Zara Magazine by annadsolent

I S S U E

O N E

WINTER EDITION - START THE SEASON STYLISH

M A G A Z I N E

T H E P A

L A U N C H R T Y 22.01.22

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WELCOME TO

ZARA MAGAZINE: An Editor’s Note: HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE VERY FIRST ISSUE OF ZARA MAGAZINE! ZARA MAGAZINE WAS CREATED WITH THE INTENTION OF SHARING THE STORIES FROM WITHIN, NOT ONLY ZARA, BUT THE FASHION INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE. WE ARE DEDICATED TO BRINGING YOU ALL THE TOP NEW AND NOTEWORTHY STORIES FROM WITHIN, AS WELL AS LOOKING AT THE ALL THE UP AND COMING TRENDS, AND GIVING YOU THE BEST TIPS ON HOW TO STYLE THESE SO THEY FIT INTO YOUR WARDROBES. IT FEELS SURREAL TO HAVE SEEN ZARA MAGAZINE GROW FROM A SIMPLE IDEA ON PAPER INTO A FULL-BLOWN 48-PAGE SPREAD WITHIN A MATTER OF MONTHS, AND I FOR ONE AM SO EXCITED TO SEE ZARA MAGAZINE GROW WITH EACH AND EVERY ISSUE. THERE IS A LOT OF HARD WORK BEHIND THE SCENES THAT GOES INTO MAKING A MAGAZINE, SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS WORKED WITH ME TO ENSURE THE FIRST ISSUE OF ZARA MAGAZINE IS THE BEST THAT IT POSSIBLY CAN BE, FROM THE MODELS TO THE HAIRSTYLISTS NO WORK HAS GONE UNNOTICED AND I AM IMMENSELY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR HELP IN BRINGING THE MAGAZINE TO LIFE. I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY ISSUE ONE OF ZARA MAGAZINE. WE HAVE LOTS OF AMAZING STORIES AND STYLING TIPS TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL THIS SEASON, FROM THE STORY OF ZARA ITSELF TO HOW BROWN HAS BECOME THE NEW BLACK THIS WINTER SEASON! I AM SO EXCITED TO SHARE ZARA MAGAZINE WITH YOU ALL, THANK YOU FOR READING AND REMEMBER TO START THE SEASON STYLISH!

Anna Dalligan

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF ZARA MAGAZINE

C O N T STORIES THE STORY OF ZARA (PG.6 - PG.9) INCONSISTENCY IS DAMAGING OUR PERCEPTION OF BEAUTY (PG.12 - PG. 13) LETS HEAR FROM YOU (PG.16 - PG. 18) ZARA SRPLS COLLECTION RUNWAY REVIEW (PG.20 - PG. 21)

E N T S STYLING BLAZERS (PG.24 - PG.27) MARINE STRAIGHT JEAN (PG.28 -PG.29) THE STUDIO WINTER COLLECTION (PG.32 - PG. 35) LEATHER (PG.36 - PG.39) YOUR WINTER HANDBAG GUIDE (PG.42 - PG.45)

THE STORY OF

With over 2000 stores worldwide and a net worth of over $72 billion dollars, Zara has cemented its status as one of the most successful fast fashion brands today, but how did the infamous clothing store grow into the empire it is today? What is the story of Zara? Amancio Ortega is known as one of the most secretive men in the world, never granting a single interview to the press in the entire 50 years since Zara first launched, and pictures of him only being published to prove his existence to stock investors. Despite his secretive life, he has still managed to go from rags to riches, starting from nothing to today being worth over $70 billion dollars.

jobs at the clothing store. They would spend any spare time they had drawing up designs, sourcing fabrics, and sewing gowns, before going from door to door to sell these affordably priced gowns to A Coruna’s locals. Ortega’s business was a quick success and soon he sets up his own workshop, called ‘Goa’, before he starts hiring.

The youngest of four children, Amancio grew up in a small home located in A Coruna, Galicia. In the northern region of Spain, Galicia is an area most famous for rural poverty, with many of its residents fleeing throughout the first half of the 20th century on the hunt for a better quality of life elsewhere. However, Amancio knew he wanted more from his life, and at the age of 13 promised to himself that he would never be poor again, quitting school in order to find work and provide for his family.

