Dress up, Britain!

There has never been a better time to support Britain and be a full-blown patriot than now, in full flow of the Olympics! It has been approaching for a while now; the media hype has got us all prepared for a once in a lifetime event that won't be forgotten! The 'British' themed trend has been booming alongside this, plastering the Union Jack across window displays, in packaging, interiors, quirky gifts, and of course fashion.

However, this isn't the first time the Union Jack has been exposed to the mainstream. Until the sixties, wearing the union jack had only been for serious patriots, so people were shocked to see musicians such as The Who boldly making a statement with their British themed fashion.

The seventies expressed a different attitude towards the British flag, as rebellion and anarchy rose up through the punk era. Most famously, The Sex Pistols made it clear how they felt towards Britain during times of hardship and unemployment.

And you're all waiting for it...The Nineties. Geri Halliwell is probably the most famous for wearing ridiculous union jack-themed outfits (I say ridiculous now but we all thought it was cool back in the day), and started a massive trend that the whole world was made aware of.

So here we are, recycling the trendy and not tired-out Union Jack once again in the 21st century. I have found my best picks of British themed fashion, not only to wear during the Olympics, but to show our ongoing support for the nation!

Firstly, this great little poncho from Topshop - probably the most useful piece needed in everyone's wardrobe this summer. Great for festivals, and would have done the job nicely if watching the women's road race on Sunday!

Love these Jimmy Choo shades, part of a British themed collection launched this year to support the Union Jack trend. Classic and cool.

There are a lot of Union Jack tees and tops around at the moment, so you are spoilt for choice. I like this one by AX Paris (you can find the brand in different highstreet stores, New Look being one of them), as it's a bit more edgy with a toned down colour palette.

Everyone needs a pair of wellies right? I know I need some new ones, and I think these are pretty cool. Again a festival must, or maybe just a must for one of those spare of the moment downpours we seem to be having. Sorry I'm moaning about the weather again. These are from Dorothy Perkins though there are many variations out there.

This cute little clutch from Alexander McQueen is great if you want to spend a little more. £1095 more to be exact. Ah well, I still love it.

A way not to work this trend...This guy from Made in Chelsea (I don't watch it but apparently his name is Ollie), looks ridiculous. Don't know what he's smiling about, but it shouldn't be anything to do with what he's wearing.

And because I can't possibly write a blog post without involving heels at some point, here are some quirky peep toes from Runway Shoes.

Here's some ideas, so dress up, Britain!

Mainstream or madness, I'll let you decide.

So, for those of you who don't know, I was lucky enough to get a placement in New Look's menswear buying department a couple of weeks ago, giving me a great insight into what I am hoping to be a future career. It did not disappoint; much of it was new to me but aspects were how I imagined it. Being in the menswear department was completely new to me however, but it gave me the opportunity to learn much more about the differences in trends and styles compared to womenswear. Hence, due to my inside knowledge of this autumn's and next summer's trends, I thought I would be kind and share it all with you! I'm sorry girls for focusing on men AGAIN, but hey, I'm sure boyfriends, brothers, friends etc would be grateful for the tips!


Flat Peak Caps (Yeh, one of those. I didn't know the proper name for them before either.)

With sportswear being a key trend at the moment with the Olympics approaching, sporty accessories are around now and here to stay for the rest of the year. These caps are being advertised profusely by celebs such as UK trendsetter Labrinth and rapper Wiz Khalifa, though Bieber obviously saw this trend coming a while back seen as he's been wearing one constantly since 2009...

I know it looks like it could be hard to pull off, but you're going to see them everywhere soon. Trust.



Leather


I don't want to scare you with the thought that all men are going to be walking around like these guys below, so I will point out now that it's merely ASPECTS of leather coming through this autumn/winter. Below is Yves Saint Laurent's edgy collection of tailored suits, jackets and trousers, with a large helping of leather.

The highstreet is pushing the leather accessories which are easier to work into outfits, such as bags, biker boots and boat shoes, though leather panelling and the classic leather jacket are there for the more confident. Topman is a great place to go for leather pieces; all the items below are currently on sale there.

Bow ties

 

Absolutely loving this trend. Before my placement I never really saw the appeal, but I have slowly grown to like them. Bow ties are going to be a must-have this autumn; just look at the celebrities already embracing the bows...



Quirky, colourful and fun, they're definitely worth a try next season. Go smart with a shirt and blazer, or casual with a short sleeve check shirt and jeans. Bow ties are no longer for just the preppy guys; they're versatile and show great character.

Onesies


Okay here's my thing. Onesies for men = giant babies. Kinda creeps me out, but I have been assured they will be popular this winter for lounging around the house. Still not convinced? No, neither am I, but thought I'd make a point of it anyway.

New Look are bringing in a range of animal themed onesies (not for everyone...) as well as some more stylish fairisle designs. Though their glow in the dark skeleton onesie is one to look out for! Topman have a range of jersey onesies, though being hoodless they actually look even more like baby grows...River Island are also in on the act, so it's got to be a sure thing right? I'll let you make your own minds up about that.