At home with: Starr Clare – Manchester’s home styling and fashion expert
We had a chat with Manchester-based content creator, Starr Clare, to talk all-things content, how best to get your thrift on and tips for keeping a level head as the world becomes progressively more virtual.
The first lockdown brought us new phrases, empty streets, banana bread and PE with Joe. But the second? Well, we still had near-empty streets, but this time we learned importance of shopping local.
It made us focus on the things we’re actually passionate about, and we really had to start getting creative with that once-daily exercise.
Putting all of those things to good use amidst the throes of lockdown 3.0, we had a chat with Manchester-based content creator, Starr Clare, to talk all-things content, how best to get your thrift on and tips for keeping a level head as the world becomes progressively more virtual.
From a young age, Starr has had an eye for fashion. So when Instagram popped onto the scene back in 2010 (I know, feel old yet?) it made sense to share this love affair with the world… or her mates, at least.
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Originally using the platform to showcase her latest finds with her pals, it came as a pleasant surprise when she rapidly gained a following outside of her social circle, with strangers keen to freshen up their feeds with some well-styled flare.
A firm lover of a good mini skirt, big hair and thick eyeliner, her page soon became a holy grail for those inspired by the bright colour palettes and patterns of the ‘60s and ’70s, and Starr’s innate ability to bring those trends into this era saw her platform continue to grow.
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Now set on showcasing the hidden beauty of slow fashion, Starr’s account is one to follow if you love a good thrift and retro vibes. Make sure to check out her nifty hacks below, too!
Circular fashion hacks
Shopping second-hand is often thought of as buying old, unwanted clothes – ones that probably smell of damp and tea at your nan’s. Keen to completely reverse that stereotype, Starr shows us how shopping sustainably really is the best thing you can do for your style.
Starring all-things ethically sourced, her feed is a sepia-toned treasure chest for those who love a good steal. Growing up modestly taught her to always appreciate a bargain, but making a conscious choice to shop circular is something that came to her later in life.
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“I did used to buy fast fashion before I knew the impact it was having on the planet,” says Starr.
“As I got older, I educated myself and made a conscious decision to buy more second-hand and vintage instead.”
After recently becoming vegan, Starr’s motivation to shop vintage gained steam, and she’s certainly not looked back since.
“The quality comparison between vintage and fast fashion is immense,” Starr tells The Manc.
“Stuff I’ve bought from a vintage shop has lasted me forever, whereas items from some online brands may only last you a couple of weeks or months.”
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And if the quality comparison wasn’t motivation enough, her Mancunian instinct to stand out from the crowd was.
From trendy independent stores in the Northern Quarter to your local charity shop stocking staple classics, there’s never been a better time to wear our out-there style with pride, all while helping the planet (when lockdown ends, of course).
But if you’re one of those people who always wonders how your mates leave Oxfam with a cool AF jacket while you return home with a vinyl from a ‘50s band you’ve never heard of and some crockery you’ll probably never use – fear not, Starr is on hand with some stellar advice.
“My main tip is to be patient,” she advises.
“It can be really difficult and quite scary when changing a habit you’re so used to. Start small – maybe swap one item from your beauty routine for a sustainable one. Pop into your local charity shop next time you want to buy a new piece of clothing.”
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You can’t beat a timeless classic… but you can’t rush finding one, either. If you find yourself leaving empty-handed on your post-lockdown haul, Starr has some words of encouragement to see you through.
“You won’t always find something the first time you look through a charity shop,” she reassures novice thrifters.
“Sometimes I won’t find anything for weeks. It’s just a matter of having a good search. Sometimes, something will just pop out unexpectedly and I can’t leave the shop without it. Another tip for vintage and charity shopping is to know your measurements (especially since you’re not allowed to try items on anymore). Sizes have altered so much over the years.”
Home inspo: a rummage through Starr’s charity shop finds
Missed the DIY boat over the first lockdowns? It’s never too late to try your hand at decorating, especially now we’re spending lot more time at home.
But that doesn’t mean you need to be a DIY pro to spruce up the place, either. If you’re looking to revamp your living quarters with minimal effort, take a leaf out of Starr’s book. And before you get started, if you don’t have it already, download Pinterest immediately.
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“There’s so much inspo on there,” says the social-savvy Mancunian. “Instagram is great for inspiration too, I love the save feature it has. You can save images you like into different folder categories and look back on them on days you’re wanting to create. Use them as a guide and put your own spin on it.”
A table set of dreams, this wicker charity-shop find is one of Starr’s greatest ever hauls.
This is where that all-important patience comes back in.
To really hit the jackpot on your future second-hand shop, it’s important to keep your interior vision in check. You might strike gold and find a wealth of eccentric items, but are they all in keeping with your theme? If not, be prepared to leave and try another day, advises Starr.
Helping you achieve that aesthetic you’ve always dreamed of, the freelance model has some solid advice for not going overboard… especially if you’re a bit short on space.
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“Avoid too much clutter,” Starr suggests.
“Make the most of natural light and put little corners to good use. I love using vinyl too. I’ve put some Moroccan tile vinyl onto the kitchen tiles and it’s such a lovely little feature.”
