Even though I would never let my attire hinder having an extraordinary travel experience, for me proper planning does include a Google search for the latest fashion trends of wherever I am going to visit. Mostly, to avoid having “Tourist” stamped across my forehead. As if having a camera hanging around my neck wasn’t a convincing enough sign. Deciding what to wear in London was a process that mostly focused on hunting for the cute and comfortable travel boots. But, what I should have been focusing on was skirts, stockings and skinnys.
London is full of extremely well-dressed folks wearing proper blue suits, mid-thigh skirts, skinny pants and stockings in a variety of colors.
I rarely see women wearing stockings in my Northern California hometown and I have not owned a pair since the 90s. We are very casual in Sonoma County; jeans and a blouse is evening attire. This wouldn’t have been proper for what to wear in London.
Londoners are pretty dapper dressers.
What to Wear in London (& What I Wore)
Most ladies donned the simplest black stockings, but several others got creative with color and pattern.
Boots were all the rage, just not the knee-high ones that I had painstakingly purchased. Anything mid-calf or lower was fashionable, in particular ankle boots.
Note to self: Get a pair of ankle boots before heading back to London.
Skinny jeans, which are a fantastic boot companion, were scattered throughout the streets. Mostly on men. And they came in an assortment of shades, the least popular being the standard blue jean.
Suits & Ties: The pubs, London underground and shops were filled with them. That is something I could get used to. Easily.
When I packed my suitcase, I did some things right…and some things wrong.
The Good: Not only did my large crossbody bag fit my DSLR camera, maps and guidebooks, but it was also in style. Another good is that I only brought skinny jeans.
The Bad: The puffy jacket was so “hot” in Italy two years ago, not so much in London today. My knee-high Leslie Sharon boots gave me miles of comfort, but not a place on the cities best dressed list.
Do you research fashion trends before traveling? Do you go for comfort or style when traveling?
Traveling Soon? Use my Favorite Resources for Booking Your Trip!
Book Your Flight
Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine, because it checks dozens of airlines so you can easily find the best fare deals. You can also select ‘cheapest month’ to find the lowest fares for your destination (I use this all the time!).
Book Your Accommodations
I use both Booking.com and Expedia for hotels, because each offers a couple different hotel choices and I like to compare the reviews on each one. If you have a group or are looking for more of a home atmosphere, head over to VRBO or AirBNB that has houses, apartments and even just a room for rent in every price range.
Book Your Rental Car
If love the freedom to explore like I do, driving from place to place is the best option! I always book with Discover Cars for the best prices and top brand options.
Book Some Fun Tours!
Viator and Get Your Guide are my go-to search engines for cool bucket list experiences! Each one can have different tours, so check both—why limit yourself, right?
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel can be unpredictable. Whether it’s a last-minute cancellation, an injury, or (ugh) theft, things happen. That’s why I recommend never leaving the country without travel insurance. Here are my faves: Safety Wing and World Nomads.
Get Packing & Travel Essentials Ready
Check out the Bucket List Journey Amazon Store to find all my favorite travel essentials. Everything from Packing cubes, to travel adapters and toiletry containers to walking shoes.
*Lastly, check travel.state.gov for visa requirements and safety information.
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Learn Sign Language While Drinking at the Oldest Wine Bar in London
I love fashion! (I even studied fashion in art school for a bit) I can't wait to check out the style in London later this year…a lot of my friends always talk about it! One of my friends did a holiday working visa there and couldn't stop talking about the fashion there! :)
The fashion in London is definitely more progressive than my little Northern California towns :)
Yes, I do research trends before going on a trip too! I like how you noticed the same things about London fashion that I have noticed. I am loving the patterned stockings and skinny jeans trend now going in London. Hope your having fun!
I am happy to hear that someone else does fashion research too :)
Londoners are SO dapper! When we were there we tried to bring nice clothing to blend in better, and we still didn't look half as good as everyone else we saw. I guess we've just become to "california casual", lol.
I do love ‘California Casual’. Just give me a pair of jeans, a tank top and flip flops!