Street Style: What Manchester's wearing

WAG: Joe Hart's girlfriend Kim Crew

By Felicity Crease

In our new, regular feature, Street Style, we’ll be taking to the streets and discovering exactly what’s inspiring Manchester’s most stylish.

Just as 2000 was an excellent year for Bordeaux, and 2008 a winning year for Spanish sport, 2011 was undeniably a fantastic year for British fashion.

It was the year in which, for the first time ever, London was officially ranked as the fashion capital of the world. The year in which British heritage brands penetrated overseas markets, their share values rising unprecedentedly. It was also the year in which the world stopped and recognised the talent of the late, great Alexander McQueen, as Catherine Middleton married Prince William in that dress.

So, as we head into 2012, what can we expect in the sartorial stakes? Well, we’re leaving it to you to answer that question. In our new, regular feature, Street Style, we’ll be taking to the streets and discovering exactly what’s inspiring Manchester’s most stylish.

McQueen once said: “British fashion is self-confident and fearless. It refuses to bow to commerce, thus generating a constant flow of new ideas whilst drawing in British heritage.”

This week, we caught up with those self-confident and fearless shoppers on upmarket New Cathedral Street, asking them whether they’d bagged any bargains in the sales, and what they are coveting for 2012.

Name: Kim Crew

Age: 29, Occupation: Beautician

Wearing: Karen Millen jacket, Citizens of Humanity jeans, Ash trainers and Chanel bag.

Kim’s style is very glamorous (coincidentally, she is also the girlfriend of England and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart), yet her Ash trainers and leather jacket add a casual slant to her look today. “I’ve picked up some Louboutins and a Reiss jacket in the sales,” she told us, “but as for what I’d like for the new season? Everything at the moment!”

Name: Chris Hoyte

Age: 20, Occupation: Ballet Dancer

Wearing: H&M jacket, Zara blazer and trousers, Gucci belt and Converse.

We love the way that Chris has juxtaposed his tailored blazer with a leather jacket and loose-fit trousers. In playing with proportions in this way, Chris has used high street pieces to create a completely individual look. “I haven’t spotted anything in the sales yet, but I’m on the lookout for a duffel coat,” he told MM.

Name: Joanna Yang

Age: 31, Occupation: Executive Assistant

Wearing: Burberry coat, Zara blouse, Mango skirt, Salvatore Ferragamo shoes and Hermès Kelly bag.

Joanna has invested in classic heritage brands when choosing her coat, bag and shoes, contrasting these pieces with simple designs from global high street stores. In utilising a simple colour palette, the overall result is effortlessly chic – and a little Parisian. “I’ve just bought some children's jumpers in the sale at Zara. I’m still waiting to see what the new season brings though,” Joanna explained, “So far I’ve only bought a scarf from Burberry.”