London Calling

The eyes of the world are on London this summer, with the highly successful Jubilee celebrations and the Olympic Games. Many visitors to the capital from across the globe will go home with the obligatory Union Jack t-shirt or Team GB baseball cap, but would they not be better buying some British design classics which truly show what UK fashion and style is all about?

London 2012, Stadium, UK by Jon Osborne

Tartan

Although the Olympics is happening in London, it’s not just all about the capital or even England. Glasgow is playing host to some of the Olympic football matches, and every visitor to Scotland goes home with something tartan. Scottish manufacturers have responded to this demand, and alongside the slightly tacky tartan Loch Ness monsters there are contemporary tartan jackets, bags and purses from Ness and beautifully soft cashmere scarves in many different tartans. Less is more when it comes to plaid, and a head to toe tartan outfit is never a good look.

Tailoring

Savile Row in central London is the home of the British tailoring and suit-making industry and although a made to measure suit may be out of the price range of many, a well-cut, good quality suit is a practical yet unusual souvenir of a trip to the UK. All major department stores carry a range of suits from British designers such as Ben Sherman, Jeff Banks and Jasper Conran as well as their own lines of clothing. The downside to many of these products however is that although they are designed in the UK, they are often made overseas where labour costs are cheaper. Always check the label to ensure you are buying British where possible.

Casual Clothing

There is a huge range of shopping options in the UK for visitors and stores such as TopShop and Primark are very popular with visitors from overseas hoping to snap up some fast fashion at bargain prices. Rather than filling a suitcase with cheap clothing which will only last a few washes, visitors would do better by heading to a slightly more up market store and investing in something which may not be at the cutting edge of fashion but which will last far longer. Ben Sherman shirts, Stella McCartney scarves, Liberty fabric or a beautifully cut Ben De Lisi dress make the ideal items to take home and wow friends and family at the next formal occasion. An added bonus is that every time the item is worn, you will be reminded of your holiday in London.

Kids

When it comes to British clothes shopping for the kids, there is no point in buying suits, tartan jackets or other expensive items. Kids grow quickly and will be far more impressed by a brightly coloured t-shirt featuring an iconic image such as the red London bus, Buckingham Palace or Big Ben. Don’t be tempted by a cheap t-shirt sold on a market stall; choose a more expensive item which won’t go out of shape the first time it is washed. Caps, wellington boots and scarves are also great choices for souvenirs for children.

Jeanstore offer a great range of Ben Sherman clothing alongside a massive collection of jeans from top brands

Tags: bags and purses, baseball cap, ben sherman, british designers, cashmere scarves, casual clothing, cheap clothing, design classics, eyes of the world, football matches, jeff banks, jubilee celebrations, labour costs, olympic football, quality suit, scottish manufacturers, team gb, topshop, uk fashion

Category: Cities, Cities