“Ortega worked alongside his people, his employees. He always wanted to be there. If there were boxes to fill, clothes to hang, or marks to make. He would do it.” Magnelina says, a former seamstress who used to work at ‘Goa’ alongside Ortega. It was clear how important it was to Amancio that he and his employees were at the same level, both working hard to ensure the business flourishes.

Ortega’s first job was in a shirtmaker’s, which was where his love for fashion was born. However, he soon left after being offered a job in a more upper-class chic clothing store, where he learnt the craft of tailoring. Here is where Amancio had the revelation that clothes are designed in a way that they’re commanding the customers what to wear, rather than listening to their views and designing clothing based on what they want. Ortega wanted to be the one to change this, so took on board a fellow employee at his store, Rosalia Mera, to help him get started on his first business venture, making dupes of high-end clothing, and selling them at an affordable price point. Amancio had borrowed approximately 30 euros as a loan from the bank to get his business started, and him and Rosalia then worked long and tiring hours, alongside their

Soon Amancio met and became friends with Jose Maria Castellano, who initially helped him as an outsider until Ortega realised how beneficial he would be to him and his business. Castellano worked in IT and convinced Ortega to computerise his business, starting this process almost 20 years before all of their competitors, which instantaneously put them ahead in the fashion world. It was in 1975 when Amancio finally opened his first boutique, Zorba, naming after his wife’s favourite movie ‘Zorba the Greek’. This name was important to Amancio as his wife, Rosalia, was who had worked alongside him on this business venture since day one. However, issues soon arose as a nearby bar, also called ‘Zorba’, complained, meaning Amancio had to compromise and changed his boutique’s name to Zara.

Despite the original naming issues, Zara was an instant success, and word soon spread across Spain, raving positively about Amancio’s designs. Gradually, Ortega expanded the Zara brand, opening various branches across the country, then just over a decade after Zara’s launch, Ortega formed the Inditex group and opened the first Zara store abroad, just 150km away from Galicia, in Portugal. The Inditex group, formed in 1988, was a support system for Amancio to open more clothing stores alongside Zara, which he did throughout the 1990’s, opening infamous stores we all know today, such as Pull&Bear, Bershka, and Stradivarius. However, Zara was Ortega’s main focus, and he continued expanding his empire by opening stores globally. But Amancio

Marketing wise, Ortega is one of the smartest businessmen to date, with the entire Zara brand following that same principle Amancio has stuck by since the beginning which is putting the customer first. Starting by recreating highend designs then selling them for cheaper is what worked for Amancio when his business first launched, and this didn’t change for Zara. The store is infamous for this design tactic, and in fact it is Ortega that invented ‘fast fashion’. “The originality of Zara is they took a number of received ideas and common practices in the fashion sector and changed them. The first is to say rather than being a fashion generator, we will follow the trends. We will see what works and we’ll adapt. Zara manages to spot trends and get products looking alike in less than fifteen days” says professor and specialist in cooperate strategy Jerome Batentellorie. Zara is well known today for its 12,000 new designs developed and distributed annually, refreshing its garment stock twice a week. “In most of the fashion industry it takes around 40 weeks from the drawing of a cloth to putting it on the market. However, Zara is able to develop the product, to sketch it, and bring it to the market within two to four weeks” says fashion expert Javier Blanco.

was rather clever in how he carried this out, creating worldwide hype as slowly but gradually, he opened stores across different countries, with the first U.S. store opening in 1989, and the first U.K. Zara store not opening until 1998, almost 10 years later.

