Tuesday, November 16, 2010

The perfect dress for winter in London?



Dear ESB,

I'm going to London for 4 months for a study abroad this winter!

Obviously, I'm psyched out of my mind. But this poses a dilemma: minimal clothes, but optimum warmth. The solution, i think would be a good shirt dress or shift that can be worn with tights and sweaters and adorable coats.

But I have searched high and low for a good dress that is vintagey, walkable, goes to my knees and has sleeves.

dilemma, dilemma, dilemma.

help?

*****

If I were searching for that perfect dress to wear 5 days out of 7, I'd go Steven Alan all the way.

p.s. The plaid one is on sale!!
Posted by esb at 10:10 AM

18 comments:

  1. AnonymousNovember 16, 2010 at 10:22 AM

    If you're in London in winter, get some good boots! I favour slouchy ones, but I made sure I bought some sturdy ones that I knew would cope with tramping through puddles. Also, get some adorable gloves.

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  2. laurenNovember 16, 2010 at 10:49 AM

    something like this, son, with an oxford underneath if you're really feeling shirty. your delicates are going to need something substantial for an english winter.

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  3. laurenNovember 16, 2010 at 10:52 AM

    ...not that SPECIFICALLY, unless you're an heiress who happens to wear a size 6-8, but think wool. that damp cold goes straight through to your bones.

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  4. GemmaNovember 16, 2010 at 12:20 PM

    Last Winter (in London) I lived in sweater dresses with thick tights and layers of uniqlo heat tech underneath. This Winter (in Scotland) that's already feeling a little insubstantial!

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  5. Lizzie [Ten Thou Bride]November 16, 2010 at 1:41 PM

    great picks..i completely agree on the wool. YIKES. layer, layer, layer. I just got back from a study abroad program and I just brought completely plain basics that I could layer and 2-3 necklaces or so to mix it up.

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  6. elleNovember 16, 2010 at 5:06 PM

    It's LONDON. You can wear whatever you like.

    Also, not that cold. (In London itself. Up north is a completely different story.) Last winter was a crazy fluke. Prepare for wet and grey. Lots of wet and grey. A lightbox, for example.

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  7. elleNovember 16, 2010 at 5:16 PM

    And a cheerful umbrella. Plus wellies.

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  8. LyseNovember 16, 2010 at 5:50 PM

    Thanks for the suggestions! I've pretty much accepted that I'm going to freezing cold... I'll appreciate the tea more that way, right?
    I really love these Steve Alan dresses though! I'm going to lust after them continually, until i get the gumption to buy them. Which in fact, will probably happen.

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  9. MelissaNovember 16, 2010 at 6:27 PM

    WELLIES! Hunters are on sale at Nordstrom right now. Under Armor and Smart Wool are great for layering under things, they've gotten me through a few winter vacations in New York.

    And I'm so jealous!!

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  10. juddyNovember 16, 2010 at 11:22 PM

    Leg warmers got me through six years in Chicago. As your eyeballs are freezing over as you wait for the train its nice to have something bright (or earthtoned, or patterned, or sparkly, or whatever) to focus on before you loose your vision entirely.
    The longer the better! Versatile and bike ride-able!

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  11. AnonymousNovember 17, 2010 at 12:49 AM

    Take minimal clothes and then shop in London?

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  12. AnonymousNovember 17, 2010 at 1:12 AM

    As someone living in London right now, and looking out on a grey day, think waterproof. It doesn't get that cold, more of a damp chill. For that reason too although wool is great you want something over it that isn't going to make you feel and smell like wet shaggy dog. Invest in warm comfortable boots, stylish waterproof, good umbrella and mittens/gloves. Then be prepared to peel it all off when you get on the tube and its boiling. And bear in mind that we do have shops here too...

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  13. JulesNovember 17, 2010 at 3:01 AM

    Gemma, we must've been twins. That was my uniform for 2 years in love, minus the half dozen warm days ;-)

    Seriously, Uniqlo's Heat Tech is your friend.

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  14. JulesNovember 17, 2010 at 3:03 AM

    Oh and layering is important because the Tube gets bloody hot in peak hour, so you want to strip off your coat/outerwear and have something relatively light underneath. It's the accessories that count too, get warm scarvs, gloves and a wooly hat. Love London!

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  15. AnonymousNovember 17, 2010 at 6:45 AM

    Hello, from the UK. UM. Get boots you can tuck your trousers into. Seriously. Before I had this sorted my trousers used to get wet up to the knees - like blotting paper. Not nice. Also, echoing others - wear whatever you like - it's london!!!

    A hat, a huge thick scarf, gloves, umbrella also help.

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  16. anna and the ringNovember 18, 2010 at 1:57 AM

    1. Layers, the tube get hot.
    2. Umbrella

    I promise it's not that cold here.

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  17. east side brideDecember 8, 2010 at 3:24 PM

    d'you spose Liv is wearing a dress under that coat?

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  18. anna and the ringDecember 8, 2010 at 3:27 PM

    I would imagine nothing...she is rather saucy.

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