Indie Style at Brick Lane
A world between new and old trends.
Today we are almost used to hear about this word: indie. It is actually referred not only to the music but also to the style. It literally means alternative. Any style that is different, quirky and individual is indie so what they say is that you can’t really try to be indie. ‘Indie people’ dress the way they do because it reflects their personality and not because they try to be indie. So there is already a contradiction since it should be a style, which is appropriate for a small amount of people, but you can still find thousands of young or less young people styling themselves to the borders of the categorization of “indie” every where you go. “Wear what makes you feel best and if you’re indie, it’ll show.” Yes, this can also be true but in a certain way you are also inspired from what old fashion taught us all in the past years. I was told that wearing high waisted denim shorts is considered indie whereas in the UK it’s one of the most common trends to see around. In London, a lot of ‘indie people’ wear vintage clothes and shop at markets like Brick Lane or Camden Town but if you’re going to try and be indie you could also get clothes in Topman or in any All Saints and wear them adding something you can’t easily see around or a piece you got in some unknown vintage market and for half the price. If you’re going to be indie, wear something different and wear it differently. I wouldn’t recommend necessarily putting effort into dressing within this categorization of indie, because it can just look like you’re trying to be somebody you’re not.
The Brit Indie style consists of a lot of monochromatic colour tones, with heavy use of a lot of brown, yellowy, rusty colours with cream and white. But generally talking, in this field you don’t have to be afraid of colours. The whole idea is to be unique not to follow the mass marketing trends that are going on in fashion, or at least not to show off your branded jeans too much! For men the must-haves are tight skinny, vintage jeans, vintage tight t-shirts that are more one of a kind, cardigans, vintage ties and everything that has that vintage feel with a touch of new. Plus guys can go for anything that is fitted well, just stay away from baggy carpenter’s and unflattering styles. Levi’s 511 are good. Corduroy is great, and will keep you warm in the cold winter months. Stores like H&M or Urban Outfitters typically have a good selection of cords. Again, thriftshops may have some gems as well. The indie attitude is all about having a cool demeanor. Be random, be fun, BE YOURSELF. As a summary of your indie wardrobe we surely have to confirm shirts, V-necks, sweaters of a size down and ringer tees. You can layer loads of different kinds of shirts to your own taste. Flannel is in! Plaids in all colors are great to layer, or just to wear alone. Layering a flannel plaid shirt (unbuttoned) with your favourite t-shirt looks awesome, and is great for spring and fall! For winter, vintage leather or Members Only jackets are a great option. If you’d like, you can even deck them out with cool pins! You can also try a track jacket; they come in lots of colors and are great year-round. As for footwear, there are many other cool shoe styles to choose from like pointy shoes, Minnetonka, Vans Authentic’s which are really classy and cool and it’s appropriate to choose among the black (canvas and rubber both black), any shade of green, navy or off white. Moccasins are very important to an indie wardrobe. They add the unique and antique look to an everyday outfit. They can vary in design, color, and they go great with just about anything. Same for Nike Dunks have become popular recently because of the nostalgia it can bring, and the limited edition styles they come in. Sanuks also add a great touch; they come in different styles and color/patterns. If you feel like choosing a Converse make sure it’s a “unique” and “quirky” one.
With accessories, scarves for men are great all year round because you can get them in cotton, linen, silk and wool. Any headband is cool too. Mens messenger bags or big leathers holdalls are almost a must-have. Sunglasses can add a touch of celebrity and mystery. Popular styles include Wayfarers, any round glasses and Aviators. Be wary of jewels or other embellishments though. Finally don’t forget your hair! Suitable for guys with everything from straight to curly hair, the Brit rock hairstyle, which is nowadays on almost any catwalk, is all about length through the top. It’s also about texture. That texture can be a trait of your hair, or can come about courtesy of hair cut that introduces lots of slicing, chipping, razoring and deep point cutting. If you feel like being passionate about this style and its culture you could also add on your music player bands like Oasis, Babyshambles, The Killers, Enon, The Bravery, The Libertines, Babyshambles, The Strokes, dEUS, Sophia, Interpol, Arctic Monkeys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Wombats, White Lies, Kaiser Chiefs. And follow us in a very busy Brick Lane, London, on a Sunday afternoon to take some tips about style from these guys.
Stephen Ridley – London
Can be found playing the piano in Brick Lane. Hear wears vintage clothing and accessories found in the markets and also pieces from All Saints.
Andrea Ruzza – Italian living in London
He works as a promoter for a vintage shop in Brick Lane. Here, he wears all American Appearel and vintage shoes. We love the trousers, and the turn ups showing that dash of sock!
Enric – From France
A tourist who loves Brick Lane and the shop Rock It. Here he wears a H&M shirt and vest, with some trousers and shoes he bought in a vintage shop over in France.
By Claudia
Paul McGregor
Editor In Chief at Mens Fashion Magazine. I provide a variety of articles regarding the latest mens fashion advice and style tips. I've been a fashion journalist for a few years now, writing for sites such as FashionBeans, Styloko and The Style King.
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