Staying grounded in the virtual world
Let’s face it, things have gotten a little weird over lockdown.
The pandemic obliterated small talk, it’s put an abrupt stop to catchups in the office… and there’s definitely no more nights out that accidentally turned into 48-hour events.
What once was a normal get-together with your mates over a beer now seems alien to us, if not on our laptop screens or phones.
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For Starr, this virtual world is something she’s been accustomed to for a while, given the home-based nature of most of her work.
That said, it hasn’t made her increasingly online life any easier. Encouraging us to stay on top of our self-care over lockdown, the Peach Tree Merch owner tells us: “When you’re working from home a lot and always watching other people’s lives from a screen, it can be easy to compare yourself to others.”
“I find myself taking breaks from Instagram a lot now. I’ve noticed that scrolling through my phone all day looking at other people’s lives and trying to please other people can be so draining on my mental health. Taking a step back and living in the here and now can bring you back to normality. I’ve stopped taking my phone everywhere too. Now when I’m going for a walk or getting groceries, I can actually enjoy it without the distraction,” she tells us.
Driven by the idea of what feels right rather than what looks good, Starr’s following appreciates her honest approach when it comes to posting content. So, if you’re looking to venture down the same path, don’t feel like you have to post really out-there material to stay relevant: “I think my followers like the fact that I’m honest and show my real life on Instagram. I also think it’s super important to talk about mental health and break the taboo.”
And as for her main inspiration behind the gems she shares with the world? Well, that comes in no other form than our great city.
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“Manchester has always influenced my content. Be it the music scene, art galleries or architecture. I’m proud to be a Manc, I love the strong and welcoming community.”
And if the ‘gram is anything to go by, the community certainly loves Starr, too!
Loved learning how to thrift with Starr? She’s sharing her best DIY hacks and hauls over on Instagram right now – go take a look!
You can also shop the range from her ethical print brand, Peach Tree Merch, here.
Style
The 11 best and most popular gyms in Manchester, ranked by price
Daisy Jackson
You do not need to wait for January to get your body moving again – there’s no time like the present.
The trick to sticking with your health kick is often to find the right routine for you, and when it comes to exercise, finding the gym that will make you feel supported as well as pushed physically is key.
There’s no shortage of brilliant gyms here in Manchester, from the do-it-yourself commercial gyms to the fitness facilities manned by highly-qualified trainers who will guide you every step of the way.
Whether you’re a fancy girl who needs fancy facilities to coax you into the gym, or you’d rather get your head down and save some cash, we’ve got you covered.
Here are 11 of the best to try in 2024 – and how much it’ll cost you.
Ultimate Performance – prices are bespoke and available on request
Ready to transform your body or lay the foundations for lifelong health, and feeling pretty serious about it?
Ultimate Performance is the gym in Manchester to join if you want to stick to your plan and achieve whatever goals you set yourself, from fat loss to muscle building to general health, with some of the world’s best personal trainers coaching from here.
Barry’s is the gym loved by all the famous LA-dwelling beautiful types, and first opened here in Manchester in 2018.
Workouts take place in the ‘red room’, where rows of benches, dumbbells and treadmills promise a total body workout.
It’s now a global phenomenon, with gyms everywhere from the USA to the UAE to Australia to Mexico.
It ain’t cheap though – memberships start at £125 per month, which gets you eight classes, or you can book a drop-in class for £20. The most expensive membership will set you back £308. Check out all the offers here.
Blok – £205/month for unlimited
Blok in Manchester has a mix of classes and is one of the city’s best gyms. Credit: Blok
This gym is genuinely very beautiful, taking over a corner of the historic Ducie Street Warehouse.
It’s another one with three different studios to choose from – you can do pilates and yoga, take on full-body strength-focused or boxing workouts, or try out barre and cardio exercises.
There are top-notch changing rooms for getting refreshed in afterwards too.
Unlimited membership is £205 a month, but if you’re happy to commit to a set number of classes there are cheaper packs available too. Check it out here.
You will not find a nicer or more supportive group of trainers than the ones who work at Form – you also won’t find any who take away your ability to walk up stairs quite so efficiently.
As well as one-to-one training, they offer their ‘reload’ programme with small groups training together at their New Bailey Street gym, and the best pilates and yoga classes in town at their Reset gym on Marble Street.
Form promises a longterm change to your life – this is no flash-in-the-pan fitness phase.
Memberships start from £168 a month and we promise you get a lot of bang for your buck. Find out more at formmcr.com.
F45 – £165/month
Credit: F45
First created in Australia, there are now more than 1,000 F45 studios all over the world, creating what it claims is the most innovative fitness gym on the planet.
Each 45 minute session blends cardio and HIIT-style workouts for ‘sweat-dripping, heart-pumping fun’.
The circuits in the Manchester gyms will kick your ass, in a good way.
It’s £165 a month if you commit to six months, otherwise you’re looking at £195 a month – check it out here.
Zeno Training Clubs – £99/month
Hero Training Club gym in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupHero Training Club gym in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
With four different fitness studios to choose from, Zeno (formerly known as Hero) offers a little something for everyone.
