As Americans, I think we all know that when it comes to fashion, a lot of the world has us beat. While we see athleisure as the best of fashion and function, those from other nations greatly disagree with us, instead opting for a nice pair of pants and a top.
I’ve been living in the United Kingdom for a month now, and the difference between the States and Europe in the fashion industry is shocking. The flare leggings I packed, which are a staple of my wardrobe when in Tallahassee, have been abandoned in the back of my closet. Now my style has been adapted to the culture I’m surrounded by.
Since being to three major European cities (London, Amsterdam, and Prague), I’ve noticed significant fashion trends in each city. These have allowed pieces of each into my new daily style, so here’s how each of these cities has elevated my wardrobe.
London
London is the most business-style city I have been to. I live in central London, so there’s a more formal code to things here than in other parts of the city and England. Most people wear a nice pair of pants (or trousers) and a very nice top or sweater just to go to the pub.
The biggest adjustment for me was dressing for classes. FSU’s London study center is very close to several UK university campuses. Walking around, I’ve found that no one dresses casually for class, and they certainly don’t wear the sweatpants and FSU football t-shirt that I would normally wear in Tallahassee.
This almost-expected style of formality has caused me to add items from local shops and thrift stores (and yes, thrifting is so much better in Europe than in the States) to my wardrobe to match the local population. One major accessory: coats. Everyone here has amazing coats to stay warm during the cold, gray London winters, and they’re certainly a staple to their outfits. I’ve found myself planning my outfits around which coat or jacket I’d wear that day.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s style is like that of London in a professional sense, but function is emphasized over fashion, which I credit to the biking culture in the city. You see more jeans than trousers and certainly no skirts, which also seem to be a staple in London fashion. People also wear more vibrant colors in the city, experimenting with color palettes in clothes. As someone whose favorite color to wear is black, this was a bit difficult for me to adjust to, but I’ve been trying to incorporate one piece of vibrant color into my outfit a day.
A major staple in Dutch clothing is an emphasis on Formula 1 racing. The racing culture is huge in Europe, and it’s a classier event than NASCAR in America. I’ve seen so many shirts, jackets, and pants with the logos of teams or the sport in general. This was a staple of outfits in Amsterdam. I’m still looking for a reasonably priced racing jacket, but when I find one, I’ll be wearing it every day of the year.
Prague
Being a city in the center of Europe, I was surprised to find that Prague didn’t have any distinct fashion trends of notice. It does take influence from both Eastern and Western European fashion trends but doesn’t create one of its own. Because of this, there seems to be an eclectic mix of styles, but it’s done cutely with great thrift stores packed full of different styles and designers.
I already know switching back to a casual Tallahassee university style is going to be an adjustment this fall, but till then, I can enjoy London Fashion Week feeling a bit more like a local!
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