At the club

Dress Sense

A city street in mainland Britain. It’s 11.15pm on a cold Friday night in the dead of winter. Two young women in crop tops showing their bare waists and shoulders, and mini skirts with no tights underneath, are strolling arm in arm. “’Ello, darling!” they shout, “where you from then?” And they run off down the road screaming with laughter. “Good heavens!” wonders the visitor, “aren’t they cold?” This is an example of our famous British toughness. On the other hand, in summer the same visitor may observe Brits sitting on the beach wearing jackets and pullovers with long woollen socks under their sandals. The important thing to remember is that the British dress to please themselves and to show their independence of fashion, weather, social convention and colour theory. For many foreigners visiting Britain it’s a welcome change to be able to dress without having to worry if their clothes are the wrong size, or don’t match, or are torn, or inside out, or show off their fat legs.

Expressions to learn
There’s no need to dress up.
Oh, it’s just an old thing I dug out.

Avoid saying
Orange and purple don’t go.
Skirt? What skirt?

From: The How To Be British Collection, M. Ford & P. Legon, Brighton 2003

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