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