Image: @cackers_ via Passion And The Veins

Poppy Beresford & Sally Malloy | Singers & Performers - Passion and The Veins

I met Poppy and Sally before lockdown, as part of a TV based project I am working on. Not being familiar with Northern Soul until the project started, I quickly found these ladies to be fantastic fun and completely immersed in their favourite genre, which pulls you in for the ride. Surrounded by their wardrobe at the shoot for the promo video, I had to take some lead from Sally and Poppy, who are experts in their own style vs Northern Soul. You can’t argue with women who know exactly what suits them when they need to dance but still look the part.

How would you describe your occupation and what does it involve? 

Sally: Our Occupation involves predominately performing live music to audiences of all ages. We are fully immersed in soul music, in particular Northern Soul. Under the umbrella of that style of music we delve into all aspects of it. Not only do we sing, we perform as a 7 piece band and we dance the specific style .We also take into account the era of music Northern soul was popular in and that comes through in our fashion sense. This has opened many doors for us as we have had the opportunity to bring a new twist to the genre through our online social media presence ; reaching many people around the globe. Our aim is to bring this music to people who don't necessarily know of it, and help them find joy in it as we do. We feel having the occupation of a performer is the perfect platform to inspire people and help them feel the power of music.

How do you bring fashion and style in to your work? 

Poppy: My style changes a lot in the work I do. The only thing that stays consistent is my “Fringe”. I wear clothes from vintage, charity and main stream shops. I like to mix and match depending on how I feel on the day or what work I’m doing. But it isn’t something I think about too much. Other than if sally and I want to match up for a performance or photo shoot, but we have our own unique styles too.

When it comes to style, what are you most known for? 

Sally: Wearing other people clothes. Its very rare I buy new clothes from mainstream shops. I love wearing hand me downs and vintage clothing. When ever people ask me where did I get a certain piece of clothing from, my answer more often than not is - from a charity shop or my nan’s wardrobe. I love clothes that hold nostalgia and character in them. I think your clothing is a visual interpretation of your personality and as I feel I'm quite an old soul at times, I like to wear clothes that were often worn by an ‘older’ soul.

How did you discover your unique style and what inspires you?

Poppy: I’ve always loved throwing different styles, colours and patterns together. I’ve never been someone who follows trends. If something goes out of fashion I buy it, because I like feeling different from the rest, even though that’s not completely possible. The more different the item of clothing the better. That’s why I like vintage clothes because you know that is is a very unique piece.

Nothing or no one inspires me as such. If I like something then I will buy it and try and make it work somehow.

What is your signature item of clothing and why?

Sally: My signature item of clothing has to be my Dr Martens. I have a small collection now but I wear them all the time. I remember when I got my first pair when I was 18- Ox blood lace ups. I wore them every day. I got my uncle to show me how to tie my laces ‘the skin head’ way as he is quite the expert when it comes to punk rock. Ever since then, my collection has grown and they are pretty much the only thing I wear on my feet. The reason I love them is because when I put them on, I feel grounded, cool and confident. They go with every item of clothing I own and I feel I can be myself when I put them on. They also reflect the style of music I listen to and can be a great conversation starter when you come across a fellow Dr Martens wearer as you will often find they love the same style you do.

What advice do you have for anyone who isn’t confident enough to wear what they want to?

Poppy: Don’t compare yourself to others, follow your gut instinct and if you feel good in what you wear then that’s all that matters. You will become more confident when you stop worrying about what others think or what people expect you to wear. Don’t let the outfit wear you... You wear the outfit. Be yourself and own it.

Follow Sally and Poppy for their fashion, dancing and band performances:

Instagram @passionandtheveins

YouTube Passion and The Veins

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