For those of you who don’t know, I am classed as an international student because I am from Guernsey. Guernsey is in the UK, so the fashion back home is pretty much identical to the trends here in England. I began to wonder what students from other international countries think of the fashion here and how it compares to their styles back home.
GQ UK Magazine highlights the top winter trends for men as:
· Chinos
· Knitted jumpers
· Slim fit jeans
· Leather boots
According to British Vogue, the current winter trends for women are:
· Knee high boots
· Tartan
· Jumpsuits/Onsies
· Sparkle and Shine
In the UK the images we see of American fashion are of celebrities or on programmes such as 90210 and One Tree Hill – but what are the trends for normal American students? As students settle into the fashions of winter 2011 I decided to ask some American students at the University of Winchester what they think about the winter style here and the defined must haves from British Vogue and GQ Magazine.
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| Joe Gallagher, 20, from New Hampshire |
Joe Gallagher
“I reject fashion and subscribe to the notion that if you follow fashion you will always be behind it. So I keep it real with solid colours.”
I asked Joe what his opinions were about the four trends highlighted by GQ Magazine.
After initial confused as to what chinos are, Joe said that he has seem similar trousers in the US, but they are called Dickies. He thought that chinos with deep pockets looked cool, but that he did not think they would ever catch on in the states.
Joe seemed to have a heightened sense of distain for leather boots and vowed that he would never personally wear them, and does not think that they are a good trend for British men to follow. He always wanted to comment on the trend of Ugg Boots here in the UK, which although he understands that they are comfortable, he does not like them. According to Joe there is a trend amongst girls in America who are so dedicated to wearing Ugg Boots and Northface jumpers that the term Ugface is used to describe them. It is no secret that Ugg Boots are incredibly popular in the UK as well; I practically live in mine during the winter months, but I am extremely grateful that the term Ugface is not one that is associated with wearing the boots here in England.
Joe was extremely surprised that a man in a knitted sweater or cardigan here is considered to be fashionable: “In the United States, if I may be so bold, a man wearing a knitted jumper is assumed to be childless and living with many cats.” He explained how, in America, sweaters and cardigans have a scholarly look and are stereotypically “accompanied with square rimmed glasses and scarves.”
It seems that the only UK fashion trend similar to men’s fashion in New Hampshire is slim fit jeans: “Slim fit jeans are catching like wildfire back home. They used to be denoted as flamboyant and feminine with a homosexual connotation, but they’ve spread from hipster/yuppie apparel to pretty universal.’
Joe described his style as mainly wearing jeans, with ‘normal’ t-shirts and hoodies. He does not believe there is any point in following fashion trends; he prefers to “keep it real.”
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| Rachael Holloway, 21, from Kansas |
Rachael Holloway
“I've found, on the whole, fashion is much more important to young England compared to that in America.”
Rachael explained that the fashion trends for women in the United Kingdom is very similar to the fashion in the United States, but that she has found that being fashionable is more important in everyday life here than in America: “we tend to dress up fashionably when we go out to parties, but for everyday wear it’s pretty much jeans, t-shirt and a jacket.”
She said that the trend of knee high boots here is exactly the same as in Kansas, but that using boots as a fashion statement is more varied in the UK. “American girls love knee high boots and skinny jeans… it seems that girls here [in England] are much more interested in the type of boots they have, as well as having many different pairs of really nice boots.’
As well as boots, Rachael said that Sperrys (boat shoes) are extremely popular where she is from, but that she has not seen anyone wearing them over here.
Rachael thinks that ‘going out wear’ is the same amongst women here and American women; “Sparkle and shine is exactly the same. Short sequined dresses, club tops, shiny jewellery, it’s all the same.” She maintained that the difference comes in what English girls wear to lectures and for everyday activities. From what she has seen she argued that “girls here tend to wear really fancy outfits for class, whereas many American’s just wear sweats, or even pyjamas.”
Tartan, or plaid as it is known in America, is as popular as it is here but for a different reason. Rachael explained that it is popular because “it is one of the most durable materials, as well as providing warmth for the cold winters.” She said that tartan has come back as a fashion statement in the past five years, and that they wear it in the same way we would for example on shirts and skirts.
I asked Rachael if there were any parts of British fashion trends that surprised here, to which she replied: “Onesies! American youth would not be seen dead in onesies. You can buy them but they are mainly for girls. It has amazed me the obsession guys have with onesies here. Hilarious!”
After speaking to Joe and Rachael I have earned that American fashion is much more relaxed that the media portrays. I think we would do well to follow their example and not worry so much about what we look like and just wear our comfiest clothes instead of trying to keep up with the trends.
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