So how is this done? Up until the early 2000’s, all of Zara’s clothes were being still being manufactured in its origin town of Galicia, Spain. However, as the company’s growth expanded, there was no choice but for them to globalise production, with today, 35% of Zara’s clothing being created in Asia, whilst 49% is still manufactured in

the Spanish / Portuguese region, and the additional percentages spread out between the rest of Europe and South America. Distributing their production worldwide allows for clothes to be made at a quicker pace, and additionally provides more jobs in production factories to those living in disadvantaged countries, something Amancio is passionate about following his upbringing in a poor background. Today, there are over 2000 Zara stores worldwide, spread across 96 different countries. The Inditex group, which is the parent company to Zara and various other stores Ortega has founded, is currently worth over $80 billion, and is officially named as the biggest clothing retailer in the world. Zara alone has a net worth today of approximately $13.2 billion dollars, and pre-pandemic in 2019, sold almost 3 million units of product in just that year alone, making them the most successful European fast fashion brand of that year. And Zara’s founder, Amancio Ortega, is today the eleventh richest man in the world, with a net worth of over $73.2 billon dollars. Considering Ortega, only 50 years ago, borrowed the small amount of 30 euros from his local bank to start his business, and today is a multi-billionaire, truly proves the determination he had to solidify his name and presence within the fashion industry. The promise 13-year-old Amancio made to himself that he would never be poor again certainly came true, and Ortega’s story is inspiring to anyone aspiring to own a business, as he has proved it possible to be an entirely self-made billionaire, who went from rags to riches as a result of hard work and dedication.

Amancio Ortega, pictured with ex-wife and business partner, Rosalia Mera, in a rare public appearance. Without a doubt, Amancio Ortega has achieved exactly what he set out to do all those years ago as a young boy working in a chic designer boutique. From sewing gowns with Rosalia in his dressing room, to opening the ‘Goa’ workshops, then opening the first Zara store, and forming the Inditex group, and all that followed after, one thing has never changed, and that thing is to always keep the customer at heart. Zara is a brand created by the people, for the people, and its impact on the fashion and business world is remarkable. This is only the beginning.

B e r s

THE WINTER ‘22 RANGE 10

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available exclusively in stores or at bershka.com 11

Inconsistency is damaging our perception of beauty A column

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN THE CHANGING ROOM OF A STORE AND SIMPLY WANTED TO CRY BECAUSE A PAIR OF SIZE 14 JEANS WON’T DO UP, BUT YOU’RE CONFUSED BECAUSE YOUR SIZE 10 JEANS FROM ANOTHER SHOP FIT PERFECTLY? AS WOMEN, WE HAVE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE A DIFFERENT CLOTHING SIZE IN EVERY STORE. HOWEVER, FOR YOUNG WOMEN TODAY, ACCEPTING THIS IS HARDER THAN EVER. IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, SEEING PERFECTLY PETITE SKINNY INSTAGRAM MODELS CONSTANTLY AS WE SCROLL THROUGH OUR FEED HAS ONLY WORSENED OUR OWN PERCEPTIONS OF OUR BODIES. BODY IMAGE ISSUES ARE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH, WITH A REPORTED 1 IN 7 YOUNG GIRLS SAYING THEY FEEL UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY THAT THEY LOOK. SO WHY IS IT THAT CLOTHING STORES ARE FUELLING THIS HATRED OF OUR BODIES BY MAKING CLOTHING SIZES SO DRASTICALLY INCONSISTENT? ‘ONE SIZE FITS ALL’ CLOTHING IN PARTICULAR IS SOMETHING THAT HAS GROWN IN POPULARITY OVER RECENT YEARS, AND AS IT’S GROWN, WOMEN’S CONFIDENCE IN THEIR BODIES HAS DECREASED. IT IS SIMPLY UNREALISTIC THAT A WOMAN WHO IS A SIZE 4 AND A WOMAN WHO IS A SIZE 24 WILL BE ABLE TO FIT INTO THE EXACT SAME SIZE DRESS. WE ALL KNOW IT. THE BRANDS KNOW IT, BUT THEY DO IT ANYWAY. THEY DO THIS BECAUSE IT IS CHEAPER FOR THEM TO PRODUCE MULTIPLE CLOTHING PIECES IN THE SAME SIZE, USING LESS MATERIAL, THAN FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY BE INCLUSIVE IN THEIR CLOTHING SIZES. ALMOST USING IT LIKE A ‘GET OUT OF JAIL FREE’ CARD, SO THAT THEY CAN SAY “YES WE ARE INCLUSIVE, OUR CLOTHING IS ALL ONE SIZE FITS ALL”. MANY BIG CORPORATE CLOTHING COMPANIES PUT MONEY FIRST, AND THIS SHOWS. HOWEVER, WHAT THEY FAIL TO CONSIDER WHEN PUTTING ONE SIZE CLOTHING OUT ON THE SHELVES IS THE IMPACT THAT THIS CAN HAVE ON A YOUNG WOMAN’S MENTAL HEALTH. THE INSECURITY THEY FEEL WHEN THEY TRY ON THIS ‘ONE SIZE FITS ALL’ PIECE OF CLOTHING TO FIND THAT IT IS TOO SMALL. AS A YOUNG WOMAN MYSELF, WHO MASSIVELY STRUGGLES ON A DAILY BASIS WITH BODY DYSMORPHIA, I AM QUITE FRANKLY SICK AND TIRED OF FEELING CONFIDENT WALKING INTO A SHOP IN A SIZE 8 PAIR OF JEANS, BUT THEN TRYING ON ANOTHER PAIR OF TROUSERS TO FIND THAT A SIZE 12 WILL NOT EVEN FIT OVER MY THIGHS. A SCENARIO LIKE THIS HAS BROUGHT ME TO TEARS IN PUBLIC AND MADE ME FEEL EVEN MORE INSECURE THAN I ALREADY DO, AND THE FACT THAT I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THIS SHOWS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, AND THINGS NEED TO CHANGE. YES, I KNOW THAT SIZES EXIST FOR A REASON, AND I AM NOT SAYING TO REMOVE THE LABELS OF CLOTHING SIZES ALTOGETHER. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT CLOTHING SIZES NEED TO BE CONSISTENT AND IF I AM A SIZE 6 IN ONE SHOP, I DO NOT WANT TO BE STRUGGLING TO FIT INTO A SIZE 10 IN ANOTHER. I KNOW FOR MINE, AND MANY OTHER YOUNG WOMEN’S PEACE OF MIND, IT WOULD MAKE US FEEL A LOT HAPPIER AND MORE CONFIDENT IN OUR BODIES IF CLOTHING SIZES WERE CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT ALL THE MAJOR BRANDS. INCONSISTENCY IS DAMAGING YOUNG WOMEN’S PERCEPTIONS OF BEAUTY AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CHANGE THIS, RATHER THAN THE FASHION BRANDS THAT US WOMEN LOVE FURTHER FUELLING THAT INSECURITY. 13

