UK help needed! ds20 student packing to go abroad in London

[uromac]

Hi!

My son is is going to London to study for a semester in 2 weeks - and we are beginning to pack !! What should we pack/buy so he fits in and does not look like a typical American tourist - e.g. jeans style and brand (he likes loose fitting clothing - I think more fitted would be look better), coat/jacket style brand - a friend mentioned barbour would be good - does anyone know what kind of style or is this not what a 'young' person would wear., how about sweaters, shirts, shoes, etc..... and any other products, items/things he will need from January through May as a student/young man to fit in and might need in London. Any brands, links, photos, etc... would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance for all your shopping advice!

Melissa

 

[hildasmuriel]

My student son is out at the moment so I can't ask for specific brands (I'm an old fogey so my view won't count) but things seem a lot more relaxed nowadays and people wear what they are comfortable in.

The one thing I will say - WARM clothes. We are having a particularly cold spell at the moment and it is v. cold by London standards. Plenty of layers needed, lol.

Lots of British males wear football shirts (by which I mean soccer. not American football) or other sport-type tops and sport brands (Nike, Reebok, Adidas) clothing in general seems popular (coats, trainers, hats, gloves, undies and so on!)

 

[paulh]

if he is coming over in the next few weeks make sure he has plenty of warm clothes.Any make will do as long as it keeps him warm
Paul

 

[pampat]

It has been my experience that students are the same the world over! All dress to their own taste and comfort. London is not Mars! Your son will fit in fine, just so long as he is friendly and pleasant. Attitude counts over here more than dress. He'll have a wonderful time and I am sure he is less worried than you are - but I'd be the same if it were my daughter off to the States!

Pam

 

[hildasmuriel]

I know this is not necessarily the type of photo you meant but this is my son and his cousin (mid 20s) on Christmas Eve

and then on Christmas night

As you see - anything goes, although the bright orange thing my nephew has on his lap is a part of a silly family joke .

 

[darthtatty]

I looked Barbour online and if its the same brand mentioned to you it looked really old fashioned. your son should be fine in his usual casual clothes. lots of teenagers wear loose clothes these days.
Gap brands are good layers are generally good esp for the weather

 

[natalielongstaff]

Gap brands are good layers are generally good esp for the weather

i agree buy GAP ( Mine and Nickey's husbands work for GAP uk ! )

Hope your son enjoys his stay in the uk

 

[wideeyes]

At my university lots of lads wear loose fitted jeans etc . He will be fine in what ever he normally wears. I wouldn't worry about brands etc people wear all different stuff.

 

[uromac]

Thanks everyone!

It's freezing here in NJ too (we just had 2 feet of snow 2 weeks ago and we are in the 32 F (0 C) and will be all week with wind chills that make it even colder! The photos look like average 20 year olds here ! so I know he will fit in (although we were joking what UK football team jersey he will purchase!) We were also planning to go to the Gap to shop so I guess we are covered in the jeans department LOL!! He has a wool 'pea coat' and a Northface down jacket - is that OK- and turtlenecks and cardigan/pullovers 'v' neck or round? Thanks again! How do you layer for your weather and rainy weather gear? Thanks

Melissa

 

[wideeyes]

That all sounds fine, pretty much how my brother dresses. he will usually wear a v or round neck over another plain top and sometimes layer up again with a cardigan.

He usually wears football shirts and sports stuff for sports or just hanging around the house, not really for going out in.

 

[Head_in_the_clouds]

My Dad has a barbour jacket and he is 60 lol! You don't see many young guys in them these days really. To be honest, I think guys tend to dress similar in the US to here, if anything they are a bit scruffier here unfortunately - trust me, I'm a 25 year old girl, I notice these things . Jeans are the norm and American brands like Abercrombie, Hollister, Gap are popular amongst alot of younger people here too. My Dad moved to the UK in his early 20's and his family, bless them, must have thought he would fit in if he was dressed as a traditional English gentleman. He came over in tweed suits and waistcoats with his hair side parted and combed down in little waves looking like something out of Brideshead Revisted but bear in mind this was the 70's! My Mum's first impressions of him are pretty funny!

Anyway, back to your son, I think he will probably be fine wearing his own stuff and being his own style.
Jacketwise, this is what is in Topman at the moment;

http://www.topman.com/webapp/wcs/st...8996&parent_category_rn=38994&langId=-1&top=Y

Although I would say something like this from Burton would be a bit more practical for warmth although not waterproof;

http://www.burton.co.uk/webapp/wcs/...ategory_rn=150425&productId=1489611&langId=-1

Alot of guys will wear like a long sleeved jumper or T-Shirt with a hoodie or cardigan/ zip up jacket over the top and then their coat.
I've been trying to think of what TV shows would give you a better idea of how younger guys in England dress and the only one I can really think of is Hollyoaks, you might want to google it!

Good Luck, I'm sure he will enjoy it!

 

[hildasmuriel]

......although we were joking what UK football team jersey he will purchase.....

