It may be entirely un-British to laugh about anyone else’s style choices (we Brits are far too polite for that), but I will say that as a Brit living in Los Angeles for over 12 years, I’ve picked up on certain American sartorial tendencies that I’ve found rather distinct and funny. I recall being taken aback on my first brunch date in Santa Monica where everyone looked like they had just stepped out of the gym (minus the sweat, of course). This is a far cry from the UK, where you’d never meet friends for lunch in yoga pants or sports gear if you aren’t actually planning to do sports. (Full disclosure: 12 years later, I now look like I go to the gym too.)
While we love expressing our adoration for classic French style here on Who What Wear, it’s the Brits who take more style risks, exude an edgier aesthetic, and are decidedly individual in their style choices. British Vogue’s shopping editor, Joy Montgomery, describes some of the key characteristics of British style: “Eccentricity would have to be at the top of the list. While we marvel at New Yorker’s professional polish or L.A.’s laid-back cool, we Brits possess a certain nerdy quirkiness that manifests in chunky, hand-knitted jumpers, heritage fabrics, and off-beat accessories—we championed ‘ugly’ trends way before they hit the mainstream. Our muses include Alexa Chung, Vivienne Westwood, and Cara Delevingne—all wonderfully weird in their own ways yet also undeniably cool.”
So what are the pieces that Americans wear that Brits think are a tad funny? Scroll below for my firsthand fashion observations.
