We took you through the history of British street style and all the things that make it dope, but did you know that all the English street style influences, over years of evolution, have crept into your personal wardrobe? Now, how did that happen? Today on BandraRoad, we’re picking out a few stand-out designers who, in their own unique way, have presented English street style to the world and in turn facilitated it into your closet!
Is it reality fueling the runway or the runway fueling the street? Either way, here are the English designers who brought about the marriage between street culture and high fashion.
Vivienne Westwood
Before her, runway fashion was all about the rich, famous and snobbery (#TrueStory). But Vivienne Westwood saw the potential in punk style on the streets and integrated it in her high fashion collections. So now punks were cool, the rich were seen in plaid and Westwood’s destructed suits were applauded across the channels.
Graphic Vivienne Westwood tees backstage at the Vivienne Westwood show (Pic: Vivienne Westwood’s Facebook page)
Vivienne Westwood (Pic: Vivienne Westwood’s Facebook page)
Statement Brit plaid at Vivienne Westwood (Pic: Vivienne Westwood)
John Galliano
Though Paris later became his fashion home, John Galliano is as British as style and fashion can get. Rock and rebellion fueled his artistry and it was very evident in his pret lines. The infamous newspaper print became iconic and landed up being mass produced in high numbers, thus setting Galliano as a perfect example of how the runways influenced the street and stayed relevant long after the collection saw its end.
He mixed punk themes with rock and added some sexual tones with the trademark Galliano eccentricity to his campaigns
Fashion went street with Galliano Don’t give a F*ck campaign vibes
John Galliano campaign featured stripes in a cool street way
`The infamous Galliano for Dior newpaper print
Stella McCartney
She grew in the arms of a rock legend and witnessed her father change the world through music. In the process, Stella McCartney was subjected to the unique style influences of the rock gods, which is strongly represented in all her collections. Stella McCartney took street style and made it chic for the rich. Right from her strong #sportsluxe collaboration with Adidas to the quirks and street style quotes accented in her own flagship label. That woman and her fashion house churn out street looks for the fabulous fashion-hungry folks around the world.
Stella McCartney platform boots (Pic: Stella McCartney’s Facebook)
Quirky street style spotted in Stella McCartney. (Pic: Stella McCartney’s Facebook)
Acid dyed stars on jeans (Pic: Stella McCartney’s Facebook page)
Stella McCartney jeans (Pic: Stella McCartney’s Facebook page)
Musician and street style influencer, Rita Ora in Stella McCartney (Pic: Stella McCartney’s Instagram)
Ashish
One of the newest names to join the ranks of high-end British fashion with a strong street edge is Ashish. Season after season, Ashish took common street themes ranging from sports influences to working-class uniforms and produced collections with a sharp pop edge and loaded it with sequins, but in a high-fashion, ready-to-wear format. Pop icons like Madonna, Taylor Swift, and MIA swear by Ashish and continue to rock out in his dope collections.
Tailor Swift in Ashish’s version of a sexy houndstooth track look (Pic: @ashish_uk on Instagram)
Glitter paint joggers and sequinned sneakers (Pic: @ashish_uk on Instagram)
Glitter paint joggers and sequinned sneakers (Pic: @ashish_uk on Instagram)
Military themes in glitter (Pic: @ashish_uk on Instagram)
So you see, style isn’t about following the norm. All of the designers mentioned above have stood their ground and designed clothes that were different, so different that the world took notice. Brit designers didn’t just become famous, they were propelled into stardom because fashion lovers like you and I that thrive on the excitement their garments exude.
Clothes have to be engaging and they have to have a fun story. That’s what we do at BandraRoad. We’d like to help you build stories into your clothes. It’s not about what you wear but how you choose to wear it.
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