FASHION FROM ABROAD: Vintage Thrills

Studying abroad is an opportunity to learn and live in an entirely different culture. Having the chance to study abroad in London was an amazing experience that taught me in and out of the classroom.

I’ll let you in on a secret: the accents aren’t the only difference between the U.S and London. Instead, there is a whole list of contrasts; however, today I will be specifically talking about the clothes. A few trends I noticed are sneakers, culottes and certainly Topshop. In actuality, what stood out was the lack of curated designer outfits. When you go to a fashion capital, you expect the population to be dressed in head-to-toe designer labels. However in London, labels don’t matter as much. Instead, Londoners choose vintage shopping, which is practical and takes effort. This Fashionista purchased her distressed denim jacket on the streets of Brick Lane. If you aren’t familiar with London, this is an area with vintage shops, eccentric people, and lots of graffiti. When this Fashionista was visiting the area, she was inspired by the people and the challenge that thrifting created. A jean jacket is a key piece in anyone’s wardrobe but a vintage jacket has a story. She paired her denim jacket with a plain white T-shirt and black ripped skinny jeans. To finish off the look, she wore white leather Converse sneakers. Sneakers are also a London essential. You’ll see everyone rocking them with just about everything. Adidas are a crowd favorite.

Captured: Another part of London, specifically where these photos were taken, is Camden. Camden Lock is a little rough around the edges but with great vintage finds. It is grungy, filled with graffiti, has great street food (Dutch Pancakes are a must) and certainly is an interesting place to people watch. After stuffing my face with Dutch pancakes, I took a walk along the canal, leading me to this Fashionista and the perfect place to take these photos.

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