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Fashion observations from a day people watching in London

469 replies

Unicornsaregreat · 25/02/2023 21:29

  • Lots of different styles of jeans. Still lots of skinnies, with oversized tops
  • Lots of bags like this picture
  • A very large proportion of trainers were New Balance
  • Those not in trainers mainly wore chunky flat or low heeled boots (no one in heels)
Fashion observations from a day people watching in London
OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
Maireas · 26/02/2023 11:58

@Sandra1984 - what are all these "feather" jackets?.

BarbaraofSeville · 26/02/2023 11:59

Not so long ago, I saw some people doing 'the Otley run' (@Klippetyklip will know what this is). I couldn't work out if the clothes were current fashion or some sort of 'dress like your nerdy great uncle' fancy dress Grin

I also think I've seen a couple of people recently with their hair dyed half and half, ie the left side of their head is one colour and the right another, or undyed. Is this another thing?

Maireas · 26/02/2023 12:00

Mullets! @Klippetyklip ! They were bound to come back.
All this poker straight hair with centre parting has to go soon. Will bubble perms be back?!

VanGoghsDog · 26/02/2023 12:04

I looked in Uniqlo with a view to buying a couple of tops, but everything was cropped - wouldn't cover my nipples!

Arket and &Other Stories - all boxy, no good for those of us with any boobage.

Hobbs - all mother of the bride.

Pigflewpast · 26/02/2023 12:04

Very near you @Klippetyklip and know several lads with mullets. Also agree about the Otley Run, sometimes it’s hard to know, apart from the million Mario.
As an aside did you see the locals trying to get it banned again @BarbaraofSeville, I can’t see that happening.

Moraxella · 26/02/2023 12:06

What NB trainers are they all in? Mine aren’t actually that comfy

Sandra1984 · 26/02/2023 12:06

Maireas · 26/02/2023 11:58

@Sandra1984 - what are all these "feather" jackets?.

Sorry for the awful wording (I'm not British), I meant those down jackets, parkas or "puffer coats" filled with feathers that everybody wears in London.

Click here to see what I meant:

Maireas · 26/02/2023 12:08

Ah, @Sandra1984 - I see, those jackets filled with down. They're worn all over the UK. Mostly in black. They really are ubiquitous - for a reason! Warm and waterproof.

lurchermummy · 26/02/2023 12:08

Ha ha if I go to London I always trainers or super comfy boots because my DH insists on us walking miles and miles! Comfort is soooo much more important than style these days.

Sandra1984 · 26/02/2023 12:08

Maireas · 26/02/2023 11:58

@Sandra1984 - what are all these "feather" jackets?.

Sorry I'm not sure the link works:

Fashion observations from a day people watching in London
Maireas · 26/02/2023 12:10

No, the link worked ok, @Sandra1984 !
They're worn all over the UK. As I said, quite ubiquitous.
Actually your Oxford Street observations were interesting, because I've seen much the same in Newcastle and York recently.
I think fashion seems to have got a lot more homogenous.

lurchermummy · 26/02/2023 12:13

I'm in the Cotswolds. Lots of Fairfax and Favour boots, Shoffel gilets, Barbour jackets and hats with feathers for the 20-30 somethings. The young townie lads dress as if from the hood - baggy tracksuit bottoms, huge puffas, hoodies etc. Young girls all in crop tops and flares. There is a definite town/country divide.

honeylulu · 26/02/2023 12:21

I'm quite happy that comfy sportswear and trainers are in and I think it will be likely to stay that way. People got used to wearing leisure wear during the pandemic and don't want to cram themselves into more structured and less comfy clothing again. I often spend most of the day in gym wear as i mean to do a work out before getting dressed properly (and keep putting it off) and I always used to feel scruffy but now I fit right in! I do think it doesn't look great though and very little individual style but hey ho.

I work in the city and there's definitely been a switch from traditional office attire to more smart-casual. Men still wear suit trousers (or sometimes smart jeans) and shirts but no tie. Women tend to wear smart-ish dresses or midi skirts and structured tops. So quite smart but not as much as pre pandemic when it was usual to see both men and women wearing a suit jacket/blazer daily but that isn't bothered with now. If it's chilly it's just as likely the extra layer is a plainish jumper or fitted cardigan. I've got to admit I haven't paid much attention to what people wear on their feet. Will have to have a look! I still wear heels around the office (black slip on trainers for the commute) but that's definitely unusual these days. I will add that I work for a city law firm so dress is still likely more conservative than most industries.

Puffa coats are everywhere in London and where I live (Berkshire). I can't bear the look of them. Makes the wearer look like a hot water tank waddling along. I have a couple of smart wool coats, a leather biker jacket (have always been a rocker) and for casual wear a green parka - the sort 90% of mums were wearing 10 years ago. I hung onto mine because it's so warm and comfy, though hideous. But have found I can't wear it if I go in any shops as i get mistaken for a middle aged shoplifter (seems to be the combo of scruffy/ hood/ trainers plus being quite slim for my age i.e. heroin addict vibe that does it). I won't be replacing it with a puffa though!

My casual (non gym) look is still skinny jeans or jeggings (all black) and am delighted combats are back and have just bought a pair (black like 95% clothes). Black trainers, black fitted tops (not crops) and a zip up fleece or waterfall cardigan (also totally out of fashion) if I need an extra layer. Trainers always plain black and not chunky. I think the white chunky ones make legs look like golf clubs. I also have several fitted flowery dresses which are totally out of fashion but which i love and wont be giving up. I'm really happy with my style as I've tried a lot of different things over the years and this is what really suits and flatters me. Completely agree with posters who've said when you get to middle age you end up in that sort of place rather than blindly following the tribe.

