The Regal Rules for Girls (14 page)
When I first moved to London, I couldn’t believe how much women seemed to dress up just to go grocery shopping on a Saturday afternoon. What I didn’t quite comprehend was that these women were not dressed up, they just don’t dress down. European cities have much stricter sartorial standards than American cities. You can’t come to London and dress as if you are lounging about in your LA apartment—it just doesn’t work like that.
Sitting on the tube, I can always tell who the tourists are because
they dress for a day in London as if they are going on a hiking expedition through the Rocky Mountains—sneakers, fanny packs, baseball caps, windbreakers, etc. Half the time I’m surprised they don’t have walking sticks. These people just don’t seem to comprehend the concept of “city attire.”
In London, you don’t step from your home to your car and from your car to your destination. Living in London means taking public transportation and walking around on real streets. It means fantastic people watching, but it also means understanding that those same people are watching you!
This doesn’t mean you have to buy a whole new wardrobe or start dressing like a catwalk model in order to survive in England’s capital city. Far from it. All it means is that you need to think twice before leaving your flat.
HOW TO DRESS FOR LONDON LIVING:
Ignore fashion trends and stick with the classics. (Skinny jeans belong on Kate Moss—not Kate Middleton.)
Learn to love cashmere and tweed.
Buy one pair of nice boots that you can wear with jeans or skirts.
Don’t be afraid to wear skirts
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for any and all occasions—even for casual outings to the park.
Invest in a pea coat that will last you a decade and a cocktail dress that will last a lifetime.
Wear pearls. They are simple, elegant, and go with everything. And compared to other jewelry, they are relatively inexpensive. Invest in a pair of studs and wear them everywhere.
Carry a timeless, versatile handbag. Longchamp is a catch-all classic that is reasonably priced until you can afford Mulberry or similar.
Heels? As often as you can. (See “City Shoes.”)
When in doubt, less is more. (Coco Chanel famously suggested that a woman should remove at least one accessory before leaving the house.)
If you’re unsure of the dress code, ask.
Remember: classy trumps cool every single time.
CITY SHOES
I’ve always believed a girl should keep her heels, head, and standards high. But heels shouldn’t be so ridiculously high that you look like a cartoon, and ultimately, you want to be able to walk! (You literally should be able to walk comfortably in your heels for a full mile—which is the minimum daily walk for most Londoners.) Two and a half inches is just about right; anything higher is perilously close to porn star territory.
London’s ancient cobblestones can be quite aggressive on both your shoes and your body—so when it comes to high
heels, make sure you have a good cobbler and a good chiropractor close at hand! I’m a stickler for fashion, but it’s not a sign of weakness to admit that there are times when cute ballet flats or comfy leather riding boots might be more appropriate.
