STYLE LESSONS FROM OASIS

Potentially the most infamous bout of sibling rivalry ever is over: Oasis are coming home. And with the announcement of the band's 2025 reunion, you can expect to see a resurgence of soccer-shirt-wearing, spiky-haired pint drinkers chanting the lyrics of Wonderwall on a street near you soon. Because if Oasis are back, you can guarantee their nostalgic but messy Britpop style will be, too.

 

The band influenced the world in a way that can only be compared to what Kurt Cobain’s sleazy-grunge did to Gen X high-schoolers – from adorning their bedrooms with every physical form of Definitely, Maybe to putting the post-punk and non-conformist spirit of the 50s back in action. While younger brother Liam was known for his Mod-influenced capsule of British logomania and Sid Vicious attitude, Noel's style was slightly pared-back, favoring more traditional threads like double denim and button-ups. So while you wait to try your hand at tickets (may the best fighter win) – read on and learn a thing or two about fashion from the Gallaghers.

While lead singer Liam fit the archetype of part-time heartthrob outspoken maverick, Noel preferred a more understated presence, both in his role as main guitarist and in his fashion.

 

He wore double denim not in a Bruce Springsteen country-core way, but more fitting to Oasis’ lax aesthetic. This often meant a matching dark-wash Levi’s jeans-and-jacket duo with a Fred Perry or Ralph Lauren polo underneath for some sporty-casual charm. This somewhat dated approach to fashion was also kind of refreshing – compared with Blur or The Stone Roses' dabbling in streetwear, Noel's look was an accessible uniform for the fans that defined every 90s guy's night-out wardrobe. 

Legend has it that Liam wore his girlfriend Patsy Kensit’s cable-knit sweater at a festival in 1996 because he didn’t realize he had to perform two shows. This outfit and his myriad other slouchy knitwear moments gave his style a much more grungey edge than his brother's. While Kurt Cobain had cemented himself as the primary tastemaker of nana knits across the pond, Liam's take was quintessentially British, bringing touches of punk and Mod to the mix in the form of Dr Martens and his signature haircut.

 

The lack of structure of the knits, almost like they were blocked post-production, imbued Liam with a nonchalance that would live into the latter days of the band. While other rockstars were decked out in glam sequined suits and tight leather, he chose comfort over couture.

Compared with the high-end fashion of other A-listers, Oasis' wardrobe was much more aligned with British terrace style – a meeting of Manchester's soccer steeze and the late-80s 'Madchester' scene.

 

So it's easy to get why they loved adidas: the retro clothing was perfectly in-yer-face and ballsy enough to become an emblem of the logomania that came with terrace style. When they weren’t in the 3-stripes head-to-toe, you can bet Liam and Noel were rocking a pair of casual low-profiles from the stage to the streets.

If the carefree nature of the Gallaghers wasn’t obvious by their pop-peppered rock, it was by their outerwear. They did love a big coat, from Liam's famous parkas by Barbour and Stone Island to Noel's color-block windbreakers which, coupled with his Union Jack guitar, made a brazenly British fashion statement. Their roster of aviator jackets, Harrington jackets, Burberry-esque trench coats, pea coats and pristine leather jackets is proof that building a collection of varied layers is always worth it.

The bucket hat was among the most beloved accessories of the brothers, but sunglasses arguably topped it. Eschewing the era's favored styles –  Ray-Ban Wayfarers, aviators or oval frames (AKA present-day meme glasses) – the Gallaghers went for everything from metal shades to John Lennon-esque round glasses.

 

They were no-holds-barred when it came to sunnies, usually wearing them with any outfit and in any lens color, and not for reasons of wanting to go incognito. Get in the spirit and try a pair of green-tinted glasses with a long beige trench coat to mimic the look, especially as fall rolls around.