Clothing trends are constantly reinventing past looks, and the North West is no exception – harbouring a vintage obsession and adoration for bucket hats.
But the latest trend to hit the city is noughties nostalgia – as people take inspiration from pop culture icons and films such as Mean Girls and Clueless for a ‘Y2K look’.
While many clothing retailers are embracing this funky attire, some local brands are taking it one step further by putting a classic Mancunian twist on the Y2K style.
Here’s a few examples…
Borderline Tacky
Borderline Tacky is a trendy boutique is transporting people back to the early noughties with their selection of Y2K outfits.
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Velour two-pieces are an unmissable trend from this era, and Borderline Tacky has high-waisted fit and flashy bralette up for grabs – as well as unique diamante t-shirts, double denim and tie-front cardigans.
Tie-front cardigans are another staple of Y2K fashion that have made a comeback this season.
Whilst these days we’re a lot more comfortable in high-waisted skinny jeans and plenty of layers, the exposed midriffs and low-rise bottoms are much more reminiscent of the early 00s.
Dirty Disco has taken Manchester’s favourite vintage pieces and turned them into Y2K must-haves by styling cardigans with a singular button done up.
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This is the perfect stepping stone to starting a Y2K wardrobe while still playing it safe, plus those cardigans will definitely come in handy when Manchester’s wintry weather inevitably hits!
One of the biggest hallmarks of Y2K fashion is nostalgia – with brands rapidly reproducing the accessories of our childhoods; such as butterfly hair clips and jelly shoes.
July Child is the perfect case in point; creating lots of funky jewellery items that our younger selves would be equally obsessed with.
From alien heads to peace signs and everything in between, they have perfectly tapped into nostalgic jewellery tastes – and get bonus points for the level of bling.
Juicy Couture was renowned for velour matching tracksuits that caused a storm in the early noughties, and with lockdown still upon us we definitely share their appreciation for loungewear.
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In collaboration with House of Sunny, Norah Store has put a retro twist on this classic look.
The brand’s showstopping co-ords are complete with fur cuffs and a vivid lime green colour palette – everything you need to make a statement.
The claw clip is a classic 90s hair accessory that might give off major librarian vibes these days, but they’re actually back in style with the rise of Y2K fashion.
Rock on Ruby has expanded its selection of quirky printed t-shirts to include these highly desired hair accessories, so you can now effortlessly scrape back your hair and still fit the Y2K style.
The brand is offering a variety of different colours and styles, meaning you can boast this trend with any outfit.
Style
Manchester’s Club de Padel claps back at ’embarrassing’ copycat ASOS product
Daisy Jackson
A local Manchester business has sarcastically pointed out the glaring similarities between a new t-shirt on ASOS and one of its own designs.
Club de Padel has a range of retro-inspired merch with UN:IK, a small independent streetwear brand also based here in Manchester.
Its collection of t-shirts, hoodies, tracksuits, hats and bags often feature a design of an illustrated padel ball (which to the untrained eye is basically a tennis ball) in motion.
But this week a t-shirt appeared on ASOS that also featured an illustrated padel ball in motion, just in a slightly different colour palette.
The ASOS version, which has now been removed from sale, also undercut Club de Padel’s price by £6.
Since Club de Padel took the ’embarrassing’ copycat product public on their Instagram page, ASOS has launched an investigation and taken it off their website.
The sports venture, based at Deansgate Square and the only padel club in Manchester, wrote: “Love the new designs ASOS, kinda reminds us of something though…
The ASOS t-shirt that Club de Padel has said copies their merch. Credit: ASOSClub de Padel’s t-shirt created by Manchester brand UN:IK. Credit: Club de Padel
“Ah. Well that’s embarrassing… We’ve got a new line coming soon with UN:IK Clothing you’re just gonna love ASOS.
“In the meantime we made this for you @asos, save your design team a job.”
An ASOS spokesperson said: “We take intellectual property issues very seriously and have removed this product from sale while we investigate further.”
Of the Club de Padel and UN:IK collaboration, aka the real deal, UN:IK says it has ‘served up a staple for us, retro inspired leisure pieces with Manchester’s first ever padel club’.
Club de Padel in Manchester has gone public to poke fun at ASOS
They wrote: “Inspired by owners after a trip to Spain, Club de Padel has hit the city with a wave and the lifestyle brand we have created with them reinforces the fastest growing sport across Europe.
“Our classic vintage washes and oversized fits, working with independent designs as always on this local independent partnership. Don’t be afraid to the sport, we’ll guarantee you love it as much as these clothes.”
Elle magazine hails Manchester as being ‘fashion capital’ of the year
Daisy Jackson
Manchester has been likened to Paris and New York by esteemed fashion magazine Elle, which has labelled us this year’s ‘fashion and creative capital’.
While our city has long been celebrated for its, ahem, grimier subcultures (from raves to Britpop to footie), things have grown a little more fancy in recent years.
The global spotlight really landed on the city when Chanel chose Thomas Street, of all places, to host its prestigious Métiers d’art last December.
The jokes came fast, the rumoured celebrity guest list went into overdrive, but at the end of the day, it was an impressive display of the city’s fashion credentials.
And now Elle magazine has singled our city out for its present day cultural icons as much as its celebrated past.
In a feature written by Manc Becky Burgum, she pointed out that the Chanel show, rain and all, may have pushed Manchester into an entirely new era – one that’s a bit less about our ‘male-focused past glories’.
The glowing endorsement for the city’s current and future cultural scene spreads several pages in the glossy fashion bible this month.
It states: “Often ignored, always underestimated, the country’s second-largest city is manifesting an explosion of talent.”
In it, Elle sings the praises of massive venues like Aviva Studios, Co-op Live and the Manchester Art Gallery, as well as glamorous newcomers like Fenix and Soho House.
But the magazine also speaks of the ‘less polished Salford outskirts’ which is home to venues including The White Hotel, Paradise Works and Hidden.
As for food and drink, Elle’s piece describing Manchester as a cultural capital singled out The Sparrows, Erst and Higher Ground, all Michelin-recommended spots with their roots planted in the north west.
Over in the ‘Chanel-approved Northern Quarter’, it was venues like Stray (a beautiful cocktail bar in a corner of Mackie Mayor’s building), Afflecks (Manchester’s iconic, eccentric shopping emporium), and Band On The Wall that got a mention.
Night and Day CafeFenix in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupErst in Ancoats. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Edinburgh Castle. Credit: The Manc GroupStray bar in the Northern Quarter. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Sparrows. Credit: The Manc GroupBand on the Wall. Credit: The Manc GroupYayoi Kusama exhibit at Aviva Studios. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Chanel Metiers d’art show in Manchester caught the world’s eye, Elle magazine said. Highlights of Manchester singled out by Elle magazine
Then there’s the Edinburgh Castle (best Guinness in the city, apparently), the ‘boundary-smashing’ HOME, and the upcoming Treehouse Hotel, all having their praises sung in one of the country’s most famous magazines.
The piece says: “But our (male-focused) past glories aren’t what makes Manchester so special – it’s all about what’s happening right now.
“There is often a blinkered, London-centric outlook that maintains creativity can’t possibly exist outside the M25. But how wrong that is.”
But, it concludes, ‘don’t forget your umbrella – that’s the only stereotype that rings true’.
Daisy Bradbury -
2nd April 2021 
