How Londoners Are Really Dressing This Autumn
In the grand scheme of things, the lack of new fashion images is hardly a big sacrifice in 2020, but I have to admit that I have missed the usual stream of red carpet, street style, and celebrity out-and-about images. While I long for the frivolity of the Met Gala and the Old Hollywood glamour of the Cannes Film Festival, it's the street style pictures that really provide the most style inspiration to me—and many others. With most of this year's fashion weeks taking place digitally and only a handful of buyers and editors invited to appointments, the street style scene was virtually non-existent this September. The thing about street style, however, is that it can give you just as many styling ideas as any runway show.
In the absence of the usual street style galleries, we sent photographer Nadine Petzke out on the streets of London to capture what people are really wearing this autumn. Street style at fashion week has now turned into a performative and lucrative game, with many wearing the same items lent by brands and dressing up for the cameras. The images are fabulous and glossy, but they don't always show the trends that are actually bubbling up in a city at that time and can feel a little inauthentic.
Without the usual events in our calendars, Londoners have been dressing in a more relaxed way this autumn, and all of the outfits below reflect this shift. Dr. Martens are the unofficial shoe of London this season, as almost every other person captured is wearing the eyelet boots or chunky loafers. Other trends include pops of bright colour (mainly orange), fluffy coats, and straight-leg jeans with a really relaxed fit.
Keep scrolling to see the outfits that made Nadine raise her camera lens this October and for an insight into what Londoners are really wearing this autumn.
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Nadine Petzke for Who What WearStyle Notes: Sara Somogyi gives us a masterclass in wearing colour in winter with her bright orange Saks Potts coat, which she wears with Ganni high-waisted jeans, Adidas trainers, and an oversize Chanel bag.
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Nadine Petzke for Who What WearStyle Notes: Joanna Kuchta has a '70s London feel with her Charlotte Simone suede and fluffy coat, which she paired with a black headband, Prada nylon bag, and chunky Dr. Martens. The ultimate London autumn outfit.
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Nadine Petzke for Who What WearStyle Notes: Eléonore Schneegans's outfits feels particularly London thanks to the mix and match approach—she wears a leather jacket by Joseph with a Faye tote by Chloé and a pair of wide-leg flares.
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Nadine Petzke for Who What WearStyle Notes: This outfit shows sometimes it pays to keep it simple—Dara's ivory jumper is from Uniqlo, and her '90s jeans are from Massimo Dutti.
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Nadine Petzke for Who What WearStyle Notes: This is the London Autumn 2020 uniform—Drs., a leather blazer, and a pop of colour.
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Nadine Petzke for Who What WearStyle Notes: Cisley wears a vinyl trench coat by Topshop with a printed jumpsuit and statement trainers.
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Nadine Petzke for Who What WearStyle Notes: India's outfit is mainly comprised of vintage treasures, as her hat and trousers are both vintage and her bag was purchased on her travels in Bali.
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Nadine Petzke for Who What WearStyle Notes: Fashion stylist Salomé Rose is making a case for double denim with her vintage oversize jacket and ASOS jeans, which have a slouchy '90s fit.
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Nadine Petzke for Who What WearStyle Notes: Again, another outfit that mixes vintage and high street, as Eve Barro wears a thrifted jacket with vegan trainers and a pair of trousers she found on ASOS.
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Nadine Petzke for Who What WearStyle Notes: As you can probably tell by now, a leather coat is a London favourite this winter, and Zivile found her vinyl caramel coat in Topshop and layers it over a Burberry blazer.
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Nadine Petzke for Who What WearStyle Notes: Angelie uses black accessories to break up her all-cream outfit, looping her black leather bag over her teddy coat.
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Nadine Petzke for Who What WearStyle Notes: Nicole Rambla's look is mainly vintage finds, apart from her chunky loafers that are Dr. Martens. Her abstract earrings add some personality to her simple tailored separates.
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Nadine Petzke for Who What WearStyle Notes: Lily Collings wears the trending knitwear piece of the season—a vest from Zara—with chunky loafers and a Chloé C Mini Bag.
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Nadine Petzke for Who What WearStyle Notes: This is another outfit that is mainly vintage, as everything except the Weekday jeans, Topshop T-shirt, and Dr. Martens are secondhand finds.
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Nadine Petzke for Who What WearStyle Notes: One thing that's clear from these pictures is that Londoners are really into chunky boots this autumn. Here, Pia wears a pair of biker track-sole boots by La Haine with a leather dress by Zeitgeist.
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Nadine Petzke for Who What WearStyle Notes: Lucy's outfit is the perfect mix of vintage, designer, and high street, as she wears a quilted Isabel Marant jacket with a vintage Louis Vuitton bag and jeans by Topshop.
Next up, See our guide to the key trends for autumn/winter 2020.