Moving to the UK from Texas, need some Winter clothing!

Unless your job involves field trips to oil fields in the north sea, you won't be needing long johns in London over winter. The climate is more wet than cold, you'll probably need an umbrella more than cold weather gear. Rain tends to be light but persistent rather than thunderstorms and heavy showers. It is very rare to have a day or two where the daytime temperature doesn't get above 0 degrees celsius, coldest is generally around 5 degrees celsius. Shirts with button down collars are seen as more casual than business in the UK too. If you wear a suit to work you'll be fine (outdoors temperature wise) most of the time wearing a t shirt or thermal under your shirt, a jumper and a raincoat and scarf.

If you really want to buy these, you had better get them before you leave. But they are not commonly worn in the UK and almost never with suits.


This is a kind of how long is a piece of string question. If you are going to be working, i.e. wearing a suit, in London, you may not need any of these things. Certainly not long johns, unless you are planning on climbing Ben Nevis in February or something. London just doesn't get that cold.

You will need a decent overcoat, though, at least. You will probably want to get this in London. That goes for shirts & ties, too. Shoes and suits as well if you are brave and have the budget.

As for "technical" stuff, if that's what you want for a winter jacket, boots, etc, get them in the States. They'll be cheaper and there will be a better selection. But once again, it doesn't get that cold in London. The most uncomfortable weather is 40 degrees and raining.

Ditto the other comments regarding London weather. I would actually recommend waiting until you get there and buy a quilted jacket from Barbour or Langham and get shirts on Jermyn St. Charles Tyrwhitt 4 for 100 GBP or TM Lewin.

Just to reiterate, anything work-appropriate you will be better off buying in London. Take a day (not Sunday) and do Oxford/Regent/Jermyn St. Lewin sells button down oxfords if you really want, though nobody wears them there and they will be S/M/L sized. The quilted jacket over a suit is appropriate in the city--just order something like a Barbour from a site like Bestinthecounty and have it expressed to your new address. Suits you can actually do at Lewin at well if you don't have the budget for elsewhere. Shoes will be more expensive but better there. Remember that the sales after Christmas will be very good, so leave a little room in your budget for that.

If you desperately want OCBDs, I would remind you there are some cheaper ones in the Brooks Brothers sale section, though admittedly S/M/L sized. Or the usual cheaper American sources, like Hyde Parks from Lands' End.

Oh, and not to make assumptions about you but sizes may run smaller in England, so you if you are an XXL then perhaps it would make sense to buy ahead.