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!

@outedbyhobby (amazing name btw)

You need a big bag without logos but in expensive leather. Again, I would say mid range so you can afford to follow trends. A Chanel or Hermes is a bit of a flashy suburban look and Londoners tend to dress down not up.

Yes! This is exactly the tip I'm after! Thank you!

How does leather look expensive?

Emilia Fox in Silent Witness is a good template for your industry I’d have thought. A Jaeger or All Saints coat in a current cut, a Mulberry Millie tote, some ankle boots with a bit of detail.

I think a lot of women who like clothes but don’t have much style confidence don’t follow trends like hemlines or silhouettes. They get stuck into a rut of good quality things, but getting the details wrong makes them look out of date.

An expensive bag (which may not be that expensive) will be soft leather, in an adaptable colour that isn’t black, without much metal hardware and a discreet logo. Something about a black handbag says “This is my only smart handbag so I had to buy it in a sensible colour.”

How does leather look expensive?

Because good quality generally is 😆

Controversial for MN but don’t wear black or navy as again it suggests you’ve had to be practical out of necessity. There has to be an element of fun in what you’re wearing.

I am an In house lawyer at a bank and certainly not any sort of style maven. But work with a really diverse group of women (thank the lord, the only reason I am still in my job).

The fold
Whistles
The tamer end of Reiss (go to a London store not a Northern store - they have different stock)
Cos has tons of stuff
Other stories if it suits you
I don’t like Zara
I sometimes get swishy dresses from phase eight which can go InThe wash. Very occasional but the ultra plain stuff is actually fine
Uniqlo for cashmere and merino wool jumpers in plain colours.
J crew was brilliant but sadly no longer with us in physical form. Ditto banana republic.
M&S top end (can’t remember the name) is very nice but made for people much taller than me so loooks awful on me.

Those are my basics shops. Fit and fabric are more important than brand. I have primark skirt which has got many compliments but it’s only one piece and worn with stuff many times more expensive.

But London does allow for some Room to be original.

I have a wonderful leather bag from massimo dutti which was about £120 but looks at least triple the price and is unplacable in terms of brand. And effortlessly stylish. And can fit an A4 pad inside.

No way Sophie Stanbury!

(Had to look her up, but just no).

They are very north London ime. Look at wears my money
Not Reiss, or LK Bennett, or Ted Baker .

Most people I know, shop at local boutique shops, but wear Sweaty Betty or Lululemon. Vejas. Duvet Coats. Jumpsuits or dungarees, possibly Cos , Scandi brands too, Ganni, Toast for some.

Liberty for nice clothes and a good bag. Possibly an expensive parka - Canada Goose or Didrikson.

@OutedByHobby

An expensive bag (which may not be that expensive) will be soft leather, in an adaptable colour that isn’t black, without much metal hardware and a discreet logo. Something about a black handbag says “This is my only smart handbag so I had to buy it in a sensible colour.”

You describe my current bag collection very well (one large sensible black bag and one small sensible black bag).

The Millie is lovely, I never would have looked at that previously. Thank you for your time on this, its appreciated.

Something I swear by for conferences is a tailored jacket in white or cream - it’s never more expensive than Massimo Dutti but the wholly impractical colour definitely communicates your ability to afford dry cleaning!

Oroton bags are nice & not too expensive.

Oh and it’s in a very deep burgundy which ties in with the ‘not black’ thing. Much more stylish as a result.

First, buy one of the less expensive MaxMara coats (because Outed is right about boredom), some boots you like, and a big slouchy, probably cross body, bag. Get anything you need immediately from Arket, while you familiarise yourself with some of these (in addition to the three places I mentioned in my first post):

Mouki.Mou.com (on a laptop). V. grown up brands.
KASSL Editions. New classics.
AprèsParis.it. Just because ...
Lemaire. Swishy.
Totême. Swishy.

(I could list thirty or forty more. But I won't.)

[quote jillypill]@MrsDeadlock have you seen The Split? I would say that would be the look of someone who was well groomed in a corporate role & went for classic choices.

Brands like Maxmara & Burberry, Roland Mourat, Equipment, Goat [/quote]
I came here to mention The Split too! Love all their wardrobes on it!

I mean...I work in the City and none of us are likely to use Aspinal bags.

The most common spotted bags in the City for high earners are:

• Your run of the mill navy Longchamp shopper

• Navy Knomo rucksack

Anything super-branded would be seen as a bit gauche or a bit flashy (not in a good way).

@umpteennamechanges interesting, like this one? www.longchamp.com/gb/en/products/zipped-shopping-bag-10116HNA542.html

I do like their pokemon range misses point

I have not seen The Split! I will look!

Brands often seen on higher earners (six figures) in the City...

• LK Bennett
• Jaeger
• Whistles
• Some Reiss
• Some Phase Eight (occasional)
• Some Boden (occasional)
• The Fold if feeling flush (honestly most of us don't have tonnes of disposable cash even on six figures)

Don't wear high heels walking around or on public transport if you don't want to look like a tourist.

Nice coat is a necessity since you're always tramping about between tube lines and stations. Something like a nice LK Bennett trench or Aquascutum.

Nothing flashy - nothing obviously branded.

Classic but potentially fun with the accessories (but not too much fun).

Whistles
Cos
Sandro
Maje
Zara

[quote MrsDeadlock]@umpteennamechanges interesting, like this one? www.longchamp.com/gb/en/products/zipped-shopping-bag-10116HNA542.html

I do like their pokemon range misses point[/quote]
Actually just the cheap shopper - £85

The look I would say is groomed but (pretend) minimal effort.

So you just sling your laptop into a 'cheap' bag or something 'practical' like a Knomo.

www.longchamp.com/gb/en/products/shoulder-bag-l-L1899089001.html

London bags tend to be hands-free - cross body or a smart backpack. Jigsaw do very good leather bags and wool coats.

Gosh, I thought I was posh but I've not really, bought new clothes in years. I just buy stuff in John Lewis occasionally, I got a nice suit in Theory years ago. Russell and Bromley for work shoes, but my at home clothes are at least ten years old and I just wear outdoor brands like scarpa, mountain hardwear, and have a ludicrous obsession with finding superdry hoodies minus the stupid logo.

Cefinn for workwear too. But a lot of Whistles. Perhaps LK Bennett too.

The Split hilarious - not very much like any of the law firms I've worked in.

@umpteennamechanges I might just buy that!! Thank you.

@SuePreem relative works for a MC law firm & she dresses in that style, lower heels though!

@SuePreem

Cefinn for workwear too. But a lot of Whistles. Perhaps LK Bennett too.

The Split hilarious - not very much like any of the law firms I've worked in.

I haven't seen The Split but just had a quick look at images and the style seems slightly off to me.

I really think it just takes looking at The Fold, LK Bennett and Whistles.

Chuck in a Knomo backpack and you're done.

If you do want leather then I think the Longchamp Cavalcade or something like it (which might be the one you linked to anyway) would work.

As PP says though many use backpacks or cross body (with a laptop bag separate) from a purely practical perspective.