So, you’re not really into mainstream fashion, but you also don’t want to look like a poser. Finding a balance is a delicate dance, but it is possible to determine the styles to focus on. When creating outfits, the goal should be to send a message. Defining what you want to convey is what alternative fashion is all about. How can you be authentic through fashion? Wearing Kaftans? To help you break down the walls of your creative fashion blocks, here are five alternative fashion trends to inspire you. Another favourite is summer trousers. They are lightweight and keep you cool in summer.

1. Classic Emo Culture

For those who love goth, punk, and emo clothes, you already know that these styles reflect subcultures with their own kinds of defining music, values, and beliefs. Emo fashion tells us we can create fashion equivalent to art by channeling our pain and suffering outward.

Those unfamiliar with emo clothing might brush it off as the aesthetic of an outcast. In reality, these “outcasts” choose to be alone or with a tight-knit group of friends that get them. The “emo” aesthetic is misunderstood in mainstream fashion, and perhaps that is why it resides so comfortably as an alternative fashion trend. Classic emo clothes are a critical starting point if you want to incorporate clothing that reflects your personality, let alone emotion at ALL.

2. I Am Not A Hipster Aesthetic

Another trend is the hipster aesthetic: the look that is so far down the line hipster, not even the hipster is willing to admit what they are. Secretly, we all know that any hipster who looks like a hipster yet denies being one is lying, but that is just another part of their “ironic” charm.

If you feel that your soul is calling out for sunhats and t-shirts with cats on them, let your inner-hipster shine and give it a shot. Soon enough, you might even sport suspenders. This is mixed into the latest fashion trends anyway, so it’s not hard to incorporate.

3. The All-Knowing Bohemian

The least edgy alternative look belongs to the all-knowing bohemian icon. If you like long maxi skirts, messy buns, messenger bags (vegan, of course), and open, sustainable fashion statements like recycled shoes, you might just be an all-knowing bohemian too.

You can get style inspiration for this look by attending a yoga class or heading out to the Sunday farmer’s market. Embrace your love for flowy tops and yoga pants like never before. Namaste.

4. The Minimalist Look

If you feel like the world is your oyster when you wear a plain white t-shirt, you are probably a fan of minimalist fashions. Anything European with Converse shoes is a must-have. You might get your inspiration from early 2000s boy bands.

Plain White T’s comes to mind, which is SUCH a fitting name for this topic. Anyway, if you enjoy the simple things in life, a minimalist style could be your claim to fame.

5. The Outdoorsy Aesthetic

You keep a thermos in your bag and a pocketknife in your pocket in the event of spontaneous camping invites. You also love puffer vests and work boots with rubber soles. If this sounds like you, party on nature lover.

If your love for the great outdoors dictates your fashion, you are a fan of the outdoorsy aesthetic. Perhaps you enjoy flannel shirts, beanies, and fingerless gloves. You do you.

Use Your Fashion Sense

Knowing where you fall in alternative fashion is about considering your style, lifestyle, and fashion sense. You probably already own clothes that can clue you in on your style, but in the meantime, use these tips for inspiration.

The term legend gets thrown around a lot in the sporting world nowadays, but as far as Best Mate is concerned — he certainly fits the billing. Trained by Henrietta Knight, the bay gelding dominated the steeplechasing category in the early 2000s — winning 14 of his 22 starts, including the King George VI Chase, the Peterborough Chase and the Haldon Gold Cup, all while never falling at a fence and finishing outside of the top two just once!

That by itself is a glittering, impressive CV. However, we have merely scratched the surface of the legend that is Best Mate thus far, because it is his hat-trick of successive Cheltenham Gold Cup victories that truly made him a fan favourite with jump racing fanatics. First winning the Festival’s showpiece event in 2001, ‘Matey’ became the ‘people’s champion’ when he went on to win the Gold Cup three wins on the trot — emulating the same feat as the great Arkle, who won each renewal of the race between 1964 and 1966.

Best Mate unfortunately suffered an on-track heart attack at Exeter in 2005, collapsing after being pulled up by Paul Carberry in the Haldon Gold Cup. But his legacy lives on at Cheltenham Racecourse, as his ashes were buried at the winning post while he also has an enclosure named in his honour at the iconic Prestbury Park. So, with another renewal of the Festival on the horizon and the chance for another horse to write their name in Gold Cup history, let’s take a look back at Best Mate’s three victories in the Blue Riband contest.

2002 Gold Cup

With the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Britain resulting in the 2001 edition of the Festival being cancelled, anticipation was rife for the prestigious Prestbury Park meeting the following year and it was Best Mate who provided the thrills in the Gold Cup — winning from 7/1, much to the joy of those who bet on horses. The then seven-year-old didn’t exactly go into the showpiece race in the best form, finishing second in his previous two outings — including in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

But, on his first attempt at the challenging three and quarter-mile trip, Matey prevailed — quickening to take the lead approaching the last and running on well to hold off 25/1 chance Commanche Court, ridden by Ruby Walsh and trained by his father Ted, by almost two lengths to gift Culloty, Knight and owner Jim Lewis their first Gold Cup triumph.

“I’ve always said he was the perfect racehorse so I knew he’d stay three miles plus,” Knight said afterwards. “Jim gave him a super ride, always in the right place. He made a mistake at the same fence twice but otherwise it was a magic round.”

2003 Gold Cup

There were no questions surrounding Best Mate’s form this time around. The Knight-trained horse lined up for starter’s orders at Prestbury Park having already won the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase on his seasonal reappearance in November and he backed that up in the King George one month later — so it was no surprise he went off for the Gold Cup as the short-priced favourite at 13/8.

It was as commanding a race as the betting suggested as well, with Best Mate pulling well clear of Valley Henry, who eventually finished fourth, on the turn for home, opening up a massive lead by the final couple of fences and stretching even further clear up the Cheltenham Hill to beat 33/1 shot Truckers Tavern by a comfortable 10 lengths.

2004 Gold Cup

Best Mate started the season with a defeat in the Peterborough Chase, finishing eight lengths behind Jair Du Cochet, but he bounced back by winning the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown in Ireland, where he was bred, in December and the bookies were taking absolutely no risks with in the Gold Cup — pricing the now nine-year-old at 8/11, making him the first odds-on favourite for the blue riband race since Arkle went off at 1/10 on his hat-trick attempt in 1966.

It was certainly a more dramatic run than his previous two outings in the Gold Cup, as Best Mate looked trapped in by the leaders on the inside at the final bend. However, Culloty soon switched him right and they led over the final fence — driving home and holding off the very late challenge of Sir Rembrandt to win by nothing more than half a length.

“We said beforehand that the only safe way was down the inside, because down the middle was cut up last year and there was no grass on it,” said Culloty. “We had to take the gamble, and at times I wasn’t getting the best of runs. Everybody was saying it was a steering job, but it was a Gold Cup and there is no quarter given.”