Style: How to Dress Modern and British!

Felix considers what is the Modern British Outfit. We no longer wear tweed suits or bowler hats and rarely even reach to a tie. Having considered the offerings of some of our most stylish National Treasures in ‘The Modern British Outfit – The Celebrity Take’, we look at what the average women and men of Britain are actually wearing on the street.

Unfortunately for all Britain’s lineage of fashion and musical heroes, rock gods and pioneers, we remain largely a nation of slobs. We have day jobs. We commute. Most of us have other things to spend our money on. In fact, a lot of us just don’t care that much. However, with some simple steps listed below average can become distinguished with minimal effort.

The Outfit of the Common Man on the street

Daywear:

Trainers, jeans, flannel shirt, maybe a jumper or coat.

Jeans and chinos go with basically everything.

Our canvas shoes are lightweight and comfortable.

The flannel shirt has become a post-Nirvana route to prep-style that we think youthful without being immature.

It’s nothing to be ashamed of- our elders’ suit an tie was a uniform that equally needed minimal effort in the morning.

 

Improvements: Brogues have enjoyed a revival of late. Wear a sturdy pair regularly and they will conform to your feet for superior comfort that can last many years, providing you take advantage of London’s wealth of suppliers.

For trousers, consider the variety of other fabrics besides denim like corduroy and wool.

Rather than a flannel shirt or t-shirt (no matter how funny the slogan printed across your front is) go for a simple plain shirt with collar.

As Benedict Cumberbatch has taught us in ‘The Celebrity Take’, a well tailored coat is a good investment to instantly upgrade whatever you’re wearing by cloaking you in a sharp profile.

Accessorise- See Ian McKellen’s use of scarves and pocket squares, or try a contrast belt. Small details can easily upgrade an outfit.

Evening wear-

Evening what? Much the same, maybe with a jacket.

Improvements- Definitely with a jacket. You don’t need fine tailoring necessarily, but a simple casual sports jacket can go a long way. Dare we say it but see Jeremy Clarkson in ‘The Celebrity Take’. This is why a jeans alternative could save you from such an association. The benefits of the jacket are functional as well as aesthetic since the pockets offer a secure place for personal items, see Paul Merton.

The Outfit of the Common Woman on the street

Daywear–

Women have far more choice when it comes to ‘everyday’ items. However, the general categories are skirt/trousers/leggings + boots + top + coat, whatever form they may take.

Improvements: Let’s face it, women are always going to be more stylish than men. However, the above although elegant still remains a repetitive uniform. To break conventions consider:

A shawl instead of a coat? Extravagant boots? Wear a hat? Accessorise! Look for the little features that make an outfit stand out- see Joanna Lumley in ‘The Celebrity Take’.

Evening wear-

This offers more to work on. The ‘bodycon’ has become the staple of nights out in London. A vast number between the ages of 16 and forty seem content to crush themselves in tight tubes of Primark sequins, balanced atop lofty high heels. Each to their own, but here are some alternatives to stand out.

Improvements: The Marlene Dietrich- Controversially, it has long been more acceptable for women to ‘cross-dress’ than men. A vibrant trouser-suit will neither be over or under dressed and offers all the practical benefits of the man’s jacket. We were inspired by Eva Green in ‘The Celebrity Take’.

Long dresses- The elegant drapery of a fitted traditional dress is hard to beat. Combine this with a fur/fake fur or wool coat and the result will be dazzling.

Costume jewellery- The ‘christmas tree’ effect is often achieved with high street sequins and plastic jewellery. However, a small number of feature pieces can be far more successful. For sparkles consider Butler & Wilson on New Bond Street while more traditional choices have a wide variety of suppliers. Don’t go overboard for fear of ruining a good night searching for a lost earring, but consider abstaining from a few cocktails and investing the savings in some lifelong adornments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stewart Vickers Instagram/Twitter @vickhellfire

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