Fashion observations from a day people watching in London

[Unicornsaregreat]

• 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)

I’m 43 and northern and I’m that far behind I still wear my clothes from the late 90’s/early 00’s. 😁 Everything since then has been really generic and the majority of people look the same. I’m so happy to see actual colours starting to infiltrate the grey, black, white, neutral colours we’ve been stuck with for ages. I blame school uniform for wiping out any kind of decent fashion/music scenes.

My 12 year old won’t wear NB trainers as everyone has them.

Don't dress down, dress up
Love it, @RhadamanthNemes !
I'm probably considered by many to be beyond help, being 63, living in the north and a History teacher (no elbow patch jokes please) but I love dressing up and I love style. I don't want to look like an idiot, though.
I don't own a pair of leggings, and I'd never have my lips pumped up, but I do like to reflect on new trends.

Hear hear!

I am northern and my uniform is either skinny jeans or a midi skirt with an oversized wooly jumper and DMs. I think i look great

Although, @WomanOfSteel , there's always been school uniform, even in the 60s when GB led style, so that's not it. Is it all this cheap disposable clothing? I do agree with you that people wearing grey and beige is very dull though. I do like colour!

The jeans thing is interesting as I feel like it’s the older gen hanging on the skinnies and the youngster all have those higher waist boyfriend or girlfriend baggier types. So unflattering on anyone with shall we say mature womanly curves

As a middle age curvy woman I can identify with this. We've had decades of being told to 'disguise our problem areas' so all these high waisted jeans that accentuate even the slightest tummy are a culture shock too far.

Especially as people are wearing them with crop tops or the ubiquitous French tuck, now that's something that looks so contrived when you browse online. Every model is styled that way.

I remember being bullied at school for having a very slight belly and I find it hard to believe that it's changed so much and all these young women are happily wearing clothes that make them looks 2 stone heavier than they are.

Anyway, we went 'out out' in Leeds for the first time in a while.

Lots of puffer jackets, still a few women in tiny dresses and skyscraper heels and a lot of crop tops and tight beige high waisted trousers which is not a good look on anyone I'm sorry to say.

I've noticed the huge dark eyebrows are less common.

I live near a northern city. It's a popular area for students and I see most of them wearing very casual, outdoorsy clothing (fleeces, windbreakers, etc) that is either 90s inspired or vintage. We have a lot of second hand shops so wouldn't surprise me if it was a mix of both. Haven't spotted any lesser known outdoor brands, it's a mix of TNF, Patagonia, Columbia, etc and usually in neutral or primary colours. Jeans wise they're wearing loose fitting (not flared) jeans that also wouldn't have looked out of place in the 90s.

I'm almost twice their age, so whilst there are elements of their outfits I enjoy seperately (I'm in the market for a good sherpa fleece), I do prefer to look a bit more dressed up. I am however finding that most of my go to outfits are (apparently) becoming passé e.g. floral dresses, blouses, etc. I'll probably stick with them for now, but mid 30s feels to me a strange age for fashion - too old for some of the micro trends, but not quite ready to go super classic.

If anyone has any tips then hit me up!

I suppose it depends on the area. I know I didn’t wear it during the 80’s and part of the 90’s. Maybe supermarkets have a hand in it? Lots of mass produced, cheaper clothing that can be picked up quickly whilst shopping, causing high street shops to close?

Eek, I'm a cliche too then! I love those bags. Easy to wear and an absolute tardis.

You're right, @WomanOfSteel - supermarket clothing is definitely a factor. Quality has dropped, fabrics are worse, clothing doesn't fit well.
I think, as ever, young people want "a look" and it has to be different to us oldies, so tight, body aware stuff is in.

I’m calling it now: NB trainers are out. The same thing has happened to them as skinny jeans - EVERYONE has them, and once that happens, they begin to slide out of fashion.

Well, mine are fab. Wore them this weekend and got many compliments from my friends. We are all quite old though. I doubt my teens would wear them.

Some of us are barely holding it together, what with all those awkward limbs and stuff to keep track of.

Agreed, I’m Milan and Paris peopke are just better dressed

Street style in London is far better than Milan imo. Yes lots of beautiful glossy Italian women but they aren't particularly cool.

I love a bit of people watching, I live nowhere near London but do visit a few times a year. I love 'Londoners in London' on Instagram but also follow 'Hamburgers in Hamburg' 'Danish in Denmark' and yes, you've guessed it 'Parisians in Paris'. I absolutely love these kinds of threads before the inevitable one or two tits come on to wind everyone up and start talking as though they have all the style/fashion authority and make sweeping generalisations that just wind everyone up.

I cannot get on board with the wearing of leggings and tracksuits in everyday life. To me, I'm afraid it is resolutely still 'chav' (or if I were to be REALLY snobby - C2). I hate the trend for grown men to dress like toddlers going camping, too. My DH NEVER wears trainers other than for exercise and I am v happy about that!

What shoes does he wear day to day?

Leather or suede shoes or boots, depending on how smart he needs to be. He'd look hilarious in trainers!

I dislike it too, @Mitfordian .
Fair enough if you're a Mum and you're a bit run ragged and just want to get out the house in one piece, but generally yes, it does seem like people have given up. Maybe they have. Maybe it's easier to wash and wear?

I’m 65.
I wouldn’t wear a crop top but I could.
I’m 7st 12lbs and my stomach is flat and toned.
My bum however, which used to be nicely shaped and firm, has dropped appallingly and I hate it now.

Central London is mostly made up of tourists, so what you are seeing is a miss mash of international fashions. I work in Mayfair and saw a group of Italian women (3) all wearing fur coats, but I wouldn't say that fur is back in (I hope not!).

I did see a lovely colour combo of pale cream worn with black on a Japanese / Korean couple, he in black felt coat worn with cream trousers, and her in black slacks with what looked like a big fluffy cream Angora sweater.

Love the use of c2

New Balance - all the 40-somethings (including me) have a pair, so obviously young types won’t like them any more! Wear what you have.

I must say, I like that the cropped top is back for young people, I like that there’s a young person fashion trend that is an age marker and us middle aged woman can’t really copy it as you need to be young/toned to look good in it.

I came here to say this but you put it better than I could!!!

One thing that cemented my ambition to live in London was how you can look however you like and nobody gives a crap (in a good way!). I once walked across Tower Bridge alone in a PVC ballgown and nobody so much as glanced at me to raise an eyebrow. The attitude is "oh, I guess you're doing your own thing, so am I, cool." It's so liberating.

So wear what you like, and you'll be fine! Just stay away from touristy places where non-Londoners are gathering as they're more likely to be starey and sneery (before anyone jumps down my throat, this is from regular experience).