What is English/British Style to You?

http://cache4.asset-cache.net/xc/844...0A760B0D811297

Originally Posted by F. Corbera

Click to expand...

Originally Posted by Kentishman

Click to expand...

Great. Always makes me happy.

For me, the personification British style:

Some GREAT pics in this thread. One thing nearly all my favourites in the thread share is their sense of humour. What I enjoy about English style is that it never takes itself too seriously. Even when dressing formally, there is usually an ironic touch or a frivolous twist. EDIT: George posted the image of the peacock above while I was typing up this post, but it's SO accurate, and readers should bear it in mind while reading the rest of this post. This is so refreshing and different to the traditions of Italian style (where there is a strong emphasis on achieving a relaxed elegant informality ("sprezz")) or US style (where there's a real emphasis on looking either cool/manly or professionally correct, depending on setting). The English do things differently; they may enjoy dressing up sometimes, but even when they do, they still look down their nose at the idea of doing so, feeling themselves to be better than that concept, and so often can't resist cocking a snook at what they're "meant" to look like. The eccentricity with pattern, colour and cut in many of the above images demonstrates that. Rather than rebel by not dressing up, they do dress up and then do something extravagant or frivolously daft with it. Even the spoof images, like Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge, are funny because he doesn't manage to achieve that very English mindset (something those from abroad may not quite grasp about the look). Same goes for Ricky Gervais' David Brent, actually, though he conveys his very un-English earnestness for professional acceptance in ways other than clothing. (Of course, most of the population in any country don't wear nice things, so the above is meant to only be relevant to the percentage of each population that takes care of their appearance... )

Originally Posted by George

Click to expand...

When I realised none of the punters actually went to the universities and they were all drug addicts who make up everything they say on their tours it kind of ruined it for me.

I'm concerned you said "they" and not, "we".

Originally Posted by Holdfast

Click to expand...

Some GREAT pics in this thread. One thing nearly all my favourites in the thread share is their sense of humour. What I enjoy about English style is that it never takes itself too seriously. Even when dressing formally, there is usually an ironic touch or a frivolous twist. EDIT: George posted the image of the peacock above while I was typing up this post, but it's SO accurate, and readers should bear it in mind while reading the rest of this post. This is so refreshing and different to the traditions of Italian style (where there is a strong emphasis on achieving a relaxed elegant informality ("sprezz")) or US style (where there's a real emphasis on looking either cool/manly or professionally correct, depending on setting). The English do things differently; they may enjoy dressing up sometimes, but even when they do, they still look down their nose at the idea of doing so, feeling themselves to be better than that concept, and so often can't resist cocking a snook at what they're "meant" to look like. The eccentricity with pattern, colour and cut in many of the above images demonstrates that. Rather than rebel by not dressing up, they do dress up and then do something extravagant or frivolously daft with it. Even the spoof images, like Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge, are funny because he doesn't manage to achieve that very English mindset (something those from abroad may not quite grasp about the look). Same goes for Ricky Gervais' David Brent, actually, though he conveys his very un-English earnestness for professional acceptance in ways other than clothing. (Of course, most of the population in any country don't wear nice things, so the above is meant to only be relevant to the percentage of each population that takes care of their appearance... )

Originally Posted by NORE

Click to expand...

I'm concerned you said "they" and not, "we".
I've lived in England almost my entire life apart from the first year, but I don't think that makes me English! I consider myself British, but I don't think you can really be English unless you're born here. However, I do think I've picked up some of their attitude when it comes to clothes.

Originally Posted by Holdfast

Click to expand...

Some GREAT pics in this thread. One thing nearly all my favourites in the thread share is their sense of humour. What I enjoy about English style is that it never takes itself too seriously. Even when dressing formally, there is usually an ironic touch or a frivolous twist. EDIT: George posted the image of the peacock above while I was typing up this post, but it's SO accurate, and readers should bear it in mind while reading the rest of this post. This is so refreshing and different to the traditions of Italian style (where there is a strong emphasis on achieving a relaxed elegant informality ("sprezz")) or US style (where there's a real emphasis on looking either cool/manly or professionally correct, depending on setting). The English do things differently; they may enjoy dressing up sometimes, but even when they do, they still look down their nose at the idea of doing so, feeling themselves to be better than that concept, and so often can't resist cocking a snook at what they're "meant" to look like. The eccentricity with pattern, colour and cut in many of the above images demonstrates that. Rather than rebel by not dressing up, they do dress up and then do something extravagant or frivolously daft with it. Even the spoof images, like Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge, are funny because he doesn't manage to achieve that very English mindset (something those from abroad may not quite grasp about the look). Same goes for Ricky Gervais' David Brent, actually, though he conveys his very un-English earnestness for professional acceptance in ways other than clothing. (Of course, most of the population in any country don't wear nice things, so the above is meant to only be relevant to the percentage of each population that takes care of their appearance... )
Well, you've picked up on two interesting points: 1. Is the concept of dressing up. 2. The humour inherent in British dress. This is largely not understood on SF.

Originally Posted by Southlondongent

Click to expand...

You should have posted the video.