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LETS HEAR FROM YOU

Zara Magazine’s key focus is giving you, our readers, the best, most attainable tips on how to stay stylish each season, and who better than to hear from but yourselves! With each issue, we select one lucky reader to be featured, interviewing them to learn about their journey with fashion, seeing what tips and tricks they’ve learnt throughout the years, and asking them what trends they’re loving this season. Meet our first ‘Lets hear from you’ star, Helena Burton. Helena Burton is a 19-year-old paediatric nursing student from Liverpool, but although her desired career path doesn’t relate to fashion, that does not mean Helena doesn’t love clothes! In fact, she tells us how a career in fashion is something she has always admired from afar, but her head and her heart have taken different paths, “There was a point during the first year of my degree where I seriously considered changing to a fashion course, but I just don’t think a career in that field is in the stars for me right now”. However, this doesn’t at all put a stop to Helena’s love of fashion, and in fact she tells us how this love has only grown since starting University in 2020, “Now I’m living away from home I shop more than ever! There’s always an occasion I need a new outfit for, and I take any excuse to go shopping” Helena jokes. But how did her love for fashion begin? Helena, born in August of 2002, recalls admiring her mum’s outfits from a young age, and from this has grown a love, in particular, for early 2000’s fashion, “The Y2K movement over the past year is defiently one of my favourite trends, simply because it reminds me of the outfits I used to see my mum wear as a child and would dream of dressing like her when I grew up”. The Y2K trend has certainly made its way into Zara’s stockrooms, and therefore, as Helena quotes, “straight into my wardrobe” this winter season. Growing up around fashion, it is clear that you would grow a love for it, but what is it Helena loves about fashion so much. This past year, in particular, was pivotal for Helena as she came out to the world as Pansexual, meaning you are attracted to people regardless of their sex or gender identity. And it is

