When it comes to fashion, British people might just be the most judgmental of them all. I spent 6 months living in London and heard it all during my time there about “Americans” and their “questionable fashion ideas.” You’ll never hear the end of it if you think it’s appropriate to show up to a restaurant in “trainers” that’s for sure.
The Brits can often be the harshest critics. I wanted to learn more about what British people really think of American fashion so I asked a friend who recently moved there, Chrissy Rutherford. “I’ve lived in New York my entire life, so I was ready to just do something different,” she told me. “I used to cover London Fashion Week from 2016-2019 so I had cultivated a network there which made it an easy transition.”
Rutherford has been spending time living between London and New York for about 6 months and I live for her content about the experience. Having been a fashion editor for years, she’s quick to pick up on fashion trends and I’ve noticed some shifts in her personal style since she began her London journey. Below, here’s a recap of the style lessons she’s learned since moving to London.
“I’ve recently fallen in love with adding a New York Yankees cap to outfits—but it just feels a bit too American here. I don’t want my look to scream ‘tourist!'” —Rutherford
“I love denim, and this is a look I would wear a lot in New York but for London, it just feels far too American. In general, Londoners are just much dressier than New Yorkers are, so you tend to see less denim than you would in the states.” —Rutherford
“I quickly learned that London doesn’t really get anywhere NEAR as hot as New York does during the summer, which is also really nice after you get adjusted to it. But when I arrived last June, I brought a whole array of strappy sundresses, but anytime I left my flat, I’d also need to bring a cardigan with me because the weather can turn at the drop of a hat. You always have to be prepared with layers.” —Rutherford
“Even though I only wear chic pajama sets, I would just never wear them outside. In New York, it was totally normal to run to your bodega or local coffee spot in pajamas or sweats. I did it once here, and it actually just felt so wrong, so I would never do it again.” —Rutherford
“Obviously it tends to rain a bit here, and the sidewalks can get really slick—and you will be slipping and sliding all over the place if you wear just regular leather-soled shoes.” —Rutherford
