What brands do posh people wear in London

[MrsDeadlock]

I am northern, and not posh. However I do have a fancy job that usually requires a level of travel.

There is a dress code that I'm not very good at reading for my London based contemporaries. Think Meg and Julia in Motherland types.

What brands do these types wear? I can spot a Mulberry handbag at ten paces usually but the rest is baffling and I'm genuinely intrigued. They always look so well dressed!

Please help me, I can't ask in real life!

Are you after designer or high street brands?

And where/what are you dressing for? What we wear to work is different from at home.

Im no expert OP but I'm a Londoner who dresses a bit like this - IMO the key to this look is subtlety - minimal makeup and jewellery and no "up do" hairstyles. Bold but natural colours, no patterns. Loose, natural fabrics and nothing skintight.

Is Julia from Motherland posh? (Misses point of thread)

LK Bennet, Jigsaw, Hobbs, &other stories, the cooples, Riess ( my fav), White Company, netaporter, the outnet, Rouje, Maje, Sandro.... I could go on!

@BarryWhiteIsMyBrother good question, both I think. I like Hush and a bit of FCUK plus regatta for high street, can't stand Zara (sizing issues), but have no clue re anything else

@Hopdathelf work come casual evening do, when such things are allowed again. I tend to travel to london on the train in more casual stuff, stay a few nights for work etc

@NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy yes I agree, and this does tend to be my look too. I hate patterns, and am quite naturally groomed.

@shivermetimbers77 you could be right there

@Baycob this is exactly what I'm after as I have never heard of outnet, Rouje, Maje, Sandro

I think motherland looks like a mix of Whistles, Mint Velvet, Boden etc. Sandro, Maje etc are lovely but more Parisian chic.

OP wear what you like. That's one of the great things about London, no one really gives a toss what anyone else is wearing . Or maybe I'm hanging out in the wrong places. Certainly no Meg or Julia types around my neck of the woods.

It's less about wanting to assimilate and more about just genuinely not getting it, if that makes any sense? Different groups where I live have different looks, wear certain brands. A bit posh round here is hush/boden/reiss/ted baker. Only drug dealers WAGs wear balenciaga and dress their kids in Ralph Lauren. But, when I'm with colleagues in london, I've seen them wear less flashy versions of more high end clothes.

I've had a rummage around the sites mentioned above and LOVE Sandro!

Arket and cos as well. And a LOT of Zara in my experience.

Many women wear zero makeup.

More casual in general, plain expensive preferable to lace or frills.

Flat shoes (brogues, loafers, ankle boots or trainers).

I would say no to the ted baker look or a lot of the Reiss dressy look.

I do think it’s all quite ‘anything goes’ though!

What industry are you in? I agree lots of cos and Zara in London.
All industries in London have become more casual this year.

Sezane? French and not cheap but less eye watering than Maje.

Lots of Zara
Essential Antwerp
Sandro
Some Massimo Duti
Maje
And Other Stories
The Outnet
Russell and Bromley
The ‘cheaper’ floor at Liberty
Rixo

Joseph

I live in London, work in the City. Agree probably not Ted Baker (unless you go for one of their wool wrap coats which are ubiquitous - I succumbed and bought one in pea green in last year's sales and love it). Workwear from The Fold/Joseph/Massimo Dutti/The Outnet, bags (including a laptop bag) from Aspinal, Jewellery from Georg Jensen or similar.

Brightly coloured shift dresses and heels seem to be on their way out, tailored and sharply pressed ankle trousers and brogues seem to still be popular. Or a silk blouse, skirt and blazer.

Minimal foundation, shortish nails (increasingly people seem to be going for bare but buffed).

But of course all of this is if you want to blend in. I love it when I see people do something a bit different ...

This is really interesting, thanks everyone for posting. I'm enjoying perusing the sales on the sites you've mentioned. It's like a window into another world.

@ardnassa thanks for the accessories tip, I had been wondering about bags! Yes the only Ted Baker I own is a wrap coat, although i do like some of their more plain skirts/dresses. I ruin the aesthetic with a Patagonia laptop backpack though I do like those Aspinal bags!!

I think Aspinal bags are really good quality and very hard-working. And a nice laptop bag has been easily one of my best purchases. Happy browsing (and/or shopping)!

Great new take on a perennial question!

If I needed a completely new, faux-effortless, new-urban-frump wardrobe in which to swan around the creative hubs of London - the sort of thing I observe hugely successful (therefore mostly not young) chefs, artists, composers, etc wearing - I'd go straight to:

Raey at Matches Fashion
Studio Nicholson
Margaret Howell

Each of these do what they do incredibly well - for proper grown ups who expect to have access to superb quality whatever their age, size or shape.

(Personally I need a different colour palette and rather more whimsy - fortunately I don't have to fit into any particular tribe.)

(Went away and came back while writing this so will have missed all helpful updates.)

When you say fancy job, is it more City or creative? Makes a difference in terms of what people wear.

I like meandem. They do some great good quality pieces. I stopped working in the City last year but they used to be one of my staples

Hello - great thread. I really love Theory (available at Selfridges and also now John Lewis) and also Claudie Pierlot. Show us what you buy in the sales! Best wishes!

ACP
and Other stories
Arket

Wide trousers, slight crop a silk shirt and a oversized mohair type sweater in colours that suit you. Nice socks. Smart brogues or white white white trainers. Wool single breasted coat in plum or navy or even racing green.

MIDI tube skirt, tights, black chelsea boots, big collared white blouse blazer overcoat.

MeandEm
RagAndBone

Follow Sophie Stanbury on IG - she wears nice clothes

Great thread OP - I'm a SAHM mum in the South East so not so relevant to me, but my sister lives and works in London in an industry where you need to look the part, so I'm going to pass all this to her!