I trundled onto the Pastiche website so that I could refresh my memory about visiting this little…read moreboutique, and I instantly decided to bump it up a star for the following reason. The model has visible tattoos and a cute little black bob. Okay, so it's very subjective, and perhaps you might think unnecessarily so (my own tattoo usually remains hidden below clothing) but I do like it when clothing lines use more unusual looking models. I think the world needs it.
Soapbox moment over, and onto Pastiche, a shop that's morphed ever so slightly over the years from something of a more sophisticated alternative shop to a clothing store offering some unusual and often rather hit and miss party dresses, depending on your taste. I bought a fun fur coat here many moons ago while I was still a Salford student, and I swear, the thing lasted me through my undergraduate years. I could wear a vest under it, walk around in the bleak midwinter and still be toasty. Nowadays the jackets vary from your cropped leather biker that's so popular at the moment, to some beautiful (but not for shrinking violets) military styles.
I'll be honest, I really like some of the stuff here. I'm a sucker for their new big and comfy penguin and panda knitted jumpers in adorable pastel colours, and while a few of the dresses may seem somewhat 'tarty' there are many very cute puffball and lace options for those with secret aspirations to be an 80s prom queen (me, me, ME!). Plus, some slebs have been known to wear Pastiche's offerings. Don't be put off by what you see in the window, not everything is butt-skimming short and bright pink. Give it a fair trial, and definitely have a root around in the sale.