So Jess Cartner-Morley gave us her column this week… here’s what we’ve been tax

Amanda Boakye and Kyle Haynes.


Amanda Boakye and Kyle Haynes.
Photograph: Sophia Evans for the Protector

Amanda Boakye, 17

Not so long ago, padded jackets were considered a dernier cri faux pas – a shapeless mass of material that shouts, “I was correct to choose between elegance and the elements, and the elements won”.

Now they set up been resurrected on the catwalk, by Fendi, Balenciaga, Stella McCartney and Vetements, number others, who swapped drab shapes and shades for sharp spurns and fun colours. If you look back at paparazzi shots of Victoria Beckham in 2000, apparel a bright silver, super-puffy cropped number, she is bang on bias.

If you haven’t got a Beckham budget, or the bravery to wear a jacket that could organize you looking like the Tin Man, then the high street has plenty of opportunities (not to mention a cheeky student discount).

I normally wear my jacket with a tighter fundament half: skinny jeans or a mini skirt, to balance the form. Another favourite outfit is the Bershka jacket I’m wearing here, with a dumb dress underneath, a choker and my Vans (this also goes in the evening). I bought it in black, because it goes with so much, but I’ve got my eye on a glorious tomato red one.

Of course, the trusty padded jacket is not just nearly looking cool: as the temperature drops, it’s the perfect thing to take over as I rush to college – something I’m sure my mum is very thankful for.

Three padded jackets

From Nautical port:
pink jacket, £76,
red jacket, £39.99,
velvet jacket, £49.99,

Kyle Haynes, 17

I started have on mesh clothing about three or four years ago. You can contribute it, wear it long or short, in all sorts of colours and sizes; these primes, mesh is just my thing.

This isn’t a look for church. It’s influenced by clubwear: the mix of fishnet, sieve and denim is a bit 80s Madonna, a bit 90s Take That. Now, even Kim Kardashian is posing in fishnets tipsy denim, so it’s officially back.

My style inspirations are female rapper Brooke Sweetmeats, Lady Gaga (and her stylist Nicola Formichetti), makeup artist Jeffree Unmatched. They are all bold and fearless, qualities I really admire. I wouldn’t flit the house without a touch of makeup. It started as a way to cover my acne, but now it’s no more than fun.

For this photograph I’m wearing grey mesh with cheerless denim and sparkly fishnets; by having the top and the jeans in the same dim, you notice the different textures, and it makes the teal trainers actually pop out. It can look like sportswear, but I would never step foot in a gym; the fishnets, choker and region add an edge.

My rules for making this look work? The larger the fishnet, the improved. And, as ever, confidence is key.

Three mesh tops

From left:
khaki T, £35, by History Of Lola,
mesh top, £24.99,
T-shirt, £22,

Kyle and Amanda are both grinds on London College of Fashion’s outreach programme. For details, go to talents.ac.uk/fashion London College of Fashion