One great thing about London is how often the classic British fashion tropes really are worn by locals: Trenches, riding boots, a healthy dose of cozy cardigans—and only partly because English weather truly lives up to its dreary reputation. Season after season, there’s a prevalence of fashion—from designer to high street—that delightfully nods to that British heritage in that ’90s rom-com kind of way (kind of like if you were to go Paris and half the people you met actually wore berets).
Because I had five nights in town recently, I decided to investigate the locals’ style up close and kept tabs on the winter fashion items that seemed to tap into that polished London look and “old money” energy. The vibe is a subset of quiet luxury with a healthy dose of heritage fabrics, an inclination to prepare for rain, and a real affinity with anything that suggests one might have a second home in the country. I promise, these items only look luxe, as everything here is under $300.