People in "holiday clothes" in the UK

[BrianButterfield]

I live in a seaside town and today while I was at the supermarket I saw a whole family who were obviously on holiday, because they were all in "holiday clothes" - gaudy tops, bright 3/4 length trousers, beach bags etc etc. Now I must point out that this was not ON the beach or even near the beach, just walking round an average supermarket on an overcast day.

It was quite sweet really but it did make me wonder why going to the seaside in your own country requires the ceremonial packing-of-holiday-clothes. They would have been fine in Spain but they stood out a bit on the Yorkshire coast as everyone else was wearing jeans, jackets, etc - you know, normal clothes!

Will anybody here admit to "holiday clothes"? (And I don't mean actual beach stuff - that's obvious).

I dress like Usual.

I am not ashamed.

I wore my bumbag to the Olympic football.
Realised as I walked through town, I was in holiday mode in a UK city.

However, it did mean I avoided the huge queue I would have ended up in if I'd had my normal large handbag.

However, my shorts are never seen on the British mainland.

I wear holiday clothes all the time, even in winter.
Makes me happy.

Maybe, because they were going on holiday and there seem to be quite a few of them, they packed light and only took their holiday clothes? So it was holiday clothes or walking round the supermarket butt naked.

I put on cropped trousers and a brightly coloured t shirt this morning OP. Do I deserve ridicule? When we go out to the library this afternoon I will even where hiking sandals.

Its just that I have moved from the icy north to a coastal southern town and enjoy being able to wear such things.

Maybe Yorkshire folk should stop being so dour and embrace a bit of 'holiday clothes' themselves, inject a bit of colour into their bleak lives and live a little, eh Brian

I don't live in a holiday area, though I do live in an area of great natural beauty. If it's a nice day (like today) I'll pootle round the nearest Tesco in what might be termed holiday wear - cutoffs, vest tops, on a Sunday I might even pop on a colourful dress. I don't give a stuff what anyone thinks of it, and I think it's rather nice to see people wearing nice brightly coloured holiday clothes. Makes a change to winter time, when it's all black and grey and damp.

OP, you have the patience of a saint, given the uncalled for stick you've come in for on this thread.

We should have an annual "weather your holiday clothes" day, brighten up the place a bit.

Actually I don't think I have "holiday clothes". I barely even have "summer clothes". I've become so pessimistic that I don't buy dresses that can't also be worn with thick tights and a cardigan.

Ooh you grumpy lot (haven't read the thread btw so am assuming that! )

I don't have 'holiday clothes'; I have 'hot weather/summer' clothes - ie if the weather is good enough I will be wearing my shorts/short skirts, bright vest tops and flip flops wherever I am - so slap me

A kind of wishful thinking maybe. If I dress for the sun, the sun will notice and come out.

What a snotty OP. God help that people want to wear their new clothes on holiday!

If you're in a seaside town you couldn't be that far from the beach Maybe they'd been to the beach, or were planning on going to the beach, and were stopping off a the supermarket.

Maybe they were going to go to the beach but were buying picnic food/stocking up the holiday cottage fridge first?

OP you're being meeeaaannn! Fancy having an opinion about clothing and then putting it in S & B!

I've done the 'holiday clothes' thing before now. Got to the destination, opened suitcase and realised I had bugger all to wear that didn't make me look like a twat.
Bit more sensible now and just take my normal clothes.

My holiday clothes are nicer than my day to day clothes.

I have nice dresses with belts, and pretty skirts for holidays

I wear sensible-ish shoes ( gabor ballet flats) I can comfortably walk in, but never see need for shorts and hiking sandals...

Donot care what others wear though!

I wear these holiday clothes in the UK weather permitting

I don't think it's necessarily mean. Isn't it interesting to think about? I reckon you're right with the idea of there being something "symbolic" about "holiday clothing". I wonder if it's to do with demarcating "ordinary time" from "holiday time"?

What's with the professionally offended brigade?

Lighten up, her post was light hearted!

Gathering - yes, exactly. Like those European tourists who walk around with backpacks on their fronts - I mean, yes, it's for a good reason, but you're always at risk of being robbed and yet nobody would ever do that in their home town. It's like when you are "away" the rules change, and yet you wouldn't put holiday clothes on to walk around the supermarket in the next town, so why is it suddenly necessary on holiday? Come on, it is kind of funny when you think about it!

Oh yes, you can often play Spot the Nationality. Hours of fun!

Americans always wear baggier jeans and New Balance trainers.
Italians are always bundled up to the nines, often in expensive goose down type puffa jackets. Always have the sunglasses on.
Young Spaniards wear the back packs on their front.

The caravanners are here now and I felt right scruffy yesterday in a cafe, sat by a family in their holiday clothes.
White does feature strongly in the holiday wardrobe - white, linen, 3/4 length trousers with coral polyester tunics and matching coral accessories.

I think the funniest thing is to see little groups of tourists in my local town all wearing anoraks (yes and probably crocs) perched on little camping chairs in the rain, desperately trying to look as if they are having fun. Surrounded by crowds of other people doing exactly the same. Then going for a mooch around all the overpriced shops selling tourist tat like tea towels and mugs saying "I'd rather be in my campervan" or something like that.

But of course if I drive 100 miles to a seaside town in a different county I feel perfectly at liberty to wear my crocs and crop trousers and eat my cornish pasties in the rain because I'm on holiday innit, and the rules are different.

MIL buys a brand new "holiday handbag" every year when she goes to visit BIL "down south". It must be cream, and larger than her usual bag - to accommodate the magazine which she will carry around with her everywhere, and not read till her flight home.

Yes European family groups will often have matching rain cloak type things. Usually navy or yellow. I don't even know what that garment is called to be honest.