4 Fashion Trends Every Woman in London Is Wearing This Summer

I hadn’t even made it to my hotel from Heathrow before I saw my first glimpse of cerulean from the backseat of the taxi. Hard to miss, this woman stood waiting at the crosswalk in her bright blue button-up, probably headed to work and looking like she stepped out of the chic Sheerluxe offices. I unashamedly stared, swiveling my head to remember every detail of her outfit as the cab drove off (button-up, jeans, pointed-toe flats, accessories galore). When she was out of sight, I was left with Miranda Priestly’s words on a loop: “…[It’s] not just blue, it's not turquoise, it's not lapis, it's actually cerulean.” And while I’m more than familiar with the staple baby blue blouses and dress shirts we opt for in the states, the vibrant shade feels like an exhilarating swap I’m excited to adopt. It’s bold, it’s confident, it’s rich and it’ll look oh-so good with a handful of colors—from browns and blues to even reds and yellows—so don’t be afraid to really play around with bold pairings if you don’t go the monochromatic route.

It took me a few days before I spotted this fashion trend, as my eyes have become too familiar with the It shoe of the year—Adidas Sambas. Known for their sporty design and uber-comfortable fit, these sneakers have undeniably gone international. And considering they’ve long been a popular indoor soccer shoe, it makes sense that the football-obsessed Brits sport ‘em around town. They’re much easier to style than they are to buy, as demand for these babies are at an all-time high and stock is low. If you’re able to snag a pair, wearing them with jeans is always a good idea and balancing out a feminine peasant skirt with the more masculine shoe is all the rage, but I was impressed with how the Londoners combined them with a uniform work trouser (but more on that in a second).

Londoners are staying warm (and dry) in the English “summer” by draping slouchy leather jackets over their shoulders—and no, I’m not talking about just any leather jackets, I’m talking about oversize aviator jackets with exaggerated lapels. As an Angeleno who’s quite unfamiliar with the summer forecast in England, I wasn’t prepared to be met with both chilly climates and unpredictable bouts of rain in June, so you can imagine how envious I was of the girl gliding along the streets of Soho with no care in the world while I fidgeted with my janky travel umbrella. Lesson learned: Leather aviators aren’t just cool, they’re an English essential even in the summer months.

The British certainly know how to take a corporate trouser and make it anything but stuffy. I noticed a handful of the coolest girls on the block rocking wide-leg trousers of all rises and colors around Central London with untraditional pairings like the aforementioned aviator jacket, studded flats, vintage tees and relaxed denim jackets (as pictured)—anything but a blazer, which just so happened to be the only outwear I brought (womp, womp). It left me inspired and antsy to dust off the pants hanging in my closet back at home and see how I can make the seemingly profesh piece far grittier and cooler than it started. My first styling order of business: Make like a Londoner and pair all four of the summer fashion trends together.