STYLE, MUSIC & MY CITY | WHAT INSPIRES MY STYLE

*Disclosure: this post was sponsored by Levi's through their partnership with POPSUGAR. While I was compensated by POPSUGAR to write a post about Levi's, all opinions are my own.*

Manchester is a place like no other.
A place that offers architecture, musical and sporting heritage and a vibe like nowhere else I have ever visited.

It’s a place, that you all know, means the absolute world to me.
It’s my home. It’s where I was born and it’s where I will now, always remain.
There’s a real buzz to my city. A city born through it’s rich industrial heritage and a city known for it’s sisterhood pride, the creation of computers, Liam & Noel and two rival football teams.
It’s a city bursting with history, with music, science and sport and it’s a city that makes me REAL proud to call home.

The musical scene within Manchester has truly shaped me as a person, along with my personal style. The rough around the edges sound of bands such as Oasis, The Stone Roses and Joy Division mixed with the melodic tones of The Smiths, Doves and Elbow have allowed me to create a style of my own. A style that is based around both being a little unkempt at times but with elements that tie the whole thing up to create something really quite put together.

Along with the music scene in Manchester it’s the culture as a whole that really inspires me and my style. It’s a place where quite literally anything goes. A place that embraces everyone's differences and sings it from the rooftops.
Manchester is a relatively small city but with something for absolutely everyone.
I love nothing more that throwing on a pair of jeans on a weekend and heading out to explore all that Manchester has to offer. Whether you’re after a slap up meal, a burger, a pint or a cocktail we have it all and fit with a dirty sense of humour and a badass soundtrack.

All in all, Manchester is ace. It’s shaped me as a person and is completely the reason behind my personal style.

So with that and my love of Manchester’s culture and musical heritage I’d like to introduce to you, my customised and oh so personalised Levi's trucker jacket, inspired by all things Manchester, particularly it’s music, food and culture.

This is something a little different from me today but something oh so unique and a truly special experience from one of my all time favourite brands Levi's.

You might remember around TWO years ago now (yeah, I can't believe it either) I headed to British Summer Time Festival with Levi's to watch Blur (sorry Oasis) whilst wearing my beloved and since, well worn Levi's Trucker Jacket fit with personalised "M" monogramming. I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread and wore it, pretty much every day for that entire summer.

Since then, Levi's have completely upped their game when it comes to the whole Tailor Shop vibe. A Tailor Shop where anything can be customised, personalised and completely revamped in a way that most of us (especially me) could never achieve at home. 

Collars can be removed, hemlines frayed and pins and patches galore, added to every surface of your denim piece. 

I'm a sucker for absolutely anything personalised so the Levi's Tailor Shop is right up my street and I feel the majority of you will feel this way too. Adding a touch of personality and creating something unique and unlike anyone else's is something, you lot know, I adore. So when Levi's invited me along to see the Tailor Shop in their London Regent Street store, fit with more pins and patches than you could ever imagine, I quite literally squealed at the chance. 

So now lets discuss what I selected shall we.

I was toying between your classic oversized blue denim Levi's jacket, but quickly made a beeline for this collarless Trucker in a washed black shade. The collar had already been removed and the hemline already frayed, but please note that both of these can be done to ANY jacket within the Levi's roster, pretty clever ey?

I headed over to the Tailor Shop station and worked with the in-house tailor to create my dream jacket.

First up I selected an updated initial patch in yellow and was quickly told that I could have my name, or anything else I fancied, embroidered onto the jacket too. Well, this was too good of an opportunity to give up as I just ADORE anything with my name on, so requested to have “Megan” embroidered onto my cuff in an old school traditional font, however there is a WHOLE book full of typeface’s for you to choose from.

I then wanted to ensure I selected one of the oh so fabulously retro Levi's  branded patches as I adored the typeface of these so much. As you can see from the images I went for the Love & Levi's patch on the back panel of the Trucker as a nice reminder to anyone who catches me from behind… Love ALWAYS!

Finally, I threw in a burger patch, as why the heck not? And ‘cause Manchester absolutely nails it when it comes to the best burger joints around and then layered it with a “1990” patch. I’m a nineties baby so this was an absolute no brainer, however, it’s the music that I was introduced to throughout the nineties that I really feel have shaped me and my style.
Whether it’s the Gallagher brothers who are still inspiring me to this day, or the Spice Girls, Steps and unashamedly A1 the nineties was when I learnt just how much music means to me, my family and my city. It was the time that I experimented with what I listened to and with what I wore and it’s a time that I have a lot to thank for.

Once the patches were in place it was time to somehow select the pins from the HUGE selection on offer. Whilst a number of them are random and selected purely for the colours and quirky aspects of them, the sunglasses reflect my love of fashion and the lemon my love for Manchester and it’s music scene.

And my jacket was complete.
Complete with love, love for Manchester, for personal style and for music.

So what do you think of my super cute Levi's denim jacket? I urge you to all head down and create your own personalised piece. It’s something you will keep with you forever as it’s a piece completely unique to you and THIS time of your life, cute right?!
There are Tailor Shops in all stores throughout the UK (full list here)  so be sure to swing by to get in on the action.

x M