fashion that Helena quotes as what largely helped her to accept her sexuality, stating that “Fashion helps me to express myself, and when I used to hide my sexuality, I felt that reflected in my fashion. I didn’t feel confident, therefore didn’t dress in what I felt confident in. However, I feel since coming out I’ve found who I truly am, my taste in fashion has completely changed and I now feel more confident and happier than ever to wear whatever I want, without fearing others judgement. I wear clothes for myself, not to please others”. Being Zara Magazine, of course we had to ask Helena what it was that she loved about Zara for it to be her favourite clothing store, to which she answered “I always know that if I go into a Zara store, or go onto their website that I’ll find something I love. It’s the only store that I truly trust to always be on top the latest trends, which is why I always shop there”. Helena tells us she has been a customer for her entire life, as her mum would buy her childhood clothes from Zara, which then led her to shop there as she grew older and developed her own sense of style. So, what is Helena’s sense of style? When asked to describe her style in three words, she tells us those three words are ‘colourful’, ‘confident’, and ‘sexy’. “I like my clothes to show off my body and show my personality. I want to be the one wearing the clothes, rather than letting the clothes wear me” Helena tells us after asking her reasoning behind those three words in particular. 17

Although in the winter months it may be slightly harder to dress ‘colourful’ and ‘sexy’, as of course our main priority in the British climate is to stay warm. However, no need to fear if your taste in style is the same as Helena’s, as Zara have always got you cov-ered with the latest new-in top trends. We asked Helena to pick just four items from Za-ra’s winter range that are high on her Wishlist this season. Helena’s first top pick was a classic winters coat, specifically one that is faux fur. A winters coat is an essential we all need in our wardrobes this season, and faux Fur in particular is the perfect material to go for in these icy months. This is because they not only look stylish, but as well are sure to keep you warm and cosy amidst the cold British weather. Helena says, “This coat was my first winter purchase this year and I know I’ll wear this year upon year, and it will never go out of style”. In a gorgeous chocolate brown shade, flawlessly on trend with brown being named the new black this winter, you’re certain to stand out and be the star of any room. If you haven’t got your winter coat sorted yet this year, this may be the one for you!

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The outfit that you wear underneath your coat is even more important, so last but certainly not least, Helena’s top pick is a blazer. A blazer is the perfect addition to any outfit, dressing up a dressed-down outfit within a matter of seconds. As well, most importantly in the winter months, a blazer keeps you warm! Helena classifies a blazer as her number one wardrobe essential, saying “What I love about this blazer in particular is its sand / stone colour, because too often we lean towards darker colours in the winter, so this blazer is the perfect wardrobe piece to brighten up any outfit”. A blazer is a wardrobe essential, not just in the winter months, but all year round, so if you don’t own one yet, now is the time!

If you want to keep up to date with what our first ‘Lets Hear From You’ star is wearing, find Helena on instagram at

@helenaburtonn

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THE ZARA

SRPLS

COLLECTION

THE WINTER DROP OF ZARA’S INFAMOUS ‘SRPLS’ COLLECTION IS FINALLY HERE AND ZARA MAGAZINE HAVE REVIEWED THE ENTIRE COLLECTION STRAIGHT FROM THE RUNWAY TO HELP YOU DECIDE IF THE COLLECTION IS FOR YOU!

