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 was on holiday in a small town in the South of France last Summer. We got talking to a couple of locals and one said it was obvious I was from London because of how I was dressed. For info I was wearing gold Birkenstock Madrid sandals and a grass green kaftan style midi dress from &Stories. 🤷‍♀️

My French friend (lives in London and has done for years) always tends to wear navy, black, slight prints for work and safe dresses outside work. She thinks carefully about what to wear and she’s single so money is spent wisely. She’s bought some nice bits from Parisian sample sales. Years ago my parents had a French exchange student who worked with DM at her school for a few months. She bought some clothes here but said certain items she wouldn’t wear or wear much at home as they were “out there”, think one was a sheer black short sleeved top. I’m sure they were from Morgan/Kookai too.

Parents holiday home in SW France some of the locals are more sports wear casual and I’ve seen them in and for sale leopard print. So it’s not a given they’re all universally well dressed.

Yeah I think it was seen as a bit to out there or dressy for the location perhaps.

The French do seem on the whole to be more conservative dressers.

The truth is, no one will be looking at you, OP.
There are zillions of things being worn in London.

Most of the younger women seem to wear ankle length down coats and trainers, or teddy coats, all with wide legged/ flared jeans.

If you find yourself in a non-trendy store like J Lewis, it's full of middle aged women in skinny jeans, ankle boots, down coats etc.

Lots of people who appear to be tourists are wearing joggers, fleeces, leggings and down jackets.

'Smart' isn't really done unless you're off to the Ritz for tea.

'What about what people in Manchester or Liverpool are wearing? Its nonsensical'

How is it nonsensical?

I could tell you what various demographics in Manchester are wearing as it's my nearest city and I go there often.

I also visit London regularly and could do the same.

It's not a stupid question.

I think naysayers are being a bit dim to consider it one though.

Because it's true, on nights out for example or to touristy places like, Winter Wonderland it's always the tourists not real Londonere dressing up.

The French are rude to your face about any slightly bold clothes like a loud print or a bright colour, they are also more sexist than the UK when it comee to judging a woman on revealing clothes.

Absolute bollox.

Last time I was in London I was staying at the Soreditch Mondrian, there's most certainly a Shoreditch look compared to when I go to Westminster, Bond Street, or Borough. Each of these places has a very definite 'vibe'.

And why do people say things like 'no-one will be looking at you'? Shall we all adopt Mao tunics then? I guarantee that every single day you make decisions about your clothing, even if it's 'That's clean, it'll do'.

It's absolutely ok, to enjoy clothes and put thought into it, whatever that thought may be.

And people WILL be looking at you, I always notice people's clothes and get pleasure from people who are interesting in their attire.

If I were you op, I think I'd book a weekend in Manchester or Liverpool instead. Or Newcastle. More fun and less snark.

Lolz at 'real Londoners', are they all wearing Pearly King and Queen get-up and doing the Lambeth Walk?

Most 'real Londoners' are incomers anyway, clearly desperate to erase their regional roots...

I think there's often an undercurrent of resentment towards tourists on threads like this.

Kindly, as a tourist to London, you aren't probably in the best position to be an expert.

Shoreditch is very trendy but you know what? Out of 12M Londoners, very few live in Shoreditch!

Likewise, Bond St has a feel to it, but very few people shop there. They are sometimes using it as a short cut to get to Piccadilly or Regent St.

If you lived in London maybe you'd be qualified to have such a strong opinion but if you only visit and go to trendy or very upmarket areas, that's not the same.

Maybe you look at other people but that doesn't mean they are looking at you.

There's a huge difference between people who live and work in London, and people who come in for a few days now and again.

Aye. I went out the other Saturday with 2 non-London friends and 2 of us were Londoners. The non-Londoners wore jeans and sweatshirts, the Londoners fully glammed up in dresses.

I'm not a tourist in London, I lived there for years and go for work, and occasionally pleasure!

I also understand how cities work...

But thanks for the info!

You have absolutely no way of knowing who is a "real Londoner" and who isn't.

The accent is usually a give away

What's a 'real Londoner'?

I've got family who've lived there 40 years, others for less than 4. All with regional accents I have to say. Do they count?

Is it?

I'm not sure that's as definitive as you think it is.

So are 'real Londoners' for sartorial purposes, those who were born and bred in London?

A quick Google tells me that about 30% of London residents were actually born in London.

Which is interesting.

Were you born here? I'm not sure anyone born in London is this fucking snippy about it.

OP, I hope you have massive fun with your new clothes.

And I can tell the difference between Fulham, Islington, Haggerston and Crouch End clothes - but perhaps that's like Irish people who can hear whether you're from Roscrea or Nenagh.

I do have a few 'born and bred' London friends who no longer live there, do they count?

Real Londoners IMO are those with roots in London, most of their life if not all in London ie not home counties who moved here 5 years ago. When you ask them where they are from they say London rather than another identity of some other place. Their loyalty is to London, their home is London.

Interesting what you say about different London areas and clothes. My ex was from Crouch End, DB lives in Hackney and I live in SE London (was out near Beckenham last night). There are definitely differences in clothes in these areas albeit slight.

And this particularly informs their clothing choices because?

That’d be me then, ha! But parents from Hammersmith and Clapham/Battersea and I’ve lived all over but brought up and live SE London. I don’t see myself as proper London though… eg not central!

Ok so I guess that means my sister in law is the only 'real Londoner' in my family. She's an amazing dresser though, very modern, puts me to shame. Does she still count?