UK / US trends

[le bon]

hello im from the uk and am very interested in how trends travel. this winter in the uk tweed has been massive a huge rivival of the dandy look with waistcoats stripy shirts (paul smith) and beautiful shoes. i was wondering if there has been any sign of this in the US??

i would also be interested in any other trans atlantic trends and the direction they travel

liam

 

[susie_bubble]

What a good topic Liam!

I'm also curious to know because whenever I go to the USA (namely NYC), I tend to find that London trends don't really translate well.

For instance, EVERYONE has been wearing skinny jeans and ballet flats in London - this isn't just a limited trend, it is a proper STREET trend. Yet when I tell my cousins in NYC, they're like 'What? But that would be like wearing denim leggings!'

I see more preppy AE/Hollister types in NYC than I do here (probs coz we don't have either of those stores!) and vice versa, they don't really have our Chav fashion.

Don't shoot me...but on the whole, I tend to see more fashionable ppl (or at least people who are consciously trying to be stylish) walking around London than in NYC I mean, of course they exist but it's like fashion is more exclusive over there and fashionable trends don't seem to spread to the masses like it does here.

 

[lemeray]

Yeh I noticed that. Many celebs in US don't wear skinny legs & ballet flats.

I don't really love the US trends. They tend to make the item of trend look cheap.

UK is much better and are on right path in terms of trends.

Im from Australia so Im not trying to be bias.

 

[boho_babe]

I think people have become more fashion consious over the past year in the UK, and fashion seems to be fashionable?
I think thats why alot of people in the UK walk around looking the same.

 

[Meg]

What I think it is, is the high street in the UK. There is really no comparison in the US of stores that ship out large quantities of 'right off the runway' looks. Express maybe, but they aren't as quick as Topshop or New Look even. Hollister and AE are more preppy and that sort of classic 'american' styling. There are few stores that sell cheap replica's or clothing inspired by the runway.

 

[susie_bubble]

It's very true....there are so many Kate Moss/Sienna clones walking around it's not even funny.

More people seem to be searching to look unique which has definitely upped the fashion-conscious ppl population.

Not that these ppl don't exist in America, but I don't think they soak up trends as fast or as fervently. Not that that's a bad thing.

Edit: I think some feisty ppl from across the pond should come in here and disagree!

 

[Tushka_BeLLa]

I prefer the trends the way they are portrayed in the UK, via Kate Moss and Sienna Miller... somehow it turns out to be so much more tasteful and effortless than their US "counterparts" Nicole Richie or Lindsay Lohan.

 

[matilda]

Great thread! In sweden the biggest trend right now i guess is high leather boots... the fashion here is boring cause everybody kind of looks the same, not to many with there own personal style...

 

[Meg]

well I think it's important to note though that the style is different in different places. I mean, why would people in the US dress the same as in the UK?

 

[susie_bubble]

^Very true.

 

[le bon]

i have noticed that in the uk there is a trend ladder, starting with the more boutiquey stors eg all saint, wistles, jigsaw then very quickly the high street reworks the designs in a cheaper fabric with less adornments and blast them out

 

[IMHMC]

I prefer the trends the way they are portrayed in the UK, via Kate Moss and Sienna Miller... somehow it turns out to be so much more tasteful and effortless than their US "counterparts" Nicole Richie or Lindsay Lohan.

Being in the US I would say (especially in NY) there are different types of people portraying fashion trends. First there are the "Bergdoff Blondes". You won't see them on TV, they are more society folks...see Town and Country, the Gold Coast...old money. They tend toward the classic, Channel, DeLaurenta, etc. Then there are the celebs (rarely do the two mix on more than a superficial level). They tend toward the most expensive...no matter what. And of course, everyday people, who shop at malls (which is why you see so much JCrew, AE, et al) Of course you guys in the UK have more access to the likes of Valentino and Chloe. We here, in the land of malls, have more department stores than little shops like in London (I go at least once a year for work). If you aren't in NY, Miami, Chicago, or LA (now Vegas too), you don't have those designers at hand like you do over there.

As for the skinny jeans thing...let's hope it doesn't show up here...too many women will walk around looking like stuffed sausage. That was in when I was in high school ( almost 20 years ago)...it reminds me of big hair and shoulder pads...we just can't go back.

 

[le bon]

skinny jeans are massive here. it starded a while ago now alll the highstreet have been producing load, the ballet flats have mostly gone now. replaced by flat boots the higer the better to tuck there shinny in.

 

[IMHMC]

^Wow the whole Long Island, NY 1985 look is back...eeeep...the flat boots up to the knees, is that what you are talking about? Oh my...maybe I am just old...next thing I will be saying that the music is too loud.

 

[le bon]

up to the knees is very good but the ultimate is over the knee and pointy.

 

[le bon]

and definatly flat

 

[EskimoGirl]

it's very interesting to read some of this stuff on how US trends appear to other cultures. over here (meaning la/beverly hills), i don't see all that much ae and hollister or whatever. i'm not sure if that's merely the community of people surrounding me, or all over the area. having a unique style is a huge thing for people around my age. ballet flats have also been big around here recently as have skinny jeans and embroidered jeans. also tons of longer skirts, dresses, vests, and like cropped jackets (marc jacobs type stuff). but i am definitely in love with the style around here, although the trends can get annoying at times.

 

[Totakeke]

It seems the skinny jeans trend is catching on a lot slower here than Europe.

 

[le bon]

i love skinny jeans on the write person but the British pear shape hardly works unfortunatly

 

[mafalda]

Yeah I have the same problem, I'm more curvy and I wish that I could wear the skinny jeans and some cute flats. Or even leggings with a big tee and some ballet flats.