WMN / LOOKS

ZARA SRPLS

RUNWAY REVIEW

AS THE WINTER MONTHS CREEP IN AND THE WEATHER TURNS COLDER, THE LEAVES ON THE TREES AREN’T THE ONLY THING CHANGING ALONG WITH THE NEW SEASON. THE START OF WINTER SEES THE SECONDARY HALF OF THIS YEARS ‘ZARA SRPLS’ COLLECTION MAKE ITS DEBUT ON THE FASHION WEEK RUNWAY. THE BRIGHT AND COLOURFUL PRINTS SEEN IN THE PREVIOUS SUMMER COLLECTION HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN ABANDONED, AS THE COLLECTION TAKES ON A DARKER, NEUTRAL APPROACH, WITH THE LIGHTEST COLOUR SPOTTED BEING THE WHITES OF THE FAUX FUR UPON DARK SHIRLING WINTER JACKETS, CERTAIN TO KEEP YOU WARM IN THESE COLDER MONTHS. LEAVING THE COLOURS OF SUMMER BEHIND, THE COLLECTION IS ENTIRELY NEUTRAL BASED, WITH THE COLOURS THAT ARE INCLUDED BEING MUTED PERFECTLY TO FIT THE DARKER APPROACH WE TAKE IN OUR OUTFIT CHOICES AS THE WINTER SEASON ROLLS AROUND. MUSTARD YELLOWS AND ARMY GREENS PAIRED WITH CLASSIC GREYS AND BLACKS GIVE EACH PIECE SOMETHING UNIQUE YET IS NOT TOO OUT THERE, STAYING WITHIN THE COMFORT ZONE WHILST AT THE SAME TIME MAKING A STATEMENT. THE ENTIRE COLLECTION HAS ACHIEVED THIS MIX PERFECTLY. A WINTER COAT IS, OF COURSE, AN ESSENTIAL IN EVERYONE’S WARDROBE THIS SEASON, AND WITH TEN DIFFERENT DESIGNS TO CHOOSE FROM THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COLLECTION, ZARA HAVE ENSURED TO CATER TO ALL AUDIENCES. FROM BLACK LEATHER SNAKE PRINT TRENCH COATS TO LIGHT GREY SHIRLING PUFFER COATS, THEY ALL FALL INTO THAT SAME BOX OF BEING CLASSIC TREND-LESS WINTER JACKETS, BUT AS WELL ALL CATER TO VARIOUS SENSES OF STYLE, MAKING THIS COLLECTION PERFECT FOR ALL. ANOTHER KEY ITEM IN EVERY WINTER WARDROBE IS KNITWEAR, AND THE SRPLS COLLECTION HAVE GIVEN US AN ENDLESS ARRAY OF DIFFERENT STYLES OF KNITWEAR TO CHOOSE FROM. ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVOURITES BEING THE PATCHWORK PONCHO, DUE TO THE FACT IT IS SUCH A UNIQUE PIECE SURE TO BE A CONVERSATION STARTER AND TICKS ALL THE BOXES OF BEING FASHIONABLE WITHOUT PUSHING YOU TOO FAR OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE, AND AS WELL WARM AND THEREFORE PRACTICAL. HOWEVER, IF YOU’RE NOT FEELING THE PONCHO LOOK, ZARA HAVE YOU COVERED WITH COUNTLESS DIFFERENT STYLES OF KNITTED JUMPERS TO CHOOSE FROM, AND EVEN SEVERAL JUMPER DRESSES AND CARDIGANS TO KEEP YOU STYLISH AND SNUG. AND IF ACCESSORISES ARE MORE YOUR THING, ZARA HAS YOU COVERED WITH THE SRPLS WINTER 21 / 22 COLLECTION INCLUDING AN EXQUISITE COLLECTION OF ACCESSORISES. FROM STUNNING BLACK LEATHER BAGS PERFECT FOR YOU TO STORE ALL YOUR WINTER NECESSITIES IN, TO CLASSIC BUT IMPACTFUL SILVER JEWELLERY IDEAL NOT ONLY FOR THE COLDER SEASONS, BUT ALL YEAR ROUND. TO CONCLUDE, THE ZARA SRPLS WINTER ’21 / ’22 INCLUDES EVERYTHING NECESSARY FOR A FASHIONABLE YET PRACTICAL WINTER WARDROBE, PROVING THAT STAYING WARM DOESN’T MEAN SACRIFICING STYLE.

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B L A Z E R S

Dress it up or dress it down, blazers are a staple fashion piece essential in any fashion lover’s wardrobe. However, the trend surprisingly hasn’t been around for as long as you may initially assume. But how did the trend first start and how did it grow into the timeless phenomenon it is today? Whether you have a day of business meetings or a night out on the town planned, a blazer is the perfect fashion accessory, suitable for any occasion, and dressing up a dressed-down outfit within a matter of seconds. It all started back in the 1800’s, being spotted various times throughout the century at different boating competitions and on Royal Navy ships. The initial intention of the blazer design was for it to be worn at sea, and this remained the case up until the summer of 1893, when the blazer made its first appearance in the infamous ‘Vogue’ magazine. From here onwards is where the trend truly started to rise. At the turn of the century, a blazer was the accessory everyone wanted. Men across the world were styling blazers with their sporting and university uniforms, even creating their own personalised blazers with the logos of their schools and clubs stitched into the collars. Although it wasn’t just men jumping onto the blazer hype, as the start of the 20th century also marked the start of the new woman movement. Women were protesting for their rights to equality and, most famously, their right to vote, and the staple accessory in the uniform of the ‘New Women’ was, of course, a blazer. Paired with a shirtwaist and a tailored skirt, blazers have been worn as a statement for female empowerment by some of history’s most famous women, such as the infamous British suffragettes, including Emily Davison and Emmeline Pankhurst.

