The Dapper Gentleman Reworked

The gentlemen of London have long had a well-respected signature style. Tailored suits, crisp lines, and classic accessories are staples of their wardrobes. But London is also known for the avant-garde, like the 60s mod and rocker looks of the past, influenced heavily by pop culture. And while you can visit London, like any good metropolis, and find a wide spectrum of fashion, there is a distinct group of fellows that are combining the old with the new, retaining those traditional elements, but making them unique, young, and daring. Whether with a button-down shirt or boat shoes, reading glasses or a signet ring, these group of British men are defining British street style.

London has always done this well – retaining heritage while constantly being on the cutting edge. Check out London’s financial centers clustered next to the East End’s Tech City. Take a ride on the London Eye and then walk through St. Paul’s Cathedral. Visit The Box Park, where a new set of pop-up shops celebrates brands old and new, with Calvin Klein and Lacoste sitting alongside Birmingham-based Luke 1977, established in 2001.

While many others may struggle to bring such disparate styles together, the Brits do it with a whimsical touch. In fact, Luke 1977 epitomizes this Brit ethos of combining, “components of the modern lad, a gentleman, a working class hero & a bit of a rogue.”

But it’s not all fun and skinny ties: fashion directly contributes nearly £21 billion to the UK economy (1.7 per cent of total GDP).¹ The UK fashion industry has enjoyed strong growth over the past decade with total spending on clothing and footwear rising at an average annual rate of 3.3% since 1999 (close to 6% in real terms).¹

So while the eyes of the world look to the UK this summer, make sure you take a peek at what’s happening on the street. Take inspiration from the laid-back, yet oh-so-trendy British men, who fully respect their fashion history, but blaze ahead as style pioneers.

¹The Value of the UK Fashion Industry, British Fashion Council/Oxford Economics,
2010