Clothes

[josephine813]

I've looked through the tags and didn't see anything that answered my question, maybe I looked in the wrong place but I don't think so.  I will be visiting the UK for the first time this summer.  I will be visiting England, Scotland, Wales and quite possibly Ireland, I'm not sure on that, and will be there from July 21st through Aug 28th.  I am

Comments

[mrs_ralph]

Since York in summer tends to get highs in the 80's you should be fine to pack some simple t-shirts, jeans and maybe even shorts. Certainly the local girls here are already dressing like they are strolling a California boardwalk in summer whenever the temperature hits 60 degrees. (Newcastle lasses are hardy) You might want to pack a simple dress or dressy trousers and a nice top for going out to eat and so on though if you find yourself with an occassion and nothing to wear you can always pick something up at Primark or ASDA...they are very inexpensive. You will probably find you want something at some point anyway. I know I can never manage to pack for everything that might come up and I doubt anyone ever does. Don't worry too much about sticking out a little...it has its perks. ;-)

[josephine813]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll keep those stores in mind. I have to bring a skirt or two, I'm studying monasticism and my professor imposed a dress code of knee length or longer skirts on any days we visit sites. I asked about dress pants and he is insisting on skirts >.< Looks like I will have to buy some stockings.

[mrs_ralph]

Some religious groups consider trousers to be too revealing when worn by women. I think broomstick/gypsy/hippy-style tiered crinkled cotton skirts are in right now and they are wearing them long though I don't know if they would be quite dressy enough for visiting churches and the like. The ones they are selling here come in solid colours like plain black (which is always good in the city) I would consdier them to be nice enough for office wear with a plain light weight blouse and ballet flats. You should be able to go almost anywhere in an outfit like that though you should probably have at least 3/4 length sleeves on your top depending on where you are going.

[josephine813]

I'm thinking of bringing a black skirt with white polka dots that hits just below the knee and a black long sleeved blouse. I think that will be acceptable.

[loganberrybunny]

I'm male, but that doesn't sound too startling to me. The hoodie is the one item that immediately says "American" to me - the abbreviated lettering rather than the hoodie itself (those are common), since our universities tend to write out their name more fully. (Here's Manchester's, for example.)

As mentioned above, it can get quite warm, though "warm" to a Brit may well be different to "warm" to a Californian! Most of Britain had a washout last summer, and after a while we were pleased to get anything above 70°F. On the other hand, in July 2006 highs got into the mid-90s, so you never know.

[josephine813]

https://bookstore.ucdavis.edu/Display.cfm?itemId=1675 This is almost exactly what it looks like, there are a few minor differences because mine is a few years older. Thanks for the information, I really appreciate it. Yes, 'warm' is relative, where I'm from it gets over 100F often in July-August, and we see 80's as early as April through October some years.

[loganberrybunny]

Yep, that's the sort of thing I was picturing. They're very familiar from American media, of course; you just don't see very many native Brits actually wearing the things, and if they do there's probably no genuine academic affiliation involved.

*Grins* In all the history of reliable temperature recording (say a hundred years), the UK has had one day when it's reached 100°F. (10 Aug 2003; I remember it well!) I have a friend who lives in Arizona; I have no idea how she stands it.

[josephine813]

Supprisingly enough, you get used to it. I'm comfortable in the 80's range and I don't mind it getting up into the 90's, I can deal with temperatures down to the 60's but I start to whine when it gets lower. I spent most of December wearing two pairs of socks since the average was in the 5o's. I am -such- a baby.

[spencerpine]

The styles aren't that different. Just bring what you've got (what you mentioned sounds fine). If you want more stuff when you're here, buy it here.

G

[friede]

Well, and here's the other reality about York (and most of the other places you'll visit I'm sure): in summer, it's crawling with tourists, be they from other parts of the UK, the EU, or the US. Behave decently, and no one really cares what you're wearing. When I was living/studying in York, the dividing line wasn't national identity, it was if you were in my way, standing in the middle of the Shambles, taking photos while I was trying to get a sandwich!

[josephine813]

I understand the feeling. I've lived in Los Angeles on and off my whole life and understand how annoying tourists can be to the natives :) I'm going to do my best to avoid being one of them.

[littlered2]

Or standing blocking the pavements when I'm rushing to a lecture. I was amazed at how quickly it took for me to get irritated by tourists when I first came here.

[anditron]

I honestly would forgo the turtle necks and pack an extra hoodie or lightweight casual jacket. Having done my MA in England, where I was there much longer than a couple months, I would even say, only pack a week's worth of clothes and save your pennies to buy some stuff while there. I can guarantee you, you will want to. And most likely you can find affordable stuff that compares to what you'd pay at H&M or Forever 21. Part of the fun of going abroad is getting to pick up things you couldn't get in the states. And believe me, hauling over a bunch of stuff and realizing you don't need it or want to wear it or that you wish you had room in your suitcase to bring something back but don't is really frustrating

[josephine813]

Thank you so much! That list looks petty close to what I was thinking of bringing. Honestly, the hardest part will be picking out what shoes to bring! I'm a bit of an addict, I have 32 pairs at last count...