The A-Z Of British Style
From Kate Moss to Topshop and Dr Martens, the GLAMOUR.com fashion desk whizzes through the coolest, most quintessential British fashion icons, brands, wardrobe staples and trends.
A is for... Alexander McQueen, Aspinal & Anya Hindmarch
Proudly British because... These three fashion powerhouses are made on Britannia’s green and pleasant land and are undeniably leading the pack on quality and cool.
Red Valorie Clutch, £350 at Anya Hindmarch, Animal Print Clutch, £995 at Alexander McQueen and Jubilee Clutch, £595 at Aspinal of London
B is for... Barbour
Proudly British because... The waxy, rural wardrobe staple has become an iconic item to be worn at the most chi chi festivals (think Alexa Chung, Kate Moss & the It -crowd)
Liberty-Print Lined Raincoat, £219 at Barbour at ASOS
Getty ImagesC is for... Catherine Middleton
Proudly British because... She’s the fairytale princess with the eyes of the world upon her. And what does she go and do? Go forth and champion British brands and designers like no-one’s business. The English rose incarnate.
D is for... Dr Martens
Proudly British because... The yellow stitches and bouncing rubber sole of Docs have been worn by the coolest style aficionados since 1960.
Union Jack Boots, £105 at Dr Martens at Schuh
Rex FeaturesE is for... Emma Watson
Proudly British because... The Harry Potter franchise captivated the world. Who would’ve believed that little Hermione would blossom into a fashion icon? Well, we did, actually.
Rex FeaturesF is for... Florence Welch
Proudly British because... An English eccentric in the purest sense. Incredibly talented, and owns a mean line in vintage finds.
WennG is for... Glastonbury
Proudly British because... Move over, Coachella! Founded in 1970 by farmer Michael Eavis Glasto is more than just a music fest; it’s a culture, and the birthplace of what is now a distinctive style of festival fashion (think wellies, hotpants and plenty of face paint).
H is for... Hipsters
Proudly British because... They’re the Noughties incarnation of good old British anti-establishmentism. Defined by Urban Dictionary as “a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter”, they’re also pretty fond of a skinny jean and a directional haircut and can typically be found hanging out in London’s East End.
Street Style photograph by Candice Lake
I is for... Indie Fashion
Proudly British because... Us Brits have a rich tradition in DIY, home-grown cool and nurturing new talent (think of the rising design stars like Mark Fast, Richard Nicoll and Mary Katrantzou) - from the safety pins of the punk era to the torn leathers we wear year in, year out.
Union Jack Jumper, £45 at Topshop
WennJ is for... Jessie J
Proudly British because... Jessie trained at the famous BRIT school in London alongside contemporaries Adele and Leona Lewis, and her poker-straight hair and penchant for catsuits have quickly made her a style icon, as well as a singing one.
GoRunwayL is for... London Fashion Week
Proudly British because... Where the magic happens. Thousands of international buyers, press and industry insiders descend upon the capital twice yearly to see what our home-grown talents have to offer for the coming season.
Temperley London, autumn/winter 2012 at London Fashion Week
M is for... Mulberry
Proudly British because... Founded in 1971 in Somerset by a mother/son duo, the brand is best known for its sumptuous leather accessories and is now the coolest brand to tote around (pardon the pun) the Big Smoke.
Oversized Alexa Satchel, £925 at Mulberry
N is for... Net-A-Porter
Proudly British because... Initially set-up in a London living room in 2000 by Natalie Massenet, Net-a-Porter.com is the pioneer of luxury designer e-tailing, now selling over 300 premium brands to a worldwide customer-base.
Pigalle Heels, £375 at Christian Louboutin
Rex FeaturesO is for... Oxford Street
Proudly British because... Officially Europe’s busiest shopping street, Oxford Street is a retail mecca and is the home of many big brands’ flagship stores, as well as iconic department store destinations such as Selfridges.
GoRunwayP is for... Paul Smith
Proudly British because... That’s Sir Paul Smith for multiple reasons - including his reputable three decades of tailoring the best in menswear, and for making multi-coloured stripes chic for adults.
PA PhotosQ is for... Queen Elizabeth II
Proudly British because... Our national figurehead knows that when it comes to dressing, the devil’s in the detail. A bastion of dignity and demureness, no-one quite wears a glove, a hat or a low-heeled court like her.
The Queen, pictured during celebrations to mark her Diamond Jubilee
R is for... Raincoats (Burberry, of course)
Proudly British because... It’s often raining and pouring on the Great British Isles and nothing quite makes grey clouds cool like a tan, Burberry trench. Fact. As elegantly proved by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Emma Watson et al.
Leather-Trim Trench, £895 at Burberry London
S is for... Smythson
Proudly British because... The Bond Street -based brand is a go-to haven for luxury stationary, leather goods and fashion products fit for a queen (and the Queen, for that matter).
Leather Notebook, £45 at Smythson
T is for... Topshop
Proudly British because... Since 1964, it has been the fashion outfitter of the urbane and affordable. New Yorkers once trekked across the pond to have a spending spree at the Topshop flagship store, until it moved Stateside.
U is for... Union Jack
Proudly British because... Pledge your allegiance to the most awesome flag in planet earth’s portfolio. What with the Jubilee, hosting the Olympics and some distant memory of Ginger Spice flashing red knickers, what’s not to love about our country’s banner?
Clutch Bag, £595 at Charlotte Olympia
V is for... Vivienne Westwood
Proudly British because... Dame Westwood’s fashion house has gone from punk pins and leather bondage dresses to origami-style tailoring and bust-enhancing gowns loved by every A-lister worth her salt. Salute!
W is for... Wellington Boots
Proudly British because... There’s no puddle too deep for a true Brit girl and her wellies - novelty, Hunter or otherwise.
Union Jack Boots, £125 at Hunter
PA PhotosX is for... XXX From Lulu Guinness
Proudly British because... Aristo accessories purveyor Lulu Guinness’ lips clutches are cool, quirky, and oft-spotted in the mitts of starlets the world over. A true design icon.
Rex FeaturesY is for... Young'uns
Proudly British because... Think Cara Delevingne, Bip Ling, Zara Martin, Amber Le Bon – the models, bloggers, DJs and creatives that are driving this thing forward.
Cara Delevingne
Go RunwayZ is for... Zany Prints
Proudly British because... In the face of constant drizzle, there’s nothing like a cheery print to pep up a Brit. Peter Pilotto, Mary Katrantzou and Henry Holland are among the new guard of British designers keeping it fresh.
Peter Pilotto, autumn/winter 2012 at London Fashion Week
