seasonal tips to vamp up your wardrobe 

The fashion scene across the globe is ever evolving and changing, with different cities incorporating the changing trends into society in their own unique ways. During this article I want to hyper focus into my hometown Portsmouth and delve into the fashion trends down by the seaside, and more specifically how these have changed overtime and why to get an idea of where we are headed fashion wise in the coming years. As most of you know the past always repeats itself and the fashion scene is no exception.

Due to recent rise in fast fashion culture areas such as North end and Commercial Road have seen a decrease in popularity, going back 10 years there was nothing better than popping downtown with your best friends buying a cute new top and maybe even grab some coffee but nowadays the convenient next day delivery from online shops such as Pretty little Thing and Boohoo have made the traditional form of highstreets shopping obsolete leading to many shops closing down and moving online. If you decide to have a day out in the real world shopping, you will come to find Commercial road barren of shops almost like a fashion graveyard of the pre internet world. It's depressing. In the UK over 8700 shops have closed down this year alone, that's around 50 per day and the effects of this can be seen all throughout Portsmouth the culture that was provided by these communal areas has been stripped away by the ever developing front of modern technology and whilst the addition of online shopping has broadened our wardrobes, it's also destroyed the culture of shopping that has been present ion society for years, not to mention the effects this new trend has on our environment, in the UK the value of all online shopping done in 2020 reaches just below a concerning 100 billion pounds. Just imagine the pollution this cost also came with

However the fashion industry has recently seen a revival in the trend of reusable fashion, with many vintage shops and charity shops opening all over Portsmouth with the youth of the city taking a more conscious approach to how they style their wardrobe. Have you ever thought your clothes lacked character, or thought that your style was too basic? Well then I highly suggest you take a trip down to your local charity shop and help not only your wardrobe, but the community and environment too. One of my personal favourite charity shops is 'Naomi's house' in North end, With a broad choice of clothing and accessories all for £1 it is affordable and beneficial to the environment. I have spent many hours rifling through their selection and have come across many unique pieces for my wardrobe such as a vintage lace blouse from the 1920s, which has since become a staple in my wardrobe. North end is a hotspot for many other charity shops with an array of unique pieces for lower prices. All down Southsea however you will find many vintage shops, holding valuable unique vintage clothing at a higher price, but for the authenticity and lack of environmental effect I would say it's worth it.

The fashion scene in Portsmouth could be described as inventive and diverse with a mix of styles not only influenced from the cultural diversity in Portsmouth, but by the addition of students to Portsmouth uni who bring a taste of their home town with them when they come to study; the outfits you seen in the streets are often unique and with the times. Comfortable but stylish is a common theme in the outfits of students now a days with this also being seen in Portsmouth College, students piercing together joggers and leggings with accessories such as puffer jackets and Nike shoes to style up their outfit in a way that can be worn to college or uni but also down areas such as town or Gunwharf Quays. Influence from artists also have an impact with clothing seen in Portsmouth, with artists such as Pink Pantheress advocating y2k style not only through her webpage, but by her own personal style, including articles such as low rise jeans and hot pink tops with an abundance of accessories such as chains and necklaces which I believe help to dress up even the most basic of outfits. I also believe the influencer Emma Chamberlain to be a helpful source of fashion inspo, often incorporating the ideas of 'mismatch matching' to her outfits helps guide you to piece together articles that wouldn't necessarily go together at first glance. Emma's podcast also gives useful advice on having staple pieces that you incorporate into daily outfits, this is a tool I find useful in everyday life that helps you not only be ready for your day, but wear an outfit that is a representation of you. It could be either a staple style of tops or jeans, which you can wear most days of the week, just changing up the coats or accessories such as sunglasses and bags to alter the feel of the fit.

The repetition of trends is a common theme inside the fashion world, with trends from the past being recycled into the present day. An example of this can be revival of the 2000s style that has grown in popularity with Juicy tracksuits being one of the many past pieces making a comeback. During the colder months you find yourself wondering, how can I stay warm but still look fashionable? Well I'm here to tell you a not so little secret, juicy tracksuits are a lifesaver during these colder months, able to layer tights underneath or tops for added warmth whilst still looking fabulous in the process, with the wide variety of colours, these tracksuits will be your best friend, helping you to make an easy statement whilst remaining snug as a bug in a rug. When thinking of the 70s, what fashion pieces come to mind? For me it's flares! An absolute essential this time of year, coming in many different patterns and materials these articles of clothing are sure to spice up your wardrobe with a blast from the past. Layering old pieces such as blouses and or jackets and pairing them with new accents such as bags of jewellery is a way to bring the past into the present in a unique way.

Living by the sea in Portsmouth you may find yourself having to deal with rainy days quite often. To combat this wretched weather I suggest investing in a windbreaker, a piece popular in Portsmouth in the 80s and 90s that is appropriate for the ever changing weather we have here in Portsmouth. Through summer, autumn, winter and spring Portsmouth remains one of the hidden gems in the fashion world. So much culture and personality in one little island. And so my dear readers, I hope this article has enabled you to delve into your creative mind and inspired you to create outfits as bold as our little island.