FEATURE
C2C
FASHION
Country Music is coming to the capital this March as Country 2 Country rides into London, Glasgow and Dublin. Whether it’ s your first time at this phenomenal festival or you’ re a veteran, The 411 will show you how to get your Country on and strut through the doors of The O2 like a true Nashvillian.
COUNTRY COOL
C2C is a marathon, not a sprint. We need comfort ladies, right? Luckily, to emulate country music’ s chicest women, Miranda and Carrie, all you need is laid back style. Step One: Do not leave the house without your favourite pair of old blue jeans. Ripped, worn, skinny, straight, bootleg – it doesn’ t matter. If you’ re brave enough to go for cut-off, go for it girl! Step Two: Why not rock your top artist’ s t-shirt? There’ ll be plenty of merchandise on sale at the venues, so be prepared to change on the go and update to your new impulse buy top in the nearest toilet! Alternatively pair a white vest top with a plaid shirt for a relaxed layered look. Look no further than Spangles USA for this great white vest top with tribal skull and arrows motif www. spangles-usa. co. uk, £ 19.95- £ 21.95, sizes small-XXXL( 1). Be sure to stop by Spangles’ stand at the Town Square C2C, where they’ ll be for the 5th year running, to find plenty of great country inspired clothes to boost your western wardrobe. Step Three: Add the finishing touches. We all know that the right accessories MAKE an outfit, so here’ s what you’ ll need to go from Nantwich to Nashville. The days of the Stetson aren’ t quite over, but in the twentytens your guys‘ n’ gals of country tend to sport a more chilled‘ ball cap’. I’ m still obsessing over my Carrie Underwood cap snapped up from C2C last year, but Spangles USA have this fab‘ Hi Y’ All’ version, £ 18.50
56 ndFASH
2
cool from [ www. spangles-usa. co. uk ] www. spangles-usa. co. uk( 2). Finally, complete the look with a classic leather belt and statement buckle. You can’ t go wrong!
NOD TO NUDIE
For those of you emitting a high pitched‘ WHO?’ right about now, what if I say to you: Elvis’ gold lame suit, Porter Wagoner, Hank Williams … Nudie Cohn created some of western wear’ s most iconic outfits, he was the original Rhinestone Cowboy. Although Nudie himself passed away in 1984, Nudie’ s Rodeo Tailors is still going strong, see www. nudiesrodeotailor. com. Now, we’ re not saying you need to attend in your full Porter Wagoner( although you might want to, in which case, to each their own), but with the western-wear trend still in full swing there are some, shall we say, subtler homages to this country star outfitter available on your high street and online. Pure Cotton Denim Embroidered Long Sleeve Shirt, £ 39.50, www. marksandspencer. com. Sizes 6-24. Bonnie Western Shirt, £ 45, www. westernwear. co. uk. Sizes 8 / 12-18 / 20( 3)
PRAIRIE DOLL
Prefer the more feminine approach to the trend? Then fear not, this look is for you and, better still, is easy as pie to achieve. All you need is a whimsical flowing maxi dress like M & S’ gorgeous ditsy print long sleeve maxi, £ 45 in sizes 8-22. Alternatively, go with the Navajo print trend. Check out M & S’ great tribal print number from their M & S Collection range, just £ 29.50. We will be early March though, and who on earth knows what the Great British weather will be doing, so we do advise to exercise some caution if you’ re going to go down the sleeveless route. You won’ t be able to enjoy the spectacular line-up if you catch your death! So, be sure to team your strappy maxi with an oversized cardigan or short denim jacket( yes, denim again!).
Of course, none of this can be achieved without …
1