As London plays host to the Summer 2012 Olympics, their wonderful sense of fashion has also taken center stage. The British have a look all their own that is effortless, edgy, experimental, and fun. By following a few simple British fashion rules, you too can add a bit of British influence to your own classic style.
Rule 1: Never Look Like You Are Trying Too Hard
Kate Middleton
source: royalweddingpictures.blogspot.com
Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, always looks like she casually strolled over to her closet, grabbed some clothes, put them on and then confidently went on her way without giving them a second thought. She never appears to have labored over her choices and the result is that she looks naturally chic.
Rule 2: Vintage or A Look to the Past for a Look Fit for the Future
Kate Moss
British model Kate Moss has elevated vintage clothing from the stigma of “you must be too poor to buy new” to the enviable position of red carpet worthy. Fashionistas search for just the right vintage garment to wear and, more importantly, to be seen wearing. The British, with their quest for individual style, understand that when you wear vintage, you are wearing fashion that is as individual and one-of-a-kind as you are.
Rule #3: The Trench Coat
Emma Stone
source: thestylistaandthefrog.com
With the weather playing a major role in British fashion, the trench coat is just as important, if not more so, than the little black dress. What proper British woman would be caught in the rain without one?
Rule 4: Layer, Layer, Layer
Rule 5: Add Edgy Pieces to a Feminine Look
Kate Moss
source: www.justjared.com
With this outfit, Kate Moss shows how to combine rules 4 and 5. As a master of effortless “layering”, she layers the black dress with a black jacket and the black jacket with a green scarf for a pop of color. She adds yet another layer by wearing black tights with the knee-high boots. By wearing the blazer and the hat with her dress, she adds an edge to what would have been a purely feminine look.
Rule 6: Keep the Prints Simple and Classic
Samantha Cameron
source: www.marieclaire.co.uk
As the wife of the British Prime Minister, Samantha Cameron is quickly becoming a style icon in Great Britain. She knows how to wear prints without them wearing her and always keeps the look timeless.
Rule 7: Confidently Put Clothes Together That Normally Don’t Go Together
Stacey Bendet for Alice & Olivia’s Fall 2012 RTW Collection captures the spirit of British creativity by pairing a sequin evening gown a leather bomber jacket. Although a highly unlikely pairing, with a healthy dose of confidence the two go together quite well.
Rule 8: When You Don’t Know What to Wear, The Answer is Simple: Wear Diamonds
Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge
source: www.whatlotspots.blogspot.com
Emma Watson
source: popularearrings.blogspot.com
Marilyn Monroe may have sung that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend”, but the British have taken it to heart. Diamonds, the Brits know, not only go with everything, but give you a fashion boost regardless what else you are wearing. There is just no way to go wrong with the sparkling rocks.
The British Invasion
Navy Leather Motorcycle Jacket
Falke Pure Matte 100 Denier Tights
Ultra Lightweight Cashmere Stole
Using the black dress and the tweed blazer from the series on “How to Build a Classic Wardrobe One Piece at a Time” as your core pieces, add a few bold accessories and create a British influence on your classic wardrobe.
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