers of the future are drawn to the city. Each year, Manchester Fashion Institute unleashes a new batch of creative graduates into the industry.
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York
York’s historic streets and enchanting city walls offer some of the most Instagrammable backdrops for fashion influencers. There’s no shortage of places to shop either, with everything from market stalls to indie boutiques and big high-street brands.
This small city punches above its weight in the fashion stakes and this October sees the ultimate celebration of gorgeous garments at York Fashion Week. A week of runways, workshops and installations will showcase the city’s creative talent and support the young designers and brands that drive the industry forward. Over at York Castle Museum, be sure to check out Shaping the Body – a permanent exhibition looking at 400 years of fashion.
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