Style and geographic location in the UK

[ConfusedParticle]

I love how it seems a lot of style differences seem to vary around the country, not that i've been everywhere mind, but here's what I noticed recently:

I am currently in the north west, Lancashire, semi rural and everyone wears big chunky coats or huge puffers. Many in leggings or running gear, but the over all style is very Next/supermarket, etc.

I spent a few weeks in various areas of Shropshire and noticed a much smarter, Barbour-esque style in general but mixed in with a lot of slouchy bohemian stuff on the women/girls. Far more in dresses during winter, with wool coats.

I also live in the Lake district for part of the year and it's very much mountain warehouse or Arcteryx, shirt rain macs with hiking pants up there! Or at the very least perpetually mindful of the rain. You might see a dress here and there in the summer, or on a tourist, but generally not.

These are just my experiences so not solid facts, but would love to hear yours from other places in the UK!
Have any of you noticed differences in certain places?
I think it's fascinating how subtly our clothing changes as we move around. I would say so far Shropshire was more my 'style home', as the people seemed to share my own tastes in clothes, but apart from the milder climate which was enviable, my heart is in the north.

I am from Manchester but live in London and travel between the two cities frequently, on all days/times of day.

There is definitely as a general observation (there will always be many exceptions, but fashion is partly about trends?) more of an emphasis on getting dressed up in Manchester compared with London. In terms of clothes, shoes and make/up.

The other thing I’ve noticed is that quite a few women there have dyed their hair a pretty similar shade - a kind of black red shade, in a particular kind of short style. I am a (deeply unfashionable) Mancunian, so no judgement from me, but I guess it must have been quite prevalent for both my husband and me to notice. I quite like the colour too.

A friend came down to visit from Manchester, and when we went out, she was noticeably more dressed up than any of my friends there. She felt really uncomfortable despite me reassuring her that she looked great, and that no one would judge her - as far as I’m aware they didn’t.

And I certainly never thought it was my place to ‘warn’ her about local fashion trends before we went out. She looked lovely.

I think different areas may well have different style preferences as a whole. Nothing wrong with that in my view. One is not better than the other.

@Lalalablahblahblah I once saw a lady on the northern line dressed for a night out wearing plain black socks (and no shoes), holding her heels in her hands! Thats what happens when you wear high high heels in London!

What a nasty thread.

There are definitely regional variances between what people wear. Edinburgh is noticeably different from Glasgow and the northern cities are different again.

I’ve also noticed that the colour of clothing varies hugely from the south of the UK to the north

@Shadappayourface

Can spot the Kent/Essex people going for a night out in London as they tend to doll themselves up and go to clubs. Most Londoners I know stay casual and opt for pubs and bars instead. Can't comment on other areas but I think Liverpool and Manchester has similar style to Essex?

Do you always ask women on a night out where they are from

Were very eclectic here, but the elderly seem more stylish than usual. I totally agree about Manchester though,I have seen women dolled up to their eyeballs , as in enormous wings, aka false eyelashes , heels I wouldn't even contemplate wearing, tight dresses and blingy handbags, in the Trafford centre at 11am. OK they were in the minority but it was a decent sized minority.

I don’t think styles are universal to a whole city. Someone who shops in the Northern Quarter is going to dress differently to someone who shops in Spinningfield. They’re going to dress differently to a teenager with limited funds having lunch in the Arndale food court. And there will be cross overs. Living in Manchester i would say there is an eclectic style, much like most big cities.

I don’t think styles are universal to a whole city.
The same applies still to London surely? I've not been there for a while but I'll eat my Vivienne Westwood jacket if Kings Rd has turned casual.

(No I won't but I'll be very surprised.)

@Floisme Definitely, which is why I put
“Living in Manchester i would say there is an eclectic style, much like most big cities” further down in the post.

I know - I was agreeing with you!

@Dianaofthelakeofshiningwaters

Your post is the first time I've ever seen anybody refer to Roadman style! My daughter is at secondary school and often refers to this style of dressing.

