Bristol Style: 71 Queens

We team up with student favourite 71 Queens for our first-ever fashion shoot!


For our very first fashion shoot we bring you the epitome of Bristol’s hipster style, 71 Queens. Katie Deighton met store manager Laura Dunkerley to find out what exactly makes 71 Queens so irrefutably cool.

From left: Richard, Emma, Emily, Matt
Richard wears: Sweater (71 Queens), Chinos (Bellfield)
Emma wears: Waistcoat (Vintage), Red drop waist dress (Vintage), Snapback (A’s Script)
Emily wears: Sweater (J7), Leggings (Shikka London), Leather snapback (Vintage), Bangles (White Leaf)
Matt wears: Aztec sweater (Boisht), Jeans (Monkey Jeans), Gilet (Heritage)

Emma wears:  Flannel lumberjack shirt (Vintage), Black lace dress (Vintage), Multi-strand chain necklace (Vintage), Red sunglasses (Vintage)
Matt wears: Audrey Hepburn print sweater (71 Queens), Cream chinos (Bellfield)

“We’re an independent store, so we’re really about being an individual – dressing individually and expressing who you are through clothes.”

This ethos translates easily to its stock: the shop is a mix of independent designers and hand-picked vintage pieces.  And by hand-picked, she means hours spent in a warehouse sorting through piles and piles of second-hand clothes to find the perfect sequined top or original Levi 501s.

“We’re big into smaller brands and Jazz, the owner, is always looking for new talent – small, up and coming designers often walk straight into the shop and ask if we can get their designs out on the high street.”

Jazz also searches for new labels online; fashion and design blogs are particularly useful for working out what’s right round the corner. This relentless researching has clearly paid off: 71 Queens have recently started stocking Lazy Oaf, the pop-art inspired label taking both the fashion and hipster world by storm.

Laura also stocks the 71 Queens own-brand, a collection of laidback, androgynous separates.

“My favourite brand in the shop at the moment is Dynamic Style, a collection of laidback menswear pieces influenced by the street life and style of Californian skaters.”

To make this look work in the British climate, the Inner City label makes some really eye-catching jumpers that look great on both guys and girls.  “Some girls need persuading to try on menswear, but they always look great!”

Emily wears: Pastel sweater tee (Vintage), Leather mini skirt (Vintage), Purple snapback (A’s Script), Gold chain necklace (Vintage)

Over in womenswear, vintage clothing and jewellery sell the best.  The vintage rails are full of Bristol student staples: cut-off shorts, oversized denim shirts and chunky gold earrings and chains.  “We’re getting some exciting new brands in for the girls soon, though.”

Richard wears: Graphic t-shirt (Boisht), Black chinos (Bellfield), Denim/shearling jacket (Vintage Levis), Belt (Vintage), Bobble hat (Boisht)

As for her own style, Laura describes it as fluctuating between ‘Parisian chic and ‘90s grunge – but always individual.’  Does this sell the brand?

“I once started wearing one of our jumpers to work and sales shot up by around 80%!  On nights out people often ask me where I get my clothes from, so it’s the best form of advertising really.”

What does Laura think of Bristol students’ style? “It’s really good!  I find that everyone is really well dressed.”  Well we didn’t want to say it ourselves!

Direction: Katie Deighton
Styling: Martha Cliff, Katie Deighton & Emma-Jane Somper

Models: Richard Collier, Emily Gallagher, Emma-Jane Somper, Matt Webster
Photographer: Nadine Lababedi
With thanks to Laura Dunkerley and 71 Queens

Want to be involved in future Tab fashion shoots? Contact [email protected] for more details.