Humanity Hallows Issue 5 Out Now
Pick up your copy on campus or read online
By Louis Hall Dunleavy
We are all guilty of dreaming about that pair of Tom Ford shoes or fantasising about that Burberry trench. However, as students on a budget, we usually find ourselves at the mercy of high street giants, who for some reason still can’t seem to mirror the work of the fashion elite.
No matter how hard they try to embroider a pair of jeans and emulate the success of Alessandro Michele’s latest Gucci phenomenon, shoppers can’t help but smell the buyer behind the £29.99 H&M version, trying to squeeze a margin out of the latest trickle-down trend from the catwalks of Milan.
In no way am I brand snob; in fact I’m quite the opposite. I would be lying if I said I don’t have any designer pieces in my wardrobe. I am a fashion student at heart and, true to my nature, I’d love to be able to buy a Saint Laurent shirt. That being said, I do make frequent pilgrimages to a select few high street retailers, the flavour of the month for me at the minute being Zara…
Zara: the Spanish super power owned by a Spanish super power. I used to loathe the fast fashion retailer but, recently, I’m seeing some nice pieces at the store. In fact, within the last two weeks, I have visited twice and, on both occasions, I’ve walked out with a very depleted student loan. Perhaps they have finally realised that, if they mirror the catwalks with style, they also have to mirror the quality! I once returned a coat four times as seams fell apart, the material bobbled and, with a hefty price of £109.99, you wouldn’t expect it. That being said, Zara’s problem with quality seems to have passed as the pieces I picked up later have stayed intact and I actually really like them.
I often ask myself, can you achieve the prestige designer look without paying the prestige designer price? I recently watched a video by the blogger Gallucks where he attempted to take his top designer picks of the week and find a high street alternative. Whilst some of the cheaper alternatives where okay, they just did not compare to the real thing.
So in short no, you can’t. Or, at least, not yet. No matter how hard they try, it’s just impossible for the high street to deliver the same quality, design and fabrics that the French houses can. Sorry Topshop, the Gucci snakes belong to Gucci! However, do not be deterred as, rather than copy the catwalks, I urge retailers to take inspiration but make it their own. I often cringe when I see retailers blatantly plagiarising high end designer looks, with the worst being Zara’s response to Yeezy. But it would be nice to see some originality in the market and even nicer to see a high street retailer build their own aesthetic.
At the end of the day, fashion is all about the person who is wearing it. If you were Rihanna, you’d likely look good in a bin bag. Even if the bin bag is from ALDI!!
Feature Image: Press “It’s important to find your people. Don’t feel like you have to find this incredible producer or person who’s going to give you loads of money and change your life” says Lauerence Tratalos, one-half of the Northern duo responsible for Misper; a feature debut for director Harry Sheriff and script writer Tratalos….
Featured image and gallery: Lucy Elson-Whittaker Fuel Café Bar in Withington hosts the fifth stop of six-piece band Ignoring Izzy’s ‘Motorway Musk’ tour, following the release of their debut single. The room buzzes with the promise of chaos, and possibly a few flying vegetables. Opening the night is Manchester-based Leucotome, a witch-folk trio blending soft,…
Featured image and gallery: Sub Khan Opening the night, Gabrielle eases the Co-op Live crowd into the spectacular night ahead. There’s no need for spectacle, her presence alone is enough with her deep vocals echoing around the arena. A performance rooted in control and feeling, each song reveals a different shade of her understated command. Operating…
Featured image and gallery: Sam Holmes Formed in Belfast in 2019, Chalk have already made a name for themselves. From support slots for Fontaines D.C., IDLES and Sprints, to taking to the stage at SXSW earlier this year, the band’s growth has been rapid and shows no signs of stopping. Touring their debut album Crystalpunk,…
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