Our worst dressed URBAN LIFE 2006 www.myurbanlife.com METRO Wednesday, January 18, 2006 16 So, what is it all about? Urban Life is Metro’s award-winning study of ‘urbanites’ – young, full-time working professionals in Britain’s major cities. Each year we research the opinions, attitudes and lifestyles of 4,000 Metro readers across 13 UK cities, asking for readers’ views on everything from current affairs to cool brands; environmental issues to must-see movies; mobile phones to multiculturalism. What do I get out of it? We’re genuinely interested in your opinions on the key issues of the day and you can share these views with Metro’s editorial team. The results from our surveys fuelled more than a dozen stories in Metro last year – such as the one on this page today. As if that wasn’t enough, we’re also giving away £55,000 in prizes – hundreds of £20 HMV vouchers and one £1,000 cash prize after each of our main surveys. And if you stay with us the whole year and complete five or more of our six main surveys, you will be entered into our prize draw for one £5,000 cash prize. What’s involved? Taking part is easy. Urban Life is comprised of six main surveys, the first one in February and then one every six weeks. All surveys are online so you can do them any time of the day or night that suits you (within our survey periods). We’ll e-mail you when each one is ready to complete, each one should take you around 15 minutes to do. Sign me up now If you are interested in taking part in Urban Life 2006, please go to the www.myurbanlife.com website and follow the instructions there. Spaces are limited on the project – last year we had twice as many volunteers as we needed, so please register early to avoid disappointment. 1. Anything Burberry 2. Chav gold chains 3. Ponchos 4. UGG boots 5. Cowboy boots 6. Furry Mukluk boots 7. Visible G-strings 8. Gipsy skirts 9. Socks and sandals 10. Mullets Road-kill boots, Burberry-clad chavs, wristband overkill… SARAH HILLS on this year’s fashion crimes, as chosen by you not with floaty skirts and T-shirts walking through a Tesco Metro,’ Other boots were also unpopular, especially ‘those big furry boots that women insist on wearing’. One reader described those who wore them as ‘utterly stupid. They look as though they’ve trodden in road kill and teaming them with a short skirt just shows that popular culture does not equal taste.’ U rbanites believe in giving to good causes but are not so charitable when it comes to the plastic wristbands that have become a popular way of showing support for particular campaigns. They have been hijacked as a fashion item, according to one reader, who said: ‘The whole thing has just been undermined by money-grabbing fat-cats who are preying on what started out as a way of raising money for charity. I see kids walking around with God knows how many bands on their arms.’ Urban Life revealed that readers consider denim a second skin but there is a fine line when it comes to how it is worn. One member said: ‘When did women start tucking jeans inside their knee-length boots? Do they realise that they look like really bad 1970s hookers?’ Another ranter added: ‘What’s with this habit of buying severely pre-faded jeans? When they get to that stage I want a new pair.’ And the ‘stupid ethnic look that is in at the moment’ has proved to be ironic for one reader who said: ‘I have been sporting that look for years as an anti-fashion statement, and now it’s in bloody fashion. I’ve had to put my beads and silver jewellery away to avoid looking like a sad fashion victim.’ in cash and prizes is up for grabs WIN! WIN! Now, tell us what YOU think and... Come and take part in our 2006 survey by logging on to www.myurbanlife.com Making a fashion faux pas from time-to-time is forgivable but there are some trends which our readers find really hard to swallow. In an Urban Life survey, Metro invited readers to have a rant about what they considered the most serious fashion crimes of the year. Not surprisingly, chav fashion came top of the list. However, charity wristbands were also bad-mouthed because it was felt people had lost touch with the good causes and wore them as a fashion accessory instead. Chav was recently defined in the Collins English Dictionary as ‘a young working-class person who dresses in casual sports clothes’. But no chav would be complete without plenty of bling and a bit of Burberry, usually imitation. One ranter said: ‘We’ve had a laugh, but now it’s plain annoying. The pattern (Burberry check) is starting to give me an actual headache.’ Cowboy boots also raised a few temperatures among those who felt: ‘They should be worn while riding a horse in Texas, chasing cattle… Good cause or fashion? Celebrities, from left, Beverley Knight, Kimberley Walsh, Davina McCall, Cheryl Tweedy and Rachel Stevens sport white wristbands to advertise the ‘click ad’ for the Make Poverty History campaign KNOWLEDGE MIX Polar Bear Alcatraz Polar Bear Alcatraz VARIETY MIX Brand New Simpsons Brand New Simpsons Right now all Sky TV packages are HALF PRICE for the FIRST 2 MONTHS. Build your own package by choosing any two mixes for £15 £7.50, four for £18 £9 or all six for just £21 £10.50 a month. 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