What are people wearing in London at the moment?

[bluebeardswife7]

I am off to London with ds in a couple of weeks, we are doing touristy things, Going to the theatre and seeing friends, so all quite casual. I have lost a couple of stone, but not really gained any new clothes. I fancy something a little bit less frumpy for my trip. Particularly some new outerwear, but I am open to other ideas. I am a bit skint so extra points if you find it on Vinted. I am 5'5 and currently a size 12/14. Light brown hair and just little bit blah at the moment.
So, hit me up with some ideas please.

I’m not sure London is much different from elsewhere in the country… but I’m a Londoner, work in the City. At this time of year on a smart days it’s thick heeled boots, thick black leggings/jeans, a smart, neutral coloured polo-neck jumper and a suitable coat. I think the outerwear is key and the “over-sized” style is worn a lot. I go between three options; a tweed Holland Cooper knee length, smart “oversized” cream or my camel coat. On very cold days I’ll wear an oversized scarf. In casual days I’ll wear exactly the same but with smart leather trainers 🤣. I’m not very exciting with my fashion choices but I seem to be the norm.

As people have said, there’s a wide range of clothes worn in London. The only generalisation I’d make looking around on the tube is the depressing lack of colour in winter outerwear - black coats and grey woolly hats are the norm. Or similarly drab colours. At least that’s what it’s like on the 8am commuter train. But I’m glad you’ve found some fun clothes OP, enjoy your trip.

Nude body suits….no accounting for taste.

saw some fabulous coats too last weekend.

I'm in central London everyday.
Anything goes. Where what you want.
It is very casual and no one really cares or judges you !
I'm still wearing my skinny jeans as the wide flare type just don't suit me I'm still seeing lots of women wear Skinny's too around the Covent Garden area and shops are still selling them around here
And everyone seems to be mostly in trainers as footwear around here too
I really would not worry. Wear what you feel comfortable in

We wear clothes. Add a coat if it's chilly, and not a coat if it's not.

The overthinking is ridiculous.

Why the snippy comments?

OP asked a perfectly reasonable question based on the fact she's lost some weight, her wardrobe is feeling a bit tired, she's got a nice trip planned and wants to look and feel good.

Or is that just ridiculously parochial?

Do any of you naysayers plan what clothes you're going to take on holiday, or do you just shove any old crap in a bag?

Anyway OP, I think your outfit sounds great, I hope you have a fab time.

PS, People do dress up in London, and not just tourists!

Why the snippy comments?

OP asked a perfectly reasonable question based on the fact she's lost some weight, her wardrobe is feeling a bit tired, she's got a nice trip planned and wants to look and feel good.
It wasn't a reasonable question. It was ridiculous to ask what 10 million people are wearing as if there's a uniform. People will be all ages, working, hanging out, being tourists.
Or is that just ridiculously parochial?
Probably. I can't imagine asking what are people wearing in Leeds or Cornwall or Glasgow or the Isle of Wight and expecting any sensible answer to a silly question
Do any of you naysayers plan what clothes you're going to take on holiday, or do you just shove any old crap in a bag?
I pack for the weather, not for any notion of what anyone else is wearing

Denim shorts with braces. Matched with corduroy crop-top, and a beret.

I'm no style queen but I do go to London quite a bit and all I can say is thin layers are best as it's bloody boiling on the tube and shops and restaurants are very warm too.

I was there during the recent very cold snap and boiled all day in my padded Barbour and knitted dress and boots. Yesterday I wore my long seasalt rain mac with a long jumper and skinny jeans and my very old Ugg biker boots and was far too warm - nearly passed out waiting for my daughter to try on clothes in Zara.

I was in the City of London area yesterday and I saw people dressed up very glam indeed and wearing heels which surprised me as in recent years I was more struck by the dressed down/trainers with everything vibe. Last month I was in the west end which was much more casual as it's mainly tourists there.

I work in London 2 days a week so tend to wear:

Morgan knitted dress (navy with white and mustard trim), sort of 60s look, with black opaques and black ankle boots. Coat is Oasis grey cocoon coat with coral red cashmere scarf. Or Whistles shorter black parka with fur trim and heavier scarf. I've rethought coats but when I've been on tubes recently even in the heavier coat it's not been that hot! I also wear &other stories black turtle neck jumper and M&S heavier black jeggings, with Chelsea boots.

I rarely go out after work in London or at weekends but if I did, it'd probably be jeans, or jeggings, with a Whistles pale blue and red stripe jumper if colder or a lighter knit (Tu Sainburys cable knit?) if warmer. Chelsea boots or NB trainers.

Going out after work, I wore a QED glitter long sleeve (warm!) top with skinny jeans.