You can seriously test your cardio in their spin studio or in the Athletic studio (where you can also take on boxing classes), push your strength in the Stronger studio (which are basically like small group PT sessions), or reset a bit in the Rejuvenate studio. There’s also an open gym upstairs.
Zeno has some of the best facilities in the city – seriously, there are more squat racks in here than in some of the biggest commercial gyms – and a bloody lovely group of trainers to guide your every move.
Memberships start from £99 a month, and there are class bundles available too. Find out more at herotrainingclubs.com.
TRIB3 – £79/month
Credit: TRIB3
This ‘next-level fitness studio’ follows a pretty similar modal to V1BE, but factors in assault bikes (ouch) and has classes with a more tailored focus.
There are three different TRIB3 classes to choose from – upper body and core, lower body, and full body – broken down into three zones of treadmill, resistance and intensity.
It’s proving to be a very popular option for Mancs.
Unlimited memberships are £79/month but there are loads of other options too. Find out more at trib3.co.uk.
V1BE – £59/month
Credit: V1BE
It’s all about the cardio at V1BE, Manchester’s boutique gym group that will literally display your heart rate on a giant screen for all to see.
Most workouts are spread between sprint sessions on the treadmills and weighted circuits on the floor, but they also have STR1KE classes that factor in some intense boxing drills.
You will be sweaty, you will get competitive with yourself, and you’ll definitely love it (once the hill sprints are over).
Membership starts from £59 a month (that’s for open gym access and six classes), or you can go all-in for £79 a month. Find out more here.
Nuffield Health – £51/month
Nuffield is one of Manchester’s biggest gyms, with its own pool
What makes Nuffield Health so extraordinary of all the gyms in Manchester is that is has a real life swimming pool, which is quite a luxury in a city centre as crammed as ours.
The gym has an army of treadmills and bikes, plus a functional fitness room, a free weights room, and several different studios.
There are also physiotherapists and personal trainers based here to help you build the healthiest body possible.
With a rapidly-growing number of gyms nationwide, it’s easy to see why JD Gyms are becoming more and more popular – and it’s got a lot to do with the price.
Their gym in Manchester city centre has more than 300 classes a month, a sauna, and literally hundreds of pieces of strength and cardio equipment.
There’s a large free weights zone, a sprint and sled track, bootcamps, boxing, and personal trainers.
Basic membership is £19.99 a month, which includes classes, but for £25 a month you can also get 10% off at JD Sports online and use any of their gyms nationwide – find out more here.
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PureGym – £12.99/month
PureGym has several gyms around Manchester. Credit: PureGym
Oh well all know PureGym, let’s be honest.
As one of the country’s biggest gym groups, they’re famed for being cheap and practical, with 24-hour opening times.
Facilities are very good for the price and there are four PureGym gyms in Manchester city centre alone. You just have to get used to their weirdly futuristic beam-me-up-Scotty entrance vestibules.
Read more about all things sport in the North here.
Featured image: The Manc Group / Reset by Form / PureGym
Style
Viral beauty brand Morphe suddenly shuts ALL UK stores including Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Cult beauty favourite Morphe has suddenly shuttered the doors to all of its stores across the UK, including here in Manchester.
The brand has had a large presence in the Manchester Arndale shopping centre since late 2019, opening to huge crowds at the time.
But this week, the doors to its make-up store in the city centre (as well as its six other locations across the UK) have closed.
The viral brand will continue to trade online and as a concession in other stores.
Many have taken to social media to criticise the way the physical store closures have been handled, with dozens of staff members saying that they were made immediately redundant with ‘no notice’.
Some stores have also already been cleared of stock, with reports that some of the viral Morphe products are already being sold off at beauty outlets.
The LA-born brand was created in 2008 ‘among the artists and influencers’ and was originally famed for its brushes before branching out into other make-up products, like its cult favourite colourful eyeshadow palettes.
At the height of its popularity, Morphe was behind sell-out collections with the likes of Jeffree Star, James Charles and Jaclyn Hill.
Morphe in Manchester Arndale has closed, along with its six other beauty stores in the UK. Credit: The Manc GroupMorphe opened in Manchester Arndale in 2019. Credit: Publicity picture
In a statement, the company said: “Forma Brands has made significant progress over the last year positioning our business for growth by focusing on our flagship Morphe brand largely through our wholesale and e-commerce operations.
“During that time, our owned Morphe stores in Europe, which have consistently provided an extraordinary experience for our customers, faced disproportionately high store rent obligations.
“We have therefore made the difficult decision to close our seven UK and one Amsterdam retail locations. This move aligns with our strategy to prioritize and expand our successful wholesale and e-commerce operations, similar to our model in the U.S. We also facilitated an ownership transition of our UK wholesale and e-commerce businesses, which will operate as FORMA BRANDS UK LTD., effective immediately.
“We are immensely grateful to our incredible store teams for their dedication and passion over the years and are working to support them through this transition.
“Due to store closures, impacted store team members were made redundant immediately. In recognition of their dedication, the parent company Forma Brands LLC has provided goodwill payments to all affected employees, equivalent to an enhanced redundancy package.”
The Manc -
29th January 2021 