Love the user name by the way, one of my all time favourites.

Londoner here and anything goes. I visit friends up north and had to sneak in trainers to a club once. It was a while ago though. Nowadays I am more than happy to get dressed up to the nines as I just don't get the chance much.

I just dress for the activity. When waking, water decent footwear and layers. Running stuff for er, running. Etc,

But really I don't care what people wear, I just love seeing other peoples style and take inspiration. I'm still looking for a casual pullover style hooded canvas jacket I saw a woman wear out on a walk. It was perfect for the activity AND stylish ie nirvana! 😊

Do you go out at night OP?
I’ve noticed a completely different demographic/ style/ safety depending on time of day.

I don't think 'casual' and 'anything goes' are always the same thing.
This, I think, is why 'dressing for a trip London' threads generate so much anxiety.

Your post is the first time I've ever seen anybody refer to Roadman style!

I have to say this cracks me up. It's how youths have dressed since I was a youth. I find it bizarre that you can go to the home counties & see dc dressed up in urban wear talking in roadman slang. It's bizarre! 😆

@RiverSkater and @pateu - I had no clue about "roadman" style until my teenage DD explained. We don't get too many of them in Cornwall but I can now successfully identify them . I find it hard to keep up with the latest tribes. My DD went through a "Visco" girl phase but that seems to have gone as far as I can tell.

Here is wilts we have a lot of down from Londoners cosplaying a country aesthetic with salmon /mustard trousers for the gents, fairfax and favour for the ladies, tweed and gilets all round

the locals wear work clothes for work, gym wear for exercise and jeans and jumpers for most other things

O moved from Cardiff to Dorset and the first night I went out for food with new work colleagues everyone was wearing jeans and a tshirt/jumper and I had leather leggings and a belted in blazer. I have slowly adopted the outdoorsy casual dress though and I feel it’s much more me! I went back to Cardiff recently and really noticed how different people dress. There is a lot of high stilettos and body con dresses in the evening!

This was always going to be a bit of a car crash this thread, wasn't it. A few posts in, boom, bickering.

@tygga

Well they are the two biggest cities

No they're not.

I am in the Peterborough area and it is noticeable how differently people are dressed when I go into Cambridge. Peterborough is very much jeans/leggings/tracksuit bottoms and boots/trainers, a lot of black, 'trendy' mums at the school gate will be in leather look leggings, a teddy coat or huge puffa and platform boots. Very few people in dresses or skirts. Cambridge you see a lot more 'quirky' style. A lot more colour, drapey fabrics, the Toast look, interesting coats etc. Children wearing bright colours. Then if you go out into some of the nearby smart Lincolnshire towns it's tweed, expensive boots, Dubarry, the odd woman looking very 'done up' wearing Fairfax and Favor, etc.

I moved from Brum to Shropshire (Shrewsbury) last August and yes noticeably different. Laid back style - DMs, totes, cords that are too short all a bit hippy style. A lot kids at their college are noticeably stylish no roadman in site - a lot of "fuck the torries" badges being worn in college!!

@tygga

I just assume the different clothing is to do with practically. I dressed up more at uni because we would get cheap cabs to clubs/bars. As a Londoner I wasn't able to afford taxis to get me from A to B so it was more practical outfits for the tube/walking.

Agree. When I lived in rural Hampshire everything was olive green. Summer uniform was shorts and wellies. Our lives were ruled by mud. Farrow & Ball would call the overall colour "Drab".

When I moved back to civilisation I ditched the fleeces with glee

[quote Dianaofthelakeofshiningwaters]**@RiverSkater* and @pateu* - I had no clue about "roadman" style until my teenage DD explained. We don't get too many of them in Cornwall but I can now successfully identify them . I find it hard to keep up with the latest tribes. My DD went through a "Visco" girl phase but that seems to have gone as far as I can tell.[/quote]
My DC also use the term “roadman”, too, and used to talk about “Visco” girls a few years ago.