US vs UK Style

When it comes to fashion, Brits and Yanks seem to take different approaches. When you watch Ricki Lake or the Real Housewives of New York, it looks like the shows are replays from around ten years ago. But the general appearance in Britain is lot fresher, and passionately modern.

The Ricki Lake Show - The reality of American styles

Why is there such a contrast between these two countries with such similar media coverage? Could it be that America is such a large country and therefore, it must be hard for a certain look to overpower the population? Or maybe it's the incomparable 'tell it like it is' attitude which Americans are never hesitant to give, and accordingly, fashion, as a global concept welcomes all opinions from Americans.

These factors, and others similarly relating, 'could' be the reasons why. And to put it bluntly, apart from the few American fashion troopers, America, as we know it is a non-stylish nation to many other countries. I believe that there is one definitive explanation for this.

In Britain, all children are required to attend school from the ages of 4 to 16. It is law, like many other 1st world countries. Though in addition, British school children 'have' to wear uniform. Not one school in the whole of the country allows a non-uniform conduct. Now think, how do school children react to this? Primary school children seem to accept the rule; after all they're young and are not yet majorly interested in their appearance. However, I remember that when I turned 11, and started a much bigger and much bolder type of schooling, I was suddenly eager to stand out. This idea was of course groomed by new form hormones. I actually remember deliberately (and embarrassingly) wearing bright purple cube hair bobbles, a pulled up skirt, and a consistently retouched layer of lip-gloss during my first few days at secondary school. And I got a kick out of my form tutor giving me personal daggers when she sat our class down to remind us that the school uniform policy was simplistic with little room for experimentation. And during the next few years, I experimented, and I mean, really experimented. Looking back I was a culture slut. Between the ages of 11 and 17, I was (unrealisingly) a Chavette with the key to my look being a short, padded, fur hooded jacket in a daring red. Between 13 and 16, I had discovered the incredible rock scene of the 70's and 80's and religiously wore converse and a rather gorgeous AC/DC canvas bag. Oh and how could I forget a rather thick line of dark eyeliner. At 16, I became incredibly girly after discovering 70s glam rock and (embarrassingly) informed my classmates that Mark Bolan's musical presence was evident in the music industry. This was accompanied by an obsession with eye glitter, a lot of pink, and a reputation for being a bit of an extremist when it came to fashion. I remember that for my friend’s birthday, she had an 'era' theme so I decided to go as a glam rocker aka Marc Bolans wife. I sported a silver lightning logo across my face (may I just say I fulfilled this style quite some time before Lady Gaga absorbed the look for her 'The Fame' album.) accompanied with a futuristic silver tunic and killer satin stilettos. The party was merely a small house gathering, but the opportunity for my friends to see me without my uniform was an option I simply couldn't take lightly.

Waterloo Road - A typical example of how British teenagers experiment with their uniform. The look may not be iconic, but certainly welcomes the idea of appeciating your personal style.

When we remember ourselves back at school, we each had our distinctive styles which we desperately tried to portray. Make-up, fake tan, short skirts and the legendary small tie were trends which we girls consistently practiced. Boys took similar rebellious options, and tended to opt for hoodies, untucked shirts, a branded form of trainers and a tad of gel in their hair.

The theme for school children in America, particularly for teenagers is somewhat less experimental. The style is bland with an effortless attempt to standing out. When you think of the many years an American teenager spends wearing no uniform, the desire to wear to personally crafted outfit will ultimately lose its appeal. I remember that when I started sixth form college, I was not excited about having free periods or a common room to relax in, but being much more excited about the outfit I'd choose every day. Many girls went for the Abercrombie and Fitch look - a Hollister hoodie, teamed with skinny jeans and uggs. May I note, that this was the time when we all had to decide what career we all wished to progress to, and when realising I wanted to become a fashion student and noticing a pattern between all these girls’ styles, I felt obliged to at least try and experiment. My main clothing essentials consisted of a variety of leather jackets, 10 denier tights, boots and always - a messy and volumised bob, influenced by Debbie Harry in her heyday. The room for experimentation here, along with my studying for getting into uni, highly motivated me to study fashion and the way it functions within our culture. One of the biggest mind triggering aspect was from the George Orwell classic '1984' which I studied for English Literature. The books theme of an underlying dictatorship and no room whatsoever for being different made me very curious. The books main character Winston, describes how every resident of Oceania had to dress in the same overalls. Everyone was the same. This made me remember how I felt when I wore uniform to school. I was trapped, but luckily, there was a bit of room to rebel.

I am very appreciative of the fact that I know what I want to do with my life, and that is to explore style and the impact it has in politics and culture. This realisation would not have come about if the school policy allowed a non-uniform conduct. Maybe if America became more appreciative of style, and learnt of the valuable impact it has on ones confidence and expression, then New York as we know it, could perhaps become the best city for Fashion week. After all, it has the finances and and a huge population to influence.