British Women and Their Tights

As a California girl, I have a deep-seated dread of all leg coverings i.e. stockings, tights, long socks. They don't really go with flip flops, my footwear of choice back home in California, and they can be real bitch to wash. Even when I was working as an associate at a law firm, I eschewed stockings and went bare-legged to the office everyday. No one blinked an eye, but it may be because it was the Orange County office of a Miami based firm.

Looks comfy, Is comfy

With London weather being what it is, I guess legwear is a necessity. I did as the natives do during the coldest months and wore stockings to the office, but I eventually gave it up about a month ago. The temperature was still in the single digits, and the Brits were deep in flaunting their tights collection, but I just couldn't take it any more. My legs need to breathe! One of my work colleagues noticed last week that I wasn't wearing any tights, and she literally gasped with shock when she realized that I was running around town with bare legs. To be honest, I've caught her checking my legs each morning to see if I'm still crazy, and yep, I'm still crazy. Except I think I should be considered normal again since temperatures have been hovering around 20 for the last few days.
 


















Nevertheless, the average British woman is still wearing her tights. To be clear, it's always tights. I've seen the rare woman wearing stockings, but most seem to favor its thicker and more durable cousin, tights. And they don't opt for the plain, neutral colors that I'm accustomed to, but they like to go all out. I've seen sparkly ones, lacy ones, zig-zaggy ones - anything you can think of, they are plastered on someone's legs.

I can't help but wonder, at what point do they finally stop wearing tights? I'm tempted to shake one of these random woman, tell them that it's 21 degrees (72F) and let them know the jig is up.

London Fashion

Just popping into Waitrose for some pork chops.

I haven't really had much reason to change out of my oversized shirts and leggings I've taken to wearing around the house, but that doesn't mean I haven't tried to figure out what the Brits consider fashionable. Back in LA, I wore a daily uniform of t-shirt, cut-off shorts, and a sweatshirt if it was chilly, but I'm getting the feeling that I might stick out a bit if I didn't figure out what to wear to blend in a bit more. All the women here seem to dress just to do the weekly shop - I've yet to encounter anyone in sweats or anything that you could sleep in comfortably out and about. Tights, boots and a funky scarf seem to be de rigeur.


The English are supposedly known for being eccentric dressers, and I suppose the evidence is walking down the streets of Covent Garden, Oxford Street, and the new mall they just opened in the City by St. Paul's Cathedral (weird location, I know). I kind of expected that what's considered fashionable varies from place to place, but it's becoming much more common to see the same things across country borders with the advent of the internet. But is it really, I wonder.

Some of the UK trends I've observed in person and in magazines:

• Snoods
• Tapered pants
• Capes
• Brogues
• Shorts layered over tights
• Camel coats
• Quiffs
• Gilets
• And for the fellas - Pants rolled up over the ankles

You can skin one yourself. Or buy it at Asos. Depends on how Daniel Boone you feel.

I wonder what's going on back home? It's starting to get pretty cool, and this LA girl needs to stock her wardrobe with shirts that actually have sleeves and jumpers (sweaters). I'm making it a policy to only buy UK brands such as TopShop and Reiss, because the US brands that have a presence here charge the same prices as in the States, except with a pound sign in front of the price! Ever hear of the exchange rate, assholes?!