I try to carry my Uniqlo black cord crossbody bag or any other small cross body, the only other small crossbodies I've got are a Dior saddle bag (cream) and Longchamp red leather.

I haven't worn proper heels in years. Got some Esska ones which are sort of block heels. And kitten heels.

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain yes it was mainly kittle heels I was seeing. I'm thinking maybe it's because it was a Thursday that people were a bit more glam - it's a popular night for going out for after work drinks now that people are only in the office a few days a week. Friends who work in office based jobs in The City area say that Thursday is the new Friday.

Cool. I'm not sure why you're on the S&B board given your comments, but I'm sure OP is grateful for your valuable input.

It's been that way for a while, Thursday is the new Friday, even before Covid 19. Fridays now are dead in London.

It came up in Active. Most S&B thread titles are meaningless to me but therefore ignorable. This one was so silly it amused me enough to point it out.

I think "10 million people wear different stuff so wear something you're comfortable in and enjoy yourself without stressing about it" is valuable advice.

Whilst the second part of your comment is reasonable enough advice, I don't think it's at all 'silly' if a woman who's lost confidence asks for a bit of a steer when planning a trip.

There's nothing silly about wanting to look good, even if it holds no particular interest to you.

There's nothing silly about wanting to look good, even if it holds no particular interest to you.
I never said it was. The silly bit is thinking there's any homogeneous London look to tap into.

It's a question that comes up fairly regularly on S&B, usually followed by reams of dismissive posters which only serve to make OPs feel even less confident.

There's obviously no homogeneous London style, but constructive advice and encouragement is usually helpful, because people often do want to look nice when planning a special day out, and whilst no-one would look twice at a woman in an anorak, leggings and trainers, it's possible that the OP wants to make a bit of an effort and stride around feeling pretty good about herself.

If one has lost confidence, for whatever reason, it's helpful to hear people say, 'Yes, wear that, you'll be grand', rather than, 'Don't be stupid, no-one gives a shit what you're wearing'.

I'm in London right now and am wearing wide legged jeans, silver Superga trainers and a black short sleeved knitted top with a false collar (bought from Oasis 10 years ago).

people often do want to look nice when planning a special day out, and whilst no-one would look twice at a woman in an anorak, leggings and trainers, it's possible that the OP wants to make a bit of an effort and stride around feeling pretty good about herself

But as others have pointed out mentioning you want to look nice for a special day out in London will bring out the competitive London under dressers and the sneering about "tourists" and "out of towners" and my favourite "the bridge and tunnel brigade" (I particularly liked that last one as the poster using it didn't actually know what it meant)

If the OP wants to make a bit of an effort and stride around feeling pretty good about herself then it doesn't really matter if she's in London or anywhere else.

All true @IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle (I was thinking about the hilarious 'bridge and tunnel' comment earlier, you're not in Manhattan lady!).

It only seems to be when the OP asks about London, or a regional Ivy, that brings the less than helpful posters out. Obviously so they can prove how cool and truly cosmopolitan they are.

If OP had put 'I'm going to a large city' and asked the same question, everyone would then ask which city it was, so I'm not sure it would be much better as an advice strategy!

It only seems to be when the OP asks about London, or a regional Ivy, that brings the less than helpful posters out. Obviously so they can prove how cool and truly cosmopolitan they are.

If OP had put 'I'm going to a large city' and asked the same question, everyone would then ask which city it was, so I'm not sure it would be much better as an advice strategy!
It really isn't about being cool. Any location makes no sense as a question. If someone asked what to wear to a type of event or for a specific activity or how dressy a particular restaurant is or something that all makes sense. Asking about any city or town or region and how people dress when in all those places there will be thousands of people going about different business with wild different dress sense is just silly. It's not a London thing, it would be just as daft a question if it was asked about Plymouth or Barnsley or Dartmoor.

I don't think it is @DappledThings, as many previous threads would attest, it's fairly common for posters to ask about what to wear for a visit to London. It's because it's the capital city, has a worldwide reputation for 'coolness', and people who don't visit often are worried about getting it wrong and not feeling comfortable when they want to have a great time and feel good about themselves.

So of course location matters!

And the question undoubtedly means 'What are people who care about clothes currently wearing in central London?' and not about what some bloke who works in security at the O2 is wearing for a trip to the corner shop.

And the question undoubtedly means 'What are people who care about clothes currently wearing in central London?' and not about what some bloke who works in security at the O2 is wearing for a trip to the corner shop.
Even if you narrow it down that way it still doesn't make sense. Those who "care about clothes" are still going to be doing a variety of activities and have a hundred different opinions about what looks good.

Anyway, we will have to agree to disagree. I think the idea that people wear different clothes to go shopping and to the pub in London than they do in Edinburgh or Torquay is nonsense

Trainers, wide leg trousers, long wool coat

Go and see and report back!