Dress up like a British.
Get to know some popular British shops like Topshop, Marks and Spencer (often referred to as “M and S” or “Marks and Sparks”), Primark and Harrods. By the way only old people and tourists shop at Harrods! Unless you are a girl, talking about shopping will be considered a bit strange.
Don’t forget to dress according to the weather and remember 15 degrees is hot! And finally my last advice would be don’t look too put together.
Think in colours : stop wearing black, navy or grey. Dare wear colours! Red trousers are my favourite and to match those trousers what a about a lovely green jackets. English fashion is more eclectic than French fashion!!
Think in layers : it’s often cold in England, so girls have learned to wear scarves, boots, and definitely tights. Even rain boots have their place! A cocktail dress or romper (no I am not mistaing I really mean “barboteuse”)with tights, a blazer, and tennis shoes would not be out of the question.
Think in patterns : if it mixes it matches. Feel free to work in different patterns (and colours). A floral dress might be paired with boots or a leather jacket. Stripes and spots can be combined.
Men leave your machismo at the door: dressing a bit nicer is fairly standard, even when going casual. Keep the jerseys and baseball caps at home this is for Americans: opt for the polo, jumper and trousers. And if you have to wear a costume think of matching your bright orange tie with your socks, and don’t forget the braces (les bretelles bien sur) !
Think in hats: love hats, even if you are not at Ascot! The British love of hats is in a league of its own, while many countries have a ‘national hat,’ – the French often associated with the beret, and the Americans the baseball caps. Hat types including the bowler (chapeau melon), boater (canotier), flat cap, cricket cap, Deerstalker (popularised by the iconic literary image of Sherlock Holmes) and the Porkpie hat are all steeped in British history. And Kate Middleton takes up the cause by wearing hats as often as possible even outside official ceremonies.