However, it was not until much later into the century, the late 1970’s to be precise, when blazers made their return into the clothing world. Although this time they were not back to be worn as a uniform or political statement, but they were returning with the intention to become a trend in the fashion world. Introduced on the runway by designer Giorgi Armani throughout the 70’s, the blazers were designed in a less formal way than we’d seen before, yet still had that same classic sophisticated look. This was the selling point that seemed to draw consumers into the blazer trend, as Armani proved that a blazer did not have to be a professional fashion accessory but could be styled as casually as any other jacket or jumper. The blazer trend exploded from here and grew more and more in popularity as each season passed. The 1980’s saw the start of designers experimenting with different prints and cuts in blazers, with some of the major trends of the decade including bright and colourful blazers, in shades of bright reds and electric blues, printed blazers in floral and plaid materials, and one of the most notable trends, shoulder pads. Shoulder pads in particular was an almost historical moment in the fashion industry, as it was something so unique and iconic that it is a trend still discussed and looked back on as a pivotal moment today.

The 1990’s saw the blazer trend hit the celebrity world, and we saw all the hit 90’s celebrities jumping on the bandwagon, from Will Smith and the cast of ‘Friends’, the stars of some of the most popular sitcoms of the decade, to Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, the stars in music of the 90’s. There wasn’t a celebrity that hadn’t been spotted wearing a blazer in the 1990’s, however one of the most notable by far was the late Princess Diana, who throughout her royal past had only worn blazers in the formal sense, but after her divorce proved the versatility of the blazer, pairing them with the simplest of outfits, such as plain white t-shirts and blue jeans, proving how much they add to an outfit, making a dressed down outfit dressed up within a matter of seconds. Today, the blazer is more popular than ever. From tweed and leather blazers, to cropped blazers, and even blazer dresses, there is something out there that is right for everyone, no matter your personal fashion taste. Although perhaps you find that there is too much versatility in the world of blazers and you do not know how to best style one this winter season, so where do you possibly start?

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The best way to introduce your wardrobe into the world of blazers is by starting off simple with a classic black blazer. A black blazer goes with everything from a simple t-shirt and denim jean look to a classy dress and heels, making it one of the most versatile pieces you can own. But if the traditional black blazer isn’t for you, there are so many different variations of materials and cuts to choose from, making it adaptable to whatever your preferred style may be. However, if you’re looking to be a little more trendy rather than timeless, a major trend the winter season are tweed blazers. Made popular by Chanel in the 90’s, today Zara are infamous for their different variations of tweed blazers, from matching cropped blazer and skirt sets to coloured traditional tweed blazers, it is the perfect take on creating a unique version of a classic item. The blazer has shown a clear and steady growth in the world of fashion over the years and has certainly cemented its place as a timeless piece that is essential in everyone’s wardrobe. In fact, blazers only grow trendier by the season, proving the statement true that a blazer will never go out of style.

