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).

As a child, we always had an annual summer holiday abroad, first 2 weeks of August. My mum would always buy us some new things to take as a sort of treat and we all loved it because she would often let us have free rein on what we wanted to wear. For us, it was a part of the holiday.
Now I have children of my own, I tend to holiday in SW or northern France. I have just bought DC quite a few new clothes for when we go next week. Not specifically holiday clothes. I buy stuff for them 2-3 times per year. So it's stuff they will wear through late summer and into autumn. I have also bought myself a few new tops. I'm more than happy for the French locals to laugh at me in my neon pink top. I will be enjoying some family time with H and DC.

I can see there's a difference between things we would wear if we were in a really hot place, especially if it was by the sea, but I don't understand the difference between clothes you wear in the summer when you aren't at work (and it's warm), and holiday clothes.

Do people wear different things - really? If it's the same weather and everything? what makes them holiday clothes?

I just wear what I wear at home now I don't have separate work clothes. I don't have separate summer clothes for home & for holidays.

What does make me laugh though is we live just off the North Downs way & some people come for a day's walk dressed for an Everest expedition. I jog past in shorts, tshirt & trainers or am out walking MIL's dog in jeans, tshirt & trainers.