ALL it the influence of Blur, or Oasis, or Pulp, or any other band in the Britpop pack around at the moment.
Whatever group you settle on, they'll manifest the same fashion traits as all the others because these people share the same dress sense. Or no sense at all, if your idea of style involves a tidy and co-ordinated approach to clothes. Superficially at least, there's little to suggest that fashion has a high priority. The impression is often given by Britpop members that their appearance is entirely a matter of accident what they're wearing, it seems, is simply assortment of whichever items were nearest to hand.
But don't be deceived by such artlessness. Actually, this is as calculated an approach to clothes as any other. We've now entered the post grunge era so pure fashion disinterestedness no longer prevails. At the start of the present decade, there was a moment when all interest in a well groomed appearance looked to have been lost. But it was, as the fashion industry gratefully realised, only a moment. Very rapidly, anti fashion lost any appeal it might have possessed even among the most ardent and youthful admirers.
Not that the only alternative is the kind of neat dress regularly requested by suburban nightclubs. After grunge has come a relaxed style which is low key but still not totally devoid of liveliness. As worn by the likes of Blur or Oasis, it allows for a no fuss approach to clothing which is every bit as calculated as the most highly stylised evening ensemble. If bands choose to dress this way, it's definitely because they're both apeing and inspiring their fans.
The overriding characteristic of post-grunge is still casual understatement. So absolutely no one would now consider the notion of tucking a shirt into trousers instantaneously that makes the look too formal and structured. And layering remains a feature of this style too. That involves wearing more than one shirt over the other, together with T-shirts and jackets all added to the whole. One advantage to this approach and probably the reason for its abiding popularity is that no one layer of clothing.
As subject to too close scrutiny, which means neither ironing nor immaculate condition is of paramount importance. It's the whole rather than any one part which matters.
And right now, that who tends to be composed predominantly of checks.
They're hardly new of course, being a constant feature of every season. But this summer checks are even more rampant than usual. They turn up in every imaginable size and collection of colours and no single item of clothing is free from the pattern. The best are the boldest strong, bright tones in generous checks although the more modest dresser may shrink from these. If plaid trousers seem too reminiscent of the golf course, then there are lots of finer checks about too, often in shades of dazzling orange or apple green.
This is summer dressing at its most refreshing. Checks can even find a natural home in the workplace, where more subtle weaves in shades of brown or blue make perfectly respectable suiting. But bear in mind that respectability has very little to do with post grunge fashion. After all, would Britpop be riding its current wave of success if all the bands concerned were seen performing with their shirts neatly pressed and tucked into trousers?