Evie Bradley, Social Media Editor
@ebradleycourant
London, England
I research the current fashion trends in a new city to pop the New Canaan bubble and explore diverse styles from around the world.
Fashion Intro into London
London fashion is the epitome of practical, off-beat chic. London women look amazing, but their accessories serve a purpose – think raincoat and umbrella with bags large enough to actually carry something. The weather can be unpredictable, so fashionable “Londoners” dress accordingly. Oversized coats and chunky sweaters are styled to keep warm and look fabulous. Boots and flats suit the English lifestyle where walking is a central part of the day. So, how is it that a city with the possibility of rain always in the air is also one of the fashion centres of the world? We’ll never be able to truly get inside the genius of British fashion icons like @alexachung, but we can, as they say in Britain, “give it a go.”
Current Trends
The city-wide fashion trends have some overlap with our own: Doc Martins, slip skirts, oversized-tees, wide-leg jeans, layered jewellery, and chunky trainers. To achieve a uniquely London look, try styling a camel coat (Zara, Topshop, Raey) or a Meghan Markle inspired “trench-coat with a twist” (French Connection, AllSaints, ASOS), a pair of hiking boots (Church’s, Montelliana, Zara), or a casual throw-on-and-go dress (Zara, Arket, Topshop) into your daily look. London Fall Fashion Week 2020 forecasted trends like strappy dresses, checkered prints, and “boarding school energy” fashion. According to Vogue’s analysis of London Fashion Week, the most popular colours will be poppy red, royal blue, and glossy pink. All this is well and good for the masses, but what are people our age wearing?
Teen Trends
London-dwelling teen Olivia Bradley said that the most popular clothing stores are Urban Outfitters and Brandy. According to Bradley, the main inspiration for teen fashion is The Billie Eilish style. “Everyone’s kind of into that oversized t-shirt look. We wear braids and bandanas in our hair; that Outerbanks look,” she said. Outerbanks is one of the most popular TV shows on Netflix worldwide. Other trends include “lots of layered necklaces, loads of bucket hats, and flare pants. Everyone loves Nike Airforce, especially the ones with the black stripe. And everyone in London has a black designer crossbody bag. That’s a really big trend.” In England, almost all schools have uniforms and dress codes. Bradley and other British teens love that during e-learning you are able to wear “ home clothes, which is very different because we usually wear school uniforms. We’re doing that thing where we look presentable from the waist up, but we’re really in pyjama pants.” The other area of fashion that quarantine has affected is perhaps the most obvious: masks. “There isn’t really much of a style that people lean towards with masks; they’re just wearing whatever they have. Some people even wear ski snudes, or just tuck their noses under their tops.” Bradley finished off the interview by adding. “It’s really funny – all the boys are growing mullets. Either that or buzzcuts, but mullets are much funnier.”
Packing Your Suitcase
When packing for London, the most important thing to remember is the weather. Whatever the season, pack for possible rain and chilly weather. Raincoats are a must, along with an umbrella. When travelling in the summer, pack for normal summer weather, but bring some trousers and cardigans for a chilly day. In London, oversized coats go with literally anything, so that’s also a must for every season. Comfortable walking shoes are a must, as part of the English experience is walking everywhere (within reason). Stylish flats, Mary-Janes, or a trendy pair of trainers (the most trendy is currently the Nike Air Max 97) are a great way to go. Chunky pull-overs and cardigans are a functional way to layer clothes under that fashionable overcoat you packed. For a little extra security, try to find a chic waterproof bag to store your travel essentials in – you wouldn’t want your passport to get soaked by the London skies!
Fashion Icons
Some of the biggest and most influential British fashionistas are Harry Styles, Meghan Markle, Alexa Chung, Camille Charriere, and of course any member of the royal family. Harry Styles embodies a more fun side of British fashion, and believe it or not is credited by Vogue for bringing pearls back into fashion. He loves a funky print or bold colours, which has definitely influenced London streetwear. Alexa Chung is a British model, writer, and fashion designer with a charming and boyish look evocative of the 60s – her favourite fashion era. Her outfits are fun and colourful, but also feel androgenous. Rather than following trends, she tries to actively steer away from them – but in the process became a trendsetter in her own right. Although Meghan Markle isn’t British, the Duchess of Sussex became a fashion icon in England nonetheless. Her frequent wearing of trench coats, neutral tones, button-down tops and simplistically stunning skirts makes her an immediate person of interest in the fashion world. With her recent move to LA, we’re expecting her fashion sense to evolve to the new climate and set new trends in California. Kate Middleton, on the other hand, represents the ultimate chic-mum look. Royal blue is perhaps her most iconic colour (which, according to Vogue, is also making a comeback), and she brought the headband back into the modern fashion world. Camille Charriere, another London-dwelling fashion queen, has more of a “franglais” take on fashion. Raised in Paris by her French father and English mother, she has effortlessly blended the iconic fashion of both cultures, which means she nails London chic, but isn’t afraid to add a red lip, a Breton shirt, or a pair of heels. When going for a European-chic look, she’s definitely one to look out for.
Whether heading to London or just channelling Brit style, think layers, remember comfortable shoes, add a bit of whimsy, and whatever you do, own it.
Further Research
To learn more about Camille Charriere, you can read these two articles about her style, here to read her blog, and here to listen to her podcast, “Fashion No Filter.” I highly recommend watching this video, where Charriere teaches Alexa Chung how to dress French. There are tons of Vogue videos on both of these super chic ladies that serves as a perfect cure for quarantine-boredom. This section of Elle is a compilation of all of their UK style articles, and for teen fashion, you should click here to see the UK Brandy Melville. To see more London fashion on your instagram feed, you should follow these accounts: @britishvogue, @londonfashionweek, @alexachung, @camillecharriere, @harrystyles, and @whatkatewore
