Differences between British and American fashion

[VintageRainBoots]

Hi, all.

I'm new around here. Currently, I'm in Los Angeles, but my husband recently accepted a job in Guildford and we're in the process of moving to the UK.

I'm curious about the differences between American and British fashion tastes. For example, I've heard that British women tend to wear clothing closer to the body (i.e., more fitted) than American women; is this true? I could certainly see how it could be the case. "Baggy" clothing, especially t-shirts, are commonplace in the US. Few people bother to get their clothes tailored unless they're work clothes (e.g., suits for the office).

Also, Americans tend to dress quite casually (e.g., blue jeans and t-shirts), though I avoid t-shirts myself. In addition, people in the US tend to wear lots of "active" clothing, like yoga or jogging pants, even when they're not exercising! Is that done in the UK?

Finally, I have a closet full of Ralph Lauren polo shirts in a rainbow of colours (my berry coloured polo is my favourite!) and a large number of casual trousers (e.g., khakis and cargo pants). Would I stand out as the obvious Yank in such attire?

And, just for fun, what makes an American stand out as an American? Like, when you see someone walking down the street and you can just tell that they're American...what is it that they're doing/wearing that makes them us stand out?

No real fur !

By pronouncing khakis ('car-kees') as 'cackees'.

Don't worry about looking American. You are American. Just come over, look in the shops, see what you like. If you see a woman whose style you admire, ask her where she shops.

Just don't wear sports/exercise clothing (including sports shoes) unless you are actively exercising, or on the way to or from the gym.

Those boots are exactly like what I would wear to the stables or to walk the dog on a very wet, muddy day - except someone's stuck some laces on them :o

Oh and don't wear the branded clothing of a university you did not attend. Double fail if you visit Oxford or Cambridge and buy any of the American college style clothing they hawk to tourists - it is manufactured purely for the American market.

Nobody will care about fake fur. Real fur is more controversial - I do wear real fur things I have been given and sheepskin, but that is because it is frickin cold up here and man made fibres simply do not cut it.

Also check out the threads here on "mum boots"!

Oh yes, and have fun! Welcome to Britain!

I have to tell you those llbean boots are truly hideous. The first pair looks like someone crudely stitched two different boots together a la Frankenstein's monster.

That said, most British women dress like a sack of shit tied in the middle, so don't sweat it too much.

Real fur is vile. I would find it hard to like anyone who wears real fur when there are so many faux fur items available.

Leather's fine though.

all those llbean boots are great for over here

those boots fine for snow or hideous rain

I always think American men seem to dress like Seinfield - top tucked into jeans with a belt and white trainers. Oh and white teeth!

If you want to look British, start eating lots of sugary sweets, drinking black coffee and red wine and don't floss. That'll be a good start!!

Also, speaking personally, buy most of your clothes from Tesco (supermarket). Classy it ain't!

But as people have said, if you are American then it really doesn't matter if you look it. Just don't smile too much and keep telling people to have a nice day. (I have issues from a former American boss, can you tell?!?!)

Wear whatever you like, surrey isn't exactly the most stylish place on earth anyway! we brits can be bitchy, but are OK really!

Guildford is quite good for shopping, and near London, so as others say you can enjoy it.

Bring a proper winter coat, gloves etc, it is cold! too cold for rain mac at the moment.

I have friends from Brentwood who came over this summer, they looked hot , granted they are male but they dressed better than the locals!

Actually, it's probably your DH who should be worried about his clothes, especially if he's not thin, UK men can be waaaaay meaner than women on this kind of stuff!

(Have seen some dodgy "smart casual" clothes on north american male colleagues, sporty/tucked in/chinos/belly.)

Definitely, definitely, definitely NO to real fur!

Obviously it's incredibly cruel and unnecessary, and also because you may receive verbal abuse. I've seen two people shouted at for wearing real fur (and I wholeheartedly agreed with what the 'shouters' said! )

Real fur!

Even if not heckled/shouted at, would definitely get the famous MN cats-bum faces

American men seem a bit more 'clean cut' than Brits and (sorry this may come across as mean) dress a little bit like boys do in the UK. By this I mean neat, side-parting hair, no sideburns, colourful shirt, tucked into chinos. A bit like a primary-schooler!

On the other hand, UK men could be described as scruffy gits!

Skinny jeans
Jegging and leggings if you have the legs
Loose fit knee high brown boots, good quality ones to keep wet out. these to go with all of the above and thick tights with skirts and dresses

Tunics to go with all the above such as this

Dresses but with thick black or brown tights etc - these are prob much cheaper in US so stock up on your falke and wolford 120 dernier.

Converse with jeans at weekend. The short ones not the high tops.
Ballet pumps for the week these or any colour you fancy

Tops lots of! Plain long sleeve fine knit t shirts to layer under your dresses and tunics! For warmth. But this is the fun bit where you buy what you like and there's lots to choose from.

A good coat, maybe a north face parka.

Leather gloves for driving. Unless you have a self heating steering wheel.
Hat, scarf and warm gloves for walking.

Yep, shattereddreams, you pretty much nailed it, and you can get everything you need in or near Guildford (if I'm not mistaken there is a Joules, where the tunic in shattereddreams' post is from, in Farnham, which is about 20 minutes from Guildford and also a nice place to shop). I'm a Yank living near Guildford myself and I also like White Company cardigans and tunics and random pieces from Toast and Jigsaw (all of which have branches in Guildford).

When I'm home in the States I stock up on stuff from the Gap, JCrew, Banana Republic and Ann Taylor (which may have gotten run of the mill over the years but every so often there is a piece in the collection that always gets me compliments over here as it's nothing that's been seen in a shop here). But when I'm home my family always asks me why I'm so "dressy" because I throw on a washable linen dress (most likely from the White Company) in 100 degree heat .

Oh, and one piece of advice: buy as much of DCs' clothes in the US as you can! Kids' clothes that don't make them look like thugs or sluts are really expensive here, and they don't need to be.

Are you not tempted to go with the whole American preppy thing? I've been wearing a gant polo shirt today.
Excellent advice here. I agree I've not seen chinos, cargos or similar since the 90s. Yes to skinnies but also yet to other cuts of jeans in darkest darkest blue.
Welcome! :)

Oh! If you have a favorite pair of jeans, buy about 10 more of them because you will never get decent jeans here, especially if you have are at all pear-shaped. British women do not have junk in the trunk so despite being a petite person there are no British jeans that I can get on over my enormous bum. Some of them won't even come up past my knees. Get all your makeup sorted out before you come and make a big trip to Target for any OTC meds. You can only buy Tylenol in tiny blister packs here so stock up!

Also it's not called acetaminophen, it's paracetamol.

And don't expect your tumble dryer to work properly, even if you're lucky enough to have one.

Just to echo what a couple of people have said - I've found Gap, Banana Republic and DKNY to be the most in-tune with British style sensibilities. Polo shirts make you look like you work in a shop, IMO (nothing wrong with that! But you might get stopped by people asking where the Polyfilla is in B&Q).