Bill Cunningham, urban chic and the UK revival
Bill Cunningham New York is a fantastic, widely-acclaimed documentary about the legendary New York Times street fashion photographer. Bill Cunningham is, of course, the man who initiated the street-style phenomenon - a type of photography that involves taking pictures of random people going about their lives and wearing striking clothes.
After huge success in the US last year, it has now been revealed that the film will have a UK cinema release. A must-watch for fashion enthusiasts, it highlights Cunningham's belief that "the best fashion show is definitively on the street".
The streets of the Big Apple have long been an inspiring live catwalk for photographers, designers, magazine editors and passionate fashionistas. New Yorkers normally favour one of two staple styles: on the one hand you have those who embrace power-dressing on a daily basis: sharp suits, classic labels and smart business attire. On the other side of the fashion spectrum, you have a raw, colourful and edgy look: urban style.
One wardrobe essential for pulling off the urban look is a pair of edgy jeans. Although denim jeans are a timeless classic, you can make them more fashion-forward by choosing vintage fabrics, unusual stitching and unconventional shapes - like the on-trend drop-crotch cut. Such styles work brilliantly with funky trainers and slouchy tops. For a sleeker look, they also look great with slim-fitting shirts, dapper blazers and retro brogues.
Bench jeans are perfect for people with a modern, urban style - in fact, young heart-throbs and X Factor graduates One Direction are regularly snapped wearing Bench clothing. The lads usually favour skinny fits or drop-crotch styles - and, considering they're about to attempt breaking the US market, their stylists are no doubt working to create a US-friendly urban style with a dash of British cool.
Of course, One Direction aren't the only UK artists to try cracking the US market in recent months - rapper and men's clothing icon, Tinie Tempah, has also made waves Stateside in 2011 with his debut album Disc-overy. With divas Adele and Jessie J also doing their bit for UK music and fashion, it looks like we could see an even greater British influence on US trends in 2012.
After huge success in the US last year, it has now been revealed that the film will have a UK cinema release. A must-watch for fashion enthusiasts, it highlights Cunningham's belief that "the best fashion show is definitively on the street".
The streets of the Big Apple have long been an inspiring live catwalk for photographers, designers, magazine editors and passionate fashionistas. New Yorkers normally favour one of two staple styles: on the one hand you have those who embrace power-dressing on a daily basis: sharp suits, classic labels and smart business attire. On the other side of the fashion spectrum, you have a raw, colourful and edgy look: urban style.
One wardrobe essential for pulling off the urban look is a pair of edgy jeans. Although denim jeans are a timeless classic, you can make them more fashion-forward by choosing vintage fabrics, unusual stitching and unconventional shapes - like the on-trend drop-crotch cut. Such styles work brilliantly with funky trainers and slouchy tops. For a sleeker look, they also look great with slim-fitting shirts, dapper blazers and retro brogues.
Bench jeans are perfect for people with a modern, urban style - in fact, young heart-throbs and X Factor graduates One Direction are regularly snapped wearing Bench clothing. The lads usually favour skinny fits or drop-crotch styles - and, considering they're about to attempt breaking the US market, their stylists are no doubt working to create a US-friendly urban style with a dash of British cool.
Of course, One Direction aren't the only UK artists to try cracking the US market in recent months - rapper and men's clothing icon, Tinie Tempah, has also made waves Stateside in 2011 with his debut album Disc-overy. With divas Adele and Jessie J also doing their bit for UK music and fashion, it looks like we could see an even greater British influence on US trends in 2012.
