Team Togs: FC Bayern Munich

Another trip to the Bundesliga*, and it's only understandable that we tackle the biggest club to come out of Germany: Bayern Munich. Though they're that classic team you love to hate much like Manchester United and Barcelona, there's no doubt they're big for a reason. Their domestic success is reflected in their record for holding the most Bundesliga wins (21 titles) since the league's creation in 1963. Success and fame has easily lined them up to be one of Europe's football powerhouses. Their presence in the Champions League is expected and while their last winner's medal was over ten years ago, there's no doubt they still deliver in the European stage as they came out as runner ups in 2010 against Inter Milan. 

Being a team hailing from Bavaria, it was only necessary that we infused the proud Bavarian culture into our look. (After all, the team's crest bears the Bavarian flag in it). I thought about the turn of spring into summer, and after slight contemplation I wanted to focus in the important tradition of the maibaum in Germanic countries. The Maypole is erected in Bavaria on either the 30th of April or the 1st of May to celebrate May Day. It has often been debated as one of the most significant remnants of Germanic paganism that survived Christianisation. 

The image of Spring festivals is often filled with young girls in white dresses and floral crowns dancing around the maypole and we wanted to take that ethereal, airy, spiritual, almost fairy-like quality into our Munich look. It is also a modern take into an ancient festival that has been going on for centuries and we think football is exactly the same, it's face is changing but the traditions and passion is all the same. The traditional colours of Bavaria and Munich are used as accents though there is a tendency for their away colours of white. 

We start with a modern spin on the traditional white dress, a thigh-high split dress in beige that we cover with a beautiful lace waistcoat to add texture. This dress is both comfortable, easy to wear, and at the same time edgy for a festival day. Pair with crystal-beaded sandals to give the illusion of wearing nothing but jewels on your feet. Accessories are symbolic, the traditional home-made floral crown in the Munich home colours of red (with infused burgundy) and a blue and white checkered ribbon to tie around your wrist to pay tribute to Bavaria. Finish with a handy wristlet in a pyramid shape for another modern representation.

*ETA: Kay's brain has forgotten we had covered Borussia Dortmund before. 

Dress, Stella McCartney, £237.50 (on sale)

Waistcoat, Biba, £55

Sandals, Antik Batik, £140

Bag, Jil Sander, £315

Crown, Bloom Design Studio (via Etsy), £80

Ribbon, find all kinds of ribbons wholesale at Renaissance Ribbons!

Antique Attire: Preston North End, 1888 - 89

It's quite safe to say that some vintage fashion trends have no place in the modern gal's wardrobe - though I would love to argue against it. There have been way too many times where I've tried to imagine a world who still prides in dressing up - beautiful lace gowns to a tea party, stunning three piece suits to fly across the world, fascinators just because. The world we live in today is revolved around functionality and comfort - and those are two words I really despise to associate dressing with. Everyday to me is a chance to play dress up, today I imagine myself as a 60s activist, the next as a 20s socialite. 

This Antique Attire has left me with a rather bitter taste in late Victorian fashion - mainly because I know that I could not pull any of their wear without looking like Miss Havisham. Never mind, I thought - I'd give it a shot for the team's sake. Preston North End. While most modern football fans would disregard them as a Championship side (currently residing in League One after being relegated last season), they cannot be dismissed as they were one of the founding members of the Football League in 1888. 

Here's another little piece of English football history for you: Preston was the first team to ever win the league. They were the most powerful team then - no goals were conceded and no games were lost both in the league and the FA Cup. They won the title again the next season though unfortunately they have not won it again since. With the decision to install the Premier League in 1992 by top twenty clubs who decided to break away - it's hard to think of the Championship as anything but secondary to the PL these days. 

While some may argue that football of those days are nothing like they are today, it is worth noting that playing football was not a profession then, in fact professionalism in football was illegal. Preston themselves were active in hiring Scottish players in exchange for high-paying employment in the Preston area which their rivals argued as professionalism. To avoid teams breaking away from the FA, they were forced to legalise professionalism in 1885 - which shaped the professional footballer we know today.

Back to the lovely late Victorian fashion, I considered this look a tribute to both the era and the team. Preston's mascot is a lamb carrying a crucifix, so there is much emphasis on the sense of spiritual 'purity' and 'brand new' associated with the newly formed Football League. While Preston's traditional colours are black and white - I disregarded an overbearing use of its colours and instead chose grey as that was the colour I first saw the men in - an old late 1880s photograph. 

The beautiful Erdem gown is only one of my favourite pieces - its silhouette is reminiscent of the long gowns ladies wore at those days. We try and keep the accessorising minimal though there was nothing simple about the Victorian ladies. Vintage chandelier earrings, embellished sandals and clutch. Not forgetting the luxurious furs in those days, we chose a platinum coloured lamb fur coat by Azzedine Alaïa and of course lace gloves to complete the look. 

Matchday Moment: Tough Yet Delicate

Afternoon, ladies! I hope you're having a great weekend so far - I know I have and I hope it's the same for you too. It's been a great first week of blogging with equally great response from all of you. Though some blogs may reserve weekends for an off day, I thought for the first weekend of The Colney Chic - why not start a series of looks that would focus on outfits for those international summer matches. With Euros coming up, it's always a fun way to show off your summer match day style.

This instalment focuses on combining opposite ends of the spectrum: tough and delicate. Resurrecting a trend that was reserved only for the boldest fashion enthusiasts, we decided to use nude lace shorts as the initial tough yet delicate piece. Nothing says delicate like lace but using it on a saucy short silhouette pares down the bridal image and gives it a bit of an attitude. We pair it with a rocker chic oversized vest top with an abstract skull print and a shrug with the ever-reigning tribal print for both some texture and an extra kick.

Accessories are a mix between a quirky 1960s style sunnies, beautiful beaded sandals, a luxurious white tote with studs for its tough end of the bargain and of course, pink roses around the neck as a sharp contrast with the skull tee.

Tee, Barbara Bui, £289
Shrug, Republic, £35
Shorts, Style by Marina, £30
Sandals, Calypso St. Barth, £142
Shades, House of Harlow 1960, £95
Tote, Valentino, £1,310
Necklace, Lanvin, £343