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THE STUDIO WINTER

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L E A T H E R

In the winter months, the most important part in choosing any outfit is ensuring you stay warm, but why not do this in style? Leather is a winter wardrobe staple, and we’re here to tell you how the trend grew into what it is today, how you can best style leather this season A timeless trend but forever evolving to fit the newest styles, leather is one of the most versatile and wearable materials in fashion. Dating back to the Egyptian era, leather was predominantly used at first to craft essential tools such as buckets and military equipment, however wall paintings in Egyptian tombs also prove leather to have been a material used back then in creating gloves and sandals. Fast forward to the late 1920’s, when designer Irving Schott created the first leather motorcycle jacket for Harley Davidson. This marking the start of leather becoming an item of clothing to be worn as a fashion statement. From here onwards, leather became a staple trend within the male fashion industry, with celebrities from James Dean to The Beatles spotted sporting the popular trend throughout the first half of the 20th century. Leather in fashion was, at first, a very male dominated industry. This is because during this time there was a clear hierarchy between men and women in society, with men being looked at as superior. It was not until the late 1970’s / early 1980’s, in the beginning of an era of change for women’s rights, when we saw a change in how society worked. Along with this, we saw a change in how leather was worn in fashion. Female rock stars, such as the infamous ‘Blondie’, started the trend of women wearing leather jackets, influencing other women to follow suit, and soon turning leather into a fashion statement in support of women’s rights. With women in fashion taking over the leather jacket movement, we saw a shiftin trends. The industry quickly moved

away from the classic plain black leather jacket, as buyers started adding customised pieces to their own jackets, such as studs, pins etc. The idea that you could use something as simple and classic as a black leather jacket to express yourself, and make that jacket unique to you, instantly proved that leather as a fashion trend was here to stay. By the 1990s, leather had certainly cemented its place in the fashion world, with runways showcasing models dressed to the nines, head to toe in leather. Where previously leather had only been used in fashion when creating the classic black leather jacket, now, whatever clothing item you could possibly think of, it had been designed in leather. From skirts and dresses to trousers and tops, leather had taken on an entirely new role in fashion. Not only this, but as well, we were moving away from the classic black leather, experimenting with different colours, from deep reds to light browns, proving the versatility of leather as a material. Now, with it coming up to 100 years of leather being a part of the fashion world, the trend shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. In fact, with each season, leather only becomes more popular as it caters to fit in with each new trend. In particular, with sustainability being a current trend, manufacturers who once created leather using animal skin, have adjusted their techniques and found a way to produce vegan leather. Creating this type of leather using recycled plastic and fruit waste, yet still achieving that same classic leather look shows truly how far the fashion industry has come in the past century, and as well proves that leather is here to stay. 37

So, how can you make leather a part of your winter wardrobe this season? Of course, you can go classic with a simple but statement black leather jacket, and style this along with your everyday outfits, as there isn’t anything a black leather jacket cannot be paired with. However, if you’re looking for something a little more outside the box, and maybe more current than timeless, you can keep it cosy but cute in a faux leather puffer jacket or gilet, with endless colour waves, from classic blacks to stone greys and creams. One way in which you could style this iconic outerwear piece is by pairing it with a classic jumper and a pair of leather leggings, matching the colour of the jacket. Leather leggings are the perfect way to spice up any basic outfit, immediately adding class whilst keeping you comfortable. By finding the ultimate way to wear classic leather, whilst at the same time adding new and in-trend twists, the styling possibilities are endless. Additionally, what you may have seen gain a vast amount of traction this winter is the classic black leather blazer.

FAUX LEATHER PUFFER JACKET 3046/229

First gaining popularity in the high fashion world during the 90’s, the trend has made its resurgence this season, and now on the Highstreet, they are more popular than ever. A blazer is the perfect addition to any outfit, dressing up a dressed-down outfit within a matter of seconds, and even better, a leather blazer further adds to that classy look, elevating any winter outfit. However, if you prefer the accessorises side to the fashion world, a leather bag may be exactly what you’re looking for. From crossbody and shoulder bags to totes and backpacks, whatever your necessities may be, there is certainly a leather bag out there perfect for you. Leather has proved itself to be timeless yet trend-worthy material in the fashion industry. Its growth over the past century alone proves its power, going from leather motorcycle jackets in 1928, to a symbol of female empowerment in the late 70’s / early 80’s, and eventually today becoming a classic wardrobe essential for all. As one of the most versatile materials in fashion, there is one thing for sure, which is that leather will truly never go out of style.

FAUX LEATHER HOODED GILET 3046/243

BAGS! BAGS! BAGS! YOUR WINTER HANDBAG GUIDE

PEAR

L BEA

D MIN I 6556/ BUCKET B 810 AG 43

B ULDER O H S ED 10 QUILT 6227/7

MINI CR

OSSBO DY BAG 6687/71 0

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