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?

catsrus, in the 80s no high-powered female attorney would ever DREAM of wearing trousers in court. I still remember preparing for an appellate advocacy mock trial in 1997 in front of a panel of real judges and being told trousers (or "pant suits") were not a good idea. By the 90s they were fine for other jobs (including legal jobs where you didn't go to court) but not in front of a judge. I don't remember Ally McBeal ever wearing trousers in court, but I could be wrong. I don't know it's still the case that women don't wear trousers in court in the US, but things may have moved on since then.

ah but the LA law women did wear them - I knew I remembered correctly (I was VERY taken with their outfits ) and have found a really interesting academic article about it which says
"According to the staid InternationalHerald Tribune, "The television
program L.A. Law showed female attorneys wearing trousers into the
courtroom. Real-life lawyers didn't take to pantsuits in droves, but the
show spawned articles and discussions about acceptable courtroom dress" [9. Robin D. Givhan, WorkWear: Reflection of Change;No Need Now for Uniforms,INT'L HERALDTRm.,Oct. 14, 1995, at21.]

The article can be downloaded here it is large - and the link is to the direct download - but you might find it interesting (Digital commons licence) Ally McBeal and Her Sisters: A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Representations of Women Lawyers on Prime-Time Television by Diane Klein

Ally McBeal wore the teeniest tiniest skirts if I remember correctly.

No difference with what's on the catwalk, but I think the 'man on the street' is a bit behind 'us'. You notice it with jeans.

now that you say it, i'd never wear anything baggy but that's becauuse I am definitely not fat but not thin either and i think baggy clothes make you look bigger if you have that kind of body.

I LOVE guildford. would love to go back there one day!

I'm scared to come visit now!

I love this thread! fascinating. I would never have made these observations but I think they are true. I'm in my early 40s but I would wear hightop runners (irish for sneakers ) I love my burgundy skinnies too despite being in my 40s. I KNOW my school friend who moved to Boston would not dress like I do now after nearly 20 years in Boson But her older by one year sister who still lives in Ireland probably would have a similar style.

I agree with the others, if people guess you are American, don't worry! it'll start a conversation.

NO to white sneakers and tucking things in to your jeans though!!

op i can tell spanish people from 500 metros, so start your own funny thread! the british in America, how to spot them!?

Spanish people wear really expensive quilted Puffa type coats (black), skinny jeans (taupe), sunglasses (expensive).

and camper shoes taht would cost ?140 in Ireland.

Spanish people always have real leather bags too. (that's a purse OP !) no pvc "fashion" bags from high street stores. it may not be a big brand you've heard of but it would be leather.

I love this thread! We went to Florida last year and we played spot the Brit - well what else is there to do while you queue up for hours, we were surprisingly accurate.

American women always seem to have beautiful nails too. Not just for going out!

Nail salons are everywhere (I live in NYC) and manicures are typically $10. So its super cheap to go once a week - which many people do.

I love this thread! My kids are at an American school, and the "moms" there dress very differently from the Europeans. Immoveable hair, perfectly coiffed and highlighted is de rigueur, together with a full face of slap and VERY BRIGHT lipstick (a sort of painted on snarl). Lots of gold jewellery too. Then we move to the clothes. Roll necked tops are compulsory in the winter, it seems, with either cosy tracky bottoms or jeans, and polo shirts in summer, with chinos or jeans. Trainers on feet, always.

I was at a conference in Geneva the other week and was playing "spot the nationality" with an American friend of mine (the conference was around 90% male). American men always have hair parted on the side, cut slightly too short and look immaculate. Their shoes are very definitely not British - a slightly "wrong" brogue or slip-ons, and there is something not quite right about the shirt - maybe a button down collar with a tie. The British men all looked slightly scruffy - tie not quite at the neck, shirt sticking out a bit, shoes needed cleaning. The Germans all sported something green or khaki, be it a jacket or a tie or shirt. The French like lemon or pink shirts and have very pointy shoes, and a slightly homosexual (to our eyes) dress sense. The Swiss looked either French or German. The Aussies looked as if they were hoping for warmer weather - chinos and maybe a short sleeved shirt. One man, who we both identified as American, as he was wearing a royal blue suit and white trainers, had us fooled though. He was a Swedish academic.

lol I lived in London for 20 + yrs and we used to play "name that tourist" - we sometimes confused German and American men if they were the tall nordic type wearing check trousers (this was the 80's)

Or you could just turn up looking like an American and then decide what you wanted to adopt about UK style.

Spanish women are easily identifiable by long puffa coats and neat flat boots. Italians by colourful makeup and a tendency to neon.

I used to love tourist spotting on the tube now I've moved to Scotland and see no one interesting

Why do French men love pastels so much I wonder. They can be a bit too Benetton for my tastes.

I've just had a look on the LL Bean website, is that aimed at 30-somethings? [chuckles]

US women news anchors are always super overdone with slap and coiffed hair. Apart from Rachel Maddow, who manages to look like a normal human being.

Yes and they all have that short choppy blonde hair style that Meg Ryan had in 1998.

How do they get their hair like that? I want my hair all coiffed and bouncy!!!

Mink no, it isn't. My friend's mother, for example, who is a librarian in her late 50's, loves L.L. Bean. I'd say she's the typical demographic. I do buy some of their kids' range for my son. It's very durable. :)

I need a new coat (am pregnant and going to be large this winter :) ) and am thinking about this one, so maybe it is aimed at 30 somethings. I just need something not to expensive that can handle hikes in the snow and our negative Minnesota temps.

*too

And my husband has never parted his hair on the side! :o Well, he barely has any now, so it's all close cropped, but when he did.