Last fall, I was fortunate enough to study abroad in London, England at City University. It was great getting out of the United States and truly seeing the world and the change of fashion; the accents weren’t bad there either.
Once I arrived in London in September, it was raining. Surprise, surprise. I had learned since my arrival to always bring an umbrella because it may very well start to pour on your walk to class. But that doesn’t mean you have to dress in sweats with no makeup. In fact, that is actually what would make you stand out.
People are dressed in everything from shorts and patterned tights to cute preppy dresses. To say the least, the fashion there is bold and important to many. To ensure that I would not be shocked by some of the outfit choices I may have come upon while across the pond, I started to follow London fashion blogs, one of which is Street Fashion. Street Fashion is truly the extreme of fashion in the U.K., yet nevertheless, it can be a common sight while wandering the streets of London, on the tube, or at a local market.
So, if you’re ever in London, you should definitely check out…
Oxford Circus is known as one of the best areas to shop in London. Offering Topshop, Harrods, H&M, and many other clothing stores, you are sure to find something you will like at Oxford Circus.
Camden is one of the many artsy boroughs in London. While walking down the street, you wouldn’t be surprised to see many tattoo and piercing parlors. But that is not all Camden has to offer. There are many vintage, costume, and souvenir stores as well.
Portobello Market is another great option for a weekend out. Located in the famous Notting Hill, this market offers a variety of things from food to clothing. But be sure to come on Friday and Saturday where you can find some great vintage pieces.
Brick Lane Market is open on Sundays and is located off the Aldgate East tube stop. This market is a great option for vintage pieces as well as Chinese and Indian food. I personally found these great vintage shoes and necklace below.
Old Spitalfields Market is a great market located right off the Liverpool tube station. It is a particularly great spot to find vintage pieces if you go on a Thursday as well as great jewelry pieces any day of the week. While there, I purchased a cool necklace with an American coin from 1905, a vintage scarf, leather bound clock, and a vintage Barbour Jacket all at great prices.
Pictured: Lauren’s scarf, necklace, and clock from Spitalfields
A great tip if you decide to venture to the London markets: if you stay later, you can get a better price as the vendors want to bring less of their merchandise back with them when they leave.
So go bold when you go abroad, take risks, and most importantly, be yourself!
You can follow Lauren’s blog for more fashion suggestions and tips!