My son nearly 18 is almost always in sportswear and bucket hat mostly Nike but still likes Adidas. Also Tommy Hilfiger and Lyle &Scott. Won't wear a coat.

Daughter nearly 9 wears little tshirts and shorts whatever the weather. Will wear jumpers but not coats and big clumpy DM style boots. I've tried and tried to get her to consider other stuff, mainly for weather appropriate reasons but she's adamant this is what she likes. I dont think it's a tribal thing (yet) as her friends wear a mix of track suits (if streetwise) and dresses (for the less streetwise).

Mira28 · 26/02/2023 12:24

Calphurnia88 · 26/02/2023 09:38

Just checked out these pages and now following them all!

Parisians in Paris is full of inspiration 👌🏻

Agree! I love genuine street fashion blogs/ accounts that show a variety of individual styles (and not just fashionistas during the Fashion Week in Copenhagen or similar).

Robyn847 · 26/02/2023 12:24

"London is always more relaxed than up north"

@back289 Having living up North for most of my life I can confirm we're just scared of fashion. We're only just coming to terms with neck scarves being worn as an accessory rather than because it's cold. shudder

Maireas · 26/02/2023 12:28

@Mira28 - they are interesting, although strangely the Parisians in Paris is very similar to Romans in Rome: trench coats, loose trousers, beige, brown. Maybe the summer months will brighten things up!

Maireas · 26/02/2023 12:31

@Robyn847 - true! I live in Yorkshire. Remember the horrible storms last week? I was waiting for a lift, shivering in a thick coat and hat, warm boots etc. Two lasses got out of a taxi, hotpants, boob tubes, skyscraper heels, and trotted into Wetherspoons.
Needless to say, not even a jacket between them. That's hard, that is!

MistyMooninabluesky · 26/02/2023 12:32

CallMeVal · 26/02/2023 09:41

Midriffs in mid winter also isn’t new.
We did it in the 90s. And there was a fashion for trainers without socks where I was, so rain or shine we wore our Nike Air Max without socks <sweaty/cold!>.

The young don’t mind a bit of discomfort in the name of fashion!

😄🫣 I did it in the 60’s!
Nothing is new in fashion apparently.

Robyn847 · 26/02/2023 12:34

safeplanet · 25/02/2023 23:45

the only thing I don't like about fashion today is that it seems more homogeneous. So in the 90s when I was a tween/teen you had your different tribes but even within that tribe there were different looks. Now they all seem to wear the exact same outfit & often the exact item.

There were 4 girls in front of me in black leggings, white sports socks, the same NB trainers, black puffa & bag in the OP photo. It was a uniform!

I always think it's funny that teenagers will rebel against having to wear a school uniform, often doing the TINIEST thing to personalise it or make it different so they stick out and aren't run of the mill (sometimes backed by parents moaning they aren't buying a badged school sweatershirt because they can buy very similar unbranded ones from Tesco). And then outside school they'll all buy exactly the same clothes from exactly the same shops (at hugely inflated prices, just because a sweatshirt has the correct badge on it) and are ded set on looking identically identical.

MistyMooninabluesky · 26/02/2023 12:35

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 26/02/2023 10:17

Some absolute shite on this thread, and I suspect at least one poster is actually a 13 year old (either that or just really fucking dim).

Those under the boob bags - my very cool daughter has had one (Doc M) for several years - but surely they’d be a disaster on anybody much bigger than a B cup?

I was wondering about where someone of more than ample boobage would wear one!
Definitely not for me 😊

TakeYourHatOffBoy · 26/02/2023 12:36

I loathe those long puffer jackets; even worse if they are sleeveless and worn with a hoodie underneath. They look absolutely ridiculous and are such a cliche.

Do love a French tuck though, although that is mainly because I have a newly-flattish stomach and am very conscious of the unflattering, frumpy, hit-at-the-hip length of many of my tops.

19-year-old ds (lives in London) generally dresses like one of the Happy Mondays, which at the age of 50 brings back terrible fashion memories for me! Although recently I have detected a slightly more glam/bohemian edge...I think Harry Styles may be quite an influence 😆

Maireas · 26/02/2023 12:37

That makes me laugh too, @Robyn847 .
When we have non uniform days, what they wear is virtually identical!

JaffaCake70 · 26/02/2023 12:43

user1496262496 · 26/02/2023 02:13

On the way to Greggs wearing Wellies, flat cap… accessorised with a ferret and a whippet. I am in the north

😂😂😂

Motorcycleemptyness · 26/02/2023 12:43

I’m a northern 35 year old living in London and I think the poster who said northern fashion is behind is well out - a lot of the fashion I see out and about atm is kind of led by Molly mae, and she’s in mcr iirc? It’s certainly not my thing but you can’t deny her influence!

you can pry my flowery/brightly coloured dresses and DMs/trainers with a denim/leather jacket out of my cold dead hands tbh. That’s my vibe and I’m sticking with it.

NatashaDancing · 26/02/2023 12:44

Maireas · 26/02/2023 12:08

Ah, @Sandra1984 - I see, those jackets filled with down. They're worn all over the UK. Mostly in black. They really are ubiquitous - for a reason! Warm and waterproof.

They are worn everywhere. I don't care how warm or waterproof they are I still wouldn't be seen in one.