LOL , it's Fulham of course. A friendly London team, small enough that you can get tickets quite easily but big enough to be playing in the top league (or so my husband and son keep telling me!) AND they have American players (apparently Clint Dempsey scored a great goal tonight, even if they did still end up losing)

 

[uromac]

My Dad has a barbour jacket and he is 60 lol! You don't see many young guys in them these days really. To be honest, I think guys tend to dress similar in the US to here, if anything they are a bit scruffier here unfortunately - trust me, I'm a 25 year old girl, I notice these things . Jeans are the norm and American brands like Abercrombie, Hollister, Gap are popular amongst alot of younger people here too. My Dad moved to the UK in his early 20's and his family, bless them, must have thought he would fit in if he was dressed as a traditional English gentleman. He came over in tweed suits and waistcoats with his hair side parted and combed down in little waves looking like something out of Brideshead Revisted but bear in mind this was the 70's! My Mum's first impressions of him are pretty funny!

Anyway, back to your son, I think he will probably be fine wearing his own stuff and being his own style.
Jacketwise, this is what is in Topman at the moment;

http://www.topman.com/webapp/wcs/st...8996&parent_category_rn=38994&langId=-1&top=Y

Although I would say something like this from Burton would be a bit more practical for warmth although not waterproof;

http://www.burton.co.uk/webapp/wcs/...ategory_rn=150425&productId=1489611&langId=-1

Alot of guys will wear like a long sleeved jumper or T-Shirt with a hoodie or cardigan/ zip up jacket over the top and then their coat.
I've been trying to think of what TV shows would give you a better idea of how younger guys in England dress and the only one I can really think of is Hollyoaks, you might want to google it!

Good Luck, I'm sure he will enjoy it!

Thanks for that website! It will really give us a good visual picture of what is 'in' and but really it will be of more interest to me and my dd16 who care more about what he should bring than my ds does-LOL!! Thanks for mentioning the US brands - he is more of a Gap, Lacoste, Ralph Lauren/Polo person than a Hollister, A&F type of guy. Although I'll have to check out Hollyoaks - all I used to watch was Eastenders when it was on Public Television/BBC America - but that was ages ago!

Hope everyone is keeping warm over there in the UK- we are going to get more snow in the Northeast so I guess he will be used to the temps when he arrives!

On a side note by a caring 'mum' - once he has his clothes he will eventually have to do laundry - can anyone recommend a good laundry detergent, etc..that he will eventually need as he will no doubtedly have a multitude of stains which I know he will have to take care of (btw, I use/recommend Tide here in the US) - thanks again!!

Melissa

 

[torsie24]

Ariel is pretty similar to Tide.

How exciting for your son. I did a semester in the US and to be honest your are always going to be the 'foreign' one, so I wouldn't worry about him trying to fit in too much. As long as he doesn't wear a hawaiin shirt, khaki shorts, white socks and sneakers then he won't stand out as an 'American Tourist' in London. Now that we have A&F and Hollister Brits are starting to dress a lot more like our American Cousins.

 

[uromac]

LOL , it's Fulham of course. A friendly London team, small enough that you can get tickets quite easily but big enough to be playing in the top league (or so my husband and son keep telling me!) AND they have American players (apparently Clint Dempsey scored a great goal tonight, even if they did still end up losing)

I will have to have my son check out Fulham! I can't believe they actually have a US player which will be a big plus for cheering them on plus if they are a friendly team that is definitely a plus in my eyes - I have a slight fear of him wearing the wrong jersey and possibly getting into trouble!

 

[torsie24]

I will have to have my son check out Fulham! I can't believe they actually have a US player which will be a big plus for cheering them on plus if they are a friendly team that is definitely a plus in my eyes - I have a slight fear of him wearing the wrong jersey and possibly getting into trouble!

He'd be fine in any jersey. I've grown up in football and never known any trouble. It's all just gossip really. As long as he doesn't wear an opposing teams shirt at a football match sat in the wrong area he will not encounter any trouble.

 

[uromac]

He'd be fine in any jersey. I've grown up in football and never known any trouble. It's all just gossip really. As long as he doesn't wear an opposing teams shirt at a football match sat in the wrong area he will not encounter any trouble.

Thanks - I did figure is was more rumour news rather than a regular occurrence - but it is better to be on the safe side !

Btw again - can anyone recommend a cellular phone service/plan? We have AT&T which is gsm as ds has an iphone - but we were just quoted rates and I think it will be used as an emergency phone and or/skype but I think we should consider a pay as you go UK phone as another alternative. He does love his iphone apps and gps which would probably really come in handy! Any advise would be welcome!

Thanks UK dis'ers!!!

 

[paulh]

Thanks - I did figure is was more rumour news rather than a regular occurrence - but it is better to be on the safe side !

Btw again - can anyone recommend a cellular phone service/plan? We have AT&T which is gsm as ds has an iphone - but we were just quoted rates and I think it will be used as an emergency phone and or/skype but I think we should consider a pay as you go UK phone as another alternative. He does love his iphone apps and gps which would probably really come in handy! Any advise would be welcome!

Thanks UK dis'ers!!!

For the iphone would say go for a pay and go sim card only deal.Think the best one at moment is with www.o2.co.uk at moment.Make sure that his iphone is unlocked so it can use the uk sim card

Paul

 

[uromac]

Hi!

I don't know about unlocking his phone because of insurance issues - but if he did unlock it, does O2 offer good overseas rates as well? or is there another carrier you would recommend (we might even buy an unlocked phone as a spare to be used for local and also overseas calls if it would be worthwhile.

Thanks again!