What Everyone in London was Wearing
The perfect summer fashion formula that will carry you straight into fall.
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I spend a lot of time thinking about formula dressing. Truth be told, this way of streamlining your wardrobe is really appealing to me. It is more creative than a straight-up uniform (i.e. Steve Jobs and his black turtlenecks) but with some of the same benefits, easing the decision-making process and maximizing your visual brand. The Queen is, ahem, the queen of this with her consistent shapes but ever-changing color palette. Her coats always have a crew neck and a below-the-knee hemline. Her dresses are floral, her pearls hang in strands of three, and her shoes have a sensible block heel. We love to see it.
So you can imagine how pleased I was when I spotted the formula that’s trending in London. On both of my trips in the last month, I noticed that there was a pattern: stylish women wore trench coats over floral midi dresses, paired with white sneakers and circle sunnies. The combination struck me as both timeless (everything about it felt very London) and the perfect vibe for this phase of the pandemic, as people return to the office or venture out for summer drinks with friends. It also seemed to work very well if, IDK, say you were sitting outside Buckingham Palace for hours on end waiting for a glimpse of the royals. 🙃
But really: It’s dressier than your average house look (ditch those sweats!), just trendy enough (more on the sunglasses, below) and still so comfortable (who doesn’t love that). Sharing a few suggestions below. xx
ICYMI: Here’s what I packed for my first trip to London + a link to the blue dress below.
Step one: floral dress! (Photo by Micaela Karina)
The London Fashion Formula
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Start here: Floral Dress
A forever summer staple! Dress it down for a picnic, add some sparkle for a wedding, it even works for the office. The Londoners I spotted seemed to favor styles with a statement sleeve and a full skirt—the last bit really ups the overall effect when peeking out from the bottom of a trench. The key here is to keep it soft, the kind of frock that will allow you to flounce down onto a picnic blanket with ease. (All lists start at the top left corner and go clockwise)
PASTELS / Kate is a fan of this British brand and I am a fan of all four prints in which this style comes! But the ice cream-colored version is my favorite.
CUT-OUTS / An unexpected glimpse of skin — only revealed when you take off your trench — is such a fun surprise. Sage green is so soothing; it’s on sale right now.
ROYAL / I have had my eye on this dress since the Duchess of Cambridge wore it to a polo match in 2019. It looks floral, but it’s actually animal print! PS You can also hunt for it on eBay.
BLUE / This feels denim adjacent in a classic shade of blue, and with just a touch more volume to it.
Add: White Kicks
Again, never not in style. I love how a white sneaker both brightens a look and keeps it casually cool. Tip: If you’re looking for a style to carry you into fall, try leather or vegan leather options that are easier to clean.
THE ORIGINAL / Green is the go-to, but I love how the accents now include navy, gold, or white (you can never go wrong with all white). Remember that time Kate sat near Stan Smith at Wimbledon?
SIGNATURE / But if the duchess were to claim a signature sneaker, it would be these! I love how this is a classic canvas alternative to the chunky nylon styles trending right now.
LOW PROFILE / If you’re looking for something on sale (these are 50% off!) and logo-free (which, let’s be honest, is hard to find in the sneaker world), these fit the bill. Let the rest of your outfit do the talking.
VELCRO / Hear me out: Maybe our kids are onto something with a quick on-and-off shoe? The combo of three straps and a little sparkle makes me smile.
Try: Round Sunglasses
I regret to inform you that the time has come to loosen our (my?) collective grip on the tortoise shell sunglasses. They remain my go-to, forever and always. BUT everyone was wearing these gold-trimmed round sunglasses in London and IMO they’re just too good not to try.
CLASSIC / These are the ones I have my (ahem) eye on, but need to play around a bit first.
STEAL / Perhaps with this sort of thing it’s best to begin with the most affordable?
SPLURGE / If you’re looking to go all in.
TRY / But...tbqh, I’m going to start here because I can try them on at the store near me.
Grab: Trench Coat
As the temps here in SoCal soar for the summer, it feels a bit odd to recommend coats. But fall will be here before we know it (I spotted a back-to-school display at Target, yowsa) and there are some great end-of-the-season sales happening. Plus, a trench will always remind me of Meghan.
TIMELESS / A classic, relaxed style that’s on mega sale right now and also comes in black and navy.
ABOVE THE KNEE / This shorter option will show more of the floral dress underneath. Plus, this one is water repellent and comes with a removable hood.
CONVERTIBLE / A favorite Meghan brand, I adore how this is two coats in one! Wear the sleeveless style now and add the extra layer come fall.
HIDDEN BUTTONS / This sustainable brand is another go-to of Meghan’s! It comes in classic brown as well as a gray-green; the concealed buttons are so chic.
I wore a version of the above on my latest trip to London for the Jubilee — here are those links: White jeans (size down) / blue trench / leather sneakers / gray sweater / mid-rise jeans (size down) / ballet flats.
Have a great week, friends.
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