At London Fashion Week, Street Style Made the Case for Heritage Dressing

British heritage dressing was the unofficial assignment for the London Fashion Week street style set this season. London’s playfulness still came through, of course, in modern silhouettes that were equally of the moment and reminiscent of age-old styles. Across town, editors bounced around in a potpourri of checks and plaids, reimagined trench coats, and quintessential London grays.

While it’s no secret that the streetwear seen in each city of fashion week—New York, London, Milan, and Paris—takes on its own identity, this season’s looks in London were especially characteristic of the city’s fashion history. Sportier outfits reflected Princess Diana’s quintessential ’90s aesthetic, while posh skirt sets seemed fitting for afternoon tea, and utilitarian outerwear evoked classic images of idyllic countryside life. Below, shop our favorite London Fashion Week street style looks.

Corduroy Country Coats

Miu Miu’s ochre skirt set—complete with a cozy shearling collar—takes center stage here. For a more affordable take, consider pairing Toast’s skirt with a jacket in a similar shade, like the one from Cos. Top the look off with Prota Fiori’s black pointed-toe boots and a pair of statement sunglasses.

Trench and Knee High Boots

When in London, wear a trench. Toteme’s signature style gets the job done, especially when paired with a matching khaki set underneath, like Lemaire’s boxy jacket and some long shorts. A leather sling bag is a practical accessory choice, complete with a set of silver rings, such as those from Agmes.

Prince of Wales

Going sporty? Whose stylebook better to reference than Princess Diana’s with a zip-up track jacket? We love this one is from Martine Rose for an on-point ‘90s take, though anything vintage works just as well. For the all-charcoal number, try Bottega’s oversized turtleneck and pleated pants set, paired with its classic Cassette bag in next season’s trending hue—icy blue.

Town and Country

When it comes to color combinations, there’s no pairing more on-brand for London weather than olive and khaki. Get the look with Dorothee Schumacher’s double-breasted jacket—best worn with a pair of wide-leg mid-wash denim such as the Paloma from Citizens of Humanity. Add classic stripes into the outfit with Alex Mill’s button-down shirt, and a pop of red with Jennifer Behr’s crimson scrunchie.

Proportion Play

Take the neutral game all the way home with a palette of creams, navy, and black. Reformation’s slip skirt is the ideal blank canvas for experimenting with volume. Layer Vince’s single-breasted blazer on top with a clean, classic belt from Uniqlo. Finally, add in a bandana scarf, such as this one from Zara, and a black top handle back like Khaite’s Maeve bag.

Tweed and Checks

When it comes to textures, tweed and plaid are true to their London roots. Give them a modern spin with Nili Lotan’s four-pocket jacket or Toteme’s built-in-scarf outerwear. Alternatively, you can work plaid into your look with a pair of wide-leg checkered trousers, such as Proenza’s or La Ligne’s, then polish off with a timeless pair of penny loafers.

Plaid Perfect

Speaking of plaid, it’s also a print that can be dressed down with denim. A tried-and-true Canadian suit, which can be accomplished with Staud’s Maxwell blazer and Toteme’s wide-leg trousers, is an unexpected layer underneath a classic plaid jacket, such as this one from Ralph Lauren. Give the look at classic finish with a Burberry trench, and there you have it—another London-coded look.