When you think of cities known for their effortless style and fashionable reputation, places like New York, Paris and Milan spring to mind. However, as a result of new research by Wynsors, Manchester should also be included in this list as it has been ranked one of the most fashionable places in the UK, beating London by a country mile. We knew we were trendier than the capital of England, but we now have the data to prove it!
To find out where the most fashion-forward towns and cities in the UK are, footwear retailer Wynsors created an index by looking at the number of fashion hashtags on Instagram, the number of shopping listings on Tripadvisor and Yelp, and the total monthly search volumes for 50 style-related Google search terms for 121 UK major towns and cities. Manchester came in second place with a score of 90.70 out of 100 after Bath, which got a final score of 92.56.
It’s no wonder that the UK’s ‘second city’ beat London (which doesn’t even place in the top ten), thanks to its incredible 2.63 shopping listings and 1.99 thrift shops per square mile. It’s fair to say that if you’re looking for a great city to go shopping in, Manchester is the place to go.
Though it’s no longer known as Cottonopolis, you only need to take a stroll down its streets to see that Manchester is still very much on the fashion map. Distinctive indie shops and eclectic vintage stores are in the celebrated Northern Quarter, while multi-million-pound brands have made the so-called ‘Capital of the North’ their new home, so no wonder Manchester is one of the most fashionable cities in the UK. Although, you can’t mention Manchester and fashion without talking about the institution that is Affleck’s Palace too – an Aladdin’s cave of alternative clothing and unique accessories you won’t find anywhere else.
According to the study, Manchester also had 17,610 monthly Google searches for all-things fashion and an impressive 104,951 #manchesterfashion hashtags on Instagram. It’s not surprising that its photogenic spots, such as the trendy Northern Quarter and stylish Ancoats, make it the perfect backdrop for an Instagram post.