Travelwear for London: Shorts? Capris? Dresses? Slacks?
 

We are flying to London in mid-June. It will be my husband and two teen-aged daughters. Are capri pants acceptable? We will be in London for 5 days and Paris for 3 days. Any suggestions on travelwear for ladies and teen-aged girls? Thanks!

Hi mama,

Wear whatever you makes you comfortable.

For visiting houses of worship it is usual to keep shoulders and knees covered. (A shawl is sufficient.)

Here is my teenage daughter's rule about shorts for travel: They must at least cover the knee, and for every 10 pounds you are overweight, add one inch in length.

The main problem with capris is that they look silly with most good walking shoes. When I was in London (in July), I relied on black full-length slacks in a very lightweight fabric -- part silk, part rayon so absorbent but non-wrinkly.

Most people in London look like they have little more fashion sense than tramps - this is including local residents - as for "acceptable" no one is looking at you, it's a big city, not one person cares!

I must agree with m_kingdom2 on this one (I can't believe I just said that). We just returned from London and while some people are dressed quite stylishly, the majority are a disaster. Just wear what you are comfortable in. Trust me, you will see every type of dress (and undress) imaginable!

My suggestion would be to wear what you would feel comfortable (i.e. properly dresssed) wearing in a big city here in the US. Would you wear capris in NYC and feel comfortable in restaurants etc?? If so, wear them in London & Paris. However, I agree with the poster who mentioned that comfortable walking shoes usually don't look too great with capris. And, trust me, you'll need comfortable walking shoes.

m_kingdom2 & bettyk - I think that perhaps you are a little harsh!! Perhaps it might be a little more accurate to say that there is a culture here whereby we don't really give a toss what people wear or, really, what they do. I'd like to think that it's indicitive of our laudable laissez-faire attitude to life!

But it really is too big a city to worry too much about these things, just take pride in the fact since you are concerned about appropriate attire, you will undoubtedly be able to to hold your head up and know that you look a damn sight more stylish than most!

And more to the point, I do hope that you enjoy your stay here.

On warm days, I wear capris in lieu of shorts. I have given up on wearing shorts in public. :)

You will see everything in London, so, as everyone else mentioned, wear what you are comfortable wearing. The most important thing is comfortable walking shoes - even if they look goofy with capris.

There are a few occassions where you might want to dress a little nicer (theatre, dinner at nice restuarant, afternoon tea, church) but otherwise, wear what you fell comfortable wearing.

m_kingdom2 - Perhaps I just don't like being likened to a tramp?!!! And my point was actually that most people don't care, not that most people dress badly! However I fear that perhaps we are about to get bogged down in semantics and the perils of conversing via text; I shall therefore bow out politely!

Just remember that London can actually be quite cool in June, temps traditionally are in the mid 60s F to low 70s. The last two Junes have been very warm, but that is unusual. Same with Paris which is usually only a few degrees warmer than London. It's not really summer yet. Think layers. A blazer would probably be welcome, esp in the evenings.

If you're talking brass buttoned affairs, that makes you stand out as an American tourist straight away - they're not "so English" - poor stereotype!

Jackets are smart, but only when worn properly, I'm doubtful as to whether you could be trusted with doing so. Just wear what you wear at home, London isn't some runway or catwalk, you're here to see the sights not to be seen.

Since Americans, in your estimation, are not capable of wearing a blazer/jacket smartly, what would you suggest? What would you wear to the theatre or to a nice restaurant?

No one is going to give a hoot what you wear.

I'll assume you mean a smart (by "nice") restaurant, a gentleman should wear perhaps a black jacket, with smart well cut trousers, or maybe even a suit with a fine italian cotton t-shirt. As for women, even harder to say.

Of course everything depends on age!

m_kingdom, would one be suitably attired if donning a Borsalino to complete the outfit?

The trouble with Americans is that they rarely wear fitted or close clothes. Darted jackets are a must, as our shirts and close t-shirts - not skintight, but close!

It is a free country, and anything is acceptable. If, however you ask me what I would like you to wear, I can say what I think beautiful, or not. When I did this two years ago writers on this forum were outraged at my bluntness, so in spirit I am sitting here crouching under the kitchen table, waiting for the blitz.

If you are fat or obese please do not wear shorts or Capri pants, and whatever shape you are please wear only such shorts as fall smoothly from the waist. On the tube it is no fun to be over the aisle from rolls of flesh cooked to a sunbright red. On most middle aged women normal denims go well. Women who still have a waist can wear with success those trousers that start two inches south of their tummy button. Others look like an advert for a slimming course, the pre picture.

If you wear whatever makes you comfortable then you make my eyes feel uncomfortable, and me disturbed. This is not sexism: obese men in shorts are a horrid sight, too. A model for us is Sidney Greenwod, the fat man in the films Casablanca and the Maltese Falcon, neatly turned out in a linen suit with no sweat stains.

I agree with M Kingdom and Betty K that we British look a mess, but we do so in black, grey, white and brown, not pink and emerald.

For visiting famous houses of worship it is usual to keep shoulders and knees covered, but for other such houses, if you are not fat, please expose what you like. Even in famous houses of worship I doubt God cares what you wear. He made you, and liked the result, so you are no surprise to him.

There are several lines of dress that shout American Tourist, as a brass-buttoned blazer does, but I find them attractive. Somebody has been so courteous as to dress with care (and Americans wear blazers as well and as badly as Britons). That we have many foreign visitors is obvious, and it is a ground for pleasure that so many come all that way just to visit London. Nor do I what them to line up in my uniform. On his visits Nelson Mandela was an ornament to this city, but his life included few big macs or french fries, and on him colours sing that on tubby Americans simply shriek.

Bring on the blitz.

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I must respectfully disagree with Mr. Haines on one point - the predominant color I've seen on women on London streets the last week is pink. It seems that most young women are wearing miniskirts with tank tops and flip flops(even though it's too chilly IMO - has been in the low 60's and breezy for a few days) or cuffed jeans with heels. Basic hoochie wear. Most women of whatever age are wearing scarves. Men - well, the ones I notice are wearing suits, but they presumably are going to work. Wear what you like. I've been wearing jeans and khaki capris...the most I've dressed up was black trousers and a feminine blouse with chandelier earrings for the theater.

Lenny b is right, and I apologise. There is an age change, with pink under 21 and black or denim over 20. The root of my error was that myself aged 67 I think females under 21 are children.

Ben Haines

Sidney Greenstreet, Robert Morley, yes, they knew how to look neat for their size. My friends in London are not great dressers, more on the bohemian style. There is no discussion about fashion as there is here and they are much more relaxed and could care less how trendy I may dress. But even here most I know don't talk fashion except for a few ladies who lunch and like the same shops I do. There are more topics
of interest.