Screenshots from Hurts – Better than Love video (Youtube)

Shirt, Trousers, Bag, Watch, Belt, Boots – All ASOS

I never know what I’m expected to say when someone asks what my ‘feel-good’ outfit is – am I meant to point out to the stuff in my wardrobe that makes me feel good? Handcuffs make me feel good, the ones with fluff and diamanté embellishments… OK what’s with the bondage references? STOPPING. Anyway, I’d always give some sort of vague answer that was just another way of saying  ‘stuff-you-wear-to-bed’, but I think after putting this outfit together I now understand what it means to feel good in an outfit. As part of a challenge from ASOS‘ Music Inspires Fashion column I was asked to put together an outfit inspired by a band, and I settled for the utilitarian gentleman look of Hurts (Thanks Kit for the tip!). I guess I couldn’t stick to one character and it all ended up as a mix of Theo’s brooding glare + Adam’s piano arm roll-ups + the slick-haired girls in shirts & suits… or none of that and one very diluted Indiana Jones (with handcuffs, not whips). There’s something about wearing a menswear-look that works magic in boosting confidence – maybe it’s the comfort factor, or feeling as though you don’t need to impress anyone… I don’t know, but it felt good nevertheless. Well now I have this strong urge to throw out my flimsy feminine pieces and start stocking up on starched shirts and tailored trousers. When I start visiting grooming stores, that’s when you hit that PARK & HALT button, OK?

Please do checkity out the ASOS feature; thank you Kit for helping with the photos!