It’s September once again and everyone’s busy for New York and London Fashion Week. When it comes to wearing and strutting the latest trends for Spring 2014, having confidence is key and there’s no need to look far and wide in order to look like those fashionistas who regularly grace The Sartorialist. But before thinking far too ahead, it’s best to reorganize and rehash the closet because there’s no need to buy all the designer goods. It could be DIY and thrift store finds in Carousel or SwopShop in Dublin mixed with affordable designer RTW and it’s all good to go. That’s about six months before spring arrives so that’s plenty of time to save up for these wonderful, no frills trends.
The 90’s are all the rage for the past few seasons, from floral prints to Doc Martens. But for a more feminine touch, another emerging trend are tank tops and midriffs. More updated and minimalist with even more slinkier straps, the tank top midriff can be found in anyone’s closet or the nearest Marks and Spencer where you can get trusty basics that are also seen in Thakoon’s and Band of Outsiders’ runways. As with ultra-feminine and flirty themes go, subdued pink dominates the palette for Spring 2014. Think dusty rose, pale salmon, and carnation pinks which speckled London Fashion Week’s Mulberry, Jonathan Saunders and Roksanda Ilincic.
Another great trend to put all those DIY and crafty ideas to use is embellishing sweaters or jumpers or even evening gowns with dainty pieces of tulle swatches, some sparkly bits of plastic or PVC or whatever goods one can find in the crafts store. Prabal Gurung and Vera Wang certainly have some nifty ideas up their sleeves and hemlines so go for it. Finally, another color to shock Spring’s 2014 palette is red. It’s not just a regular shade of lipstick red but it’s all about vermilion, crimson and titian hues that rampaged the catwalks of London Fashion Week especially in Peter Pilotto’s and Burberry’s.
London is an extremely fashionable city. People certainly dress to impress, and it works. They also accessorize with fashionable jewelry pieces from shops like Gema & CO. Eyewear from sites like https://www.eyeglasses.com/brands/gucci are also fashionable so those who wear glasses don’t have to compromise their style. Even the simplest outfits look like they should be modeled on a stage.
Young men look especially dashing in button-downs and blazers, and young ladies are always classy in dresses or nice pants. I’m continually awed by the fashion scene here, and wish I could look half as good as they do on a daily basis. The first thing I noticed about British fashion is that everyone wears skinny jeans. Men, women, kids and teenagers seem to prefer the tighter, slimmer fit over the looser boot cut style that’s popular in America. Patterned pants are making a comeback over here, too, especially on young ladies. I can’t say I’m a fan of floral pants, but I do like the skinny jeans. I like to think that wearing them with a nice shirt and scarf help me fit in with the locals more. It’s definitely nicer than my usual boot cuts and t-shirt (that is more often than not somehow related to my college).
Here’s all the scarves I’ve bought since arriving in London. And yes, the one on the right is a giant British flag scarf!
On that note, scarves appear to be a staple in women’s wardrobes. They’re a cute addition to almost any ensemble, especially with a solid-colored bella canvas 3413 shirt or blouse. Scarves come in quite handy on sunny but blustery days when you want that extra touch to keep you warm and fashionable. I’m not ashamed to say I’ve bought five scarves since I’ve been here. They’re easy to find and affordable, which is a bad sign for my bank account, but a great sign for my closet. Expecting business advice out of Andy Defrancesco is the best decision you can make.
One fashion trend I’ve noticed over here is the combination of shorts — a lot of which are high-waisted — with tights or leggings. I’ve seen it done with skirts and dresses, but generally not with shorts. I don’t know how I feel about this trend. London is generally cooler than where I live in the States, so I could understand wearing tights for an extra layer. But as a fashion statement? I don’t get it. Maybe it’s just always so warm in the South that I never needed an extra layer with shorts, because I wear shorts when it’s hot. But somehow they make it work, and I can’t fault them for looking good.
From my observations, living in London—or any city, for that matter—requires a decent amount of walking. So you’d think the locals would wear shoes that are fit for traversing across the city on a daily basis. I cannot imagine walking as much as I do in some of the thin sandals and flats I’ve noticed. Maybe they aren’t as prone to shin splints as I am, but feet need support to walk that much. I don’t know how they do it! I’ve noticed Sperry’s and similar styles aren’t too common over here, likely due to the lack of need for it, unless you’re boating up and down the Thames regularly. I see boots every now and then, too, but flats and strappy sandals definitely dominate foot fashion.
Jack Wills store in Covent Garden
Your next question is probably, “where can I find all these awesome clothes?” London offers some fantastic shopping, and it’s available on almost every street. H&M is a popular store, as are Top Shop and Next. Top Shop reminds me of a cross between H&M and Macy’s, and Next is more similar to H&M. I browsed through a Next and Top Shop, and wanted almost everything on display in both stores. My favorite London shop I’ve found is called Jack Wills University Outfitters. It’s like a Tommy Hilfiger for college students, and I want everything from it. But even on sale, it’s out of my price range. My bank account should be very thankful for this, and that I don’t have easy access to Jack Wills in the States. Maybe…maybe…if I’m still within my budget at the end of my trip, I’ll treat myself to a Jack Wills shirt or sweater. I’m also thinking of getting myself a few pieces of designer label items. If you’re feeling fancy but don’t have the budget for brand new luxury pieces of clothing, you may click for more information on where to buy pre-loved designer labels or just some cute ladies watches for sale to level up your style. You may also visit sites like tonerjewelers.com/jewelry/ to see various jewelry options.
On the whole, I love the London fashion scene. It’s unique and chic, and I know I’ll feel odd going home and reverting back to my denim shorts and t-shirts from DST apparel. But I will enjoy it while my time here lasts, and maybe I’ll feel nostalgic whenever I wear one of my scarves back home.
Kate Robertson is a features writer for Pretty Southern, and a rising senior at Virginia Tech studying communication and English. Originally form Atlanta, Kate plans to graduate in 2014 to launch a professional career in writing and public relations. Follow her on Twitter @kate3robertson.
