5 Affordable Trends London Girls Are Wearing This Summer

Since moving out of London, I've become entirely dependent on Instagram to see what women in the world's coolest fashion capital are wearing right now. I didn't realise quite how important my organic street style–spotting opportunities were when our work lives were "normal" and I was spending a great portion of my week trekking around town for meetings, events and press appointments. Just by some sort of magical, natural osmosis, I was absorbing the style beat of the city and intuitively gaining insight into what women were wearing in real time. It has always fed into my editorial work, and since moving, I've definitely found it harder to be truly in touch with genuine trends rather than social media–led frenzies.

Fortunately for me, the medium of IG and London-based women who document the outfits they actually step out of the house in are filling the large void—that and the fact that we've already set our social media editor out on the hunt for street style looks IRL around some of East London's hippest postcodes. So what's proving to be popular for summer 2023? A finely tuned mix of classics and pieces made for peacocking—a standard London ratio of laid-back and loud, then. Keep scrolling to see the trends you can buy on a lean budget that have a big seal of approval from the London set.

1. Easy Co-Ords

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(Image credit: @chloepierreldn)

For London girls, summer is all about ease, and few outfits are as easy to assemble as a co-ord. 

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(Image credit: @_jessicaskye)

Light linens and airy embroidery are a sure fire way to keep cool through sunny spells. 

SHOP EASY CO-ORDS:

SHOP EASY CO-ORDS:

2. Bandeau Tops

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(Image credit: @_marisamartins_)

Unlike the classic form-fitting strapless styles, London girls have their sights set on a more a-line shape. 

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(Image credit: @monikh)

To balance out the shape, opt for a wide-leg trouser silhouette. 

SHOP BANDEAU TOPS:

3. Fun Trousers

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(Image credit: @chiarasatelier)

The fun-trousers-and-simple-top revolution is upon us and it's a favourite outfit formula for our fashionable city friends. 

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(Image credit: @lucywilliams02)

Keep accessories, tops and shoes simple to truly appreciate the joy of playful trousers. 

SHOP FUN TROUSERS:

4. Maxi Skirts

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(Image credit: @nlmarilyn)

As soon as hemlines dropped, London fashion girls took note, and haven't look back since. 

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(Image credit: @bubblyaquarius)

Pencil shapes or floaty silhouettes, there's a maxi skirt for every aesthetic. 

MAXI SKIRT:

5. Classic Stripes

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(Image credit: @modestmira_)

Though London girls are known for pushing the style boundaries, there's a clear reliance on classic staples, such as stripes. 

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(Image credit: @eniswardrobe)

A simple outfit formula I always return to is a striped tee and jeans. 

SHOP STRIPES:

This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.

Up next, 8 Autumn Fashion Staples Fashion People Are Already Wearing

Hannah Almassi
Editor in Chief

Hannah Almassi is the Editor in Chief of Who What Wear UK. Hannah has been part of the the Who What Wear brand since 2015, when she was headhunted to launch the UK sister site and social channels, implement a localised content strategy and build out the editorial team. She joined following a seven-year tenure at Grazia magazine, where she led front-of-book news, fashion features and shopping specials as fashion news and features editor. With experience in both print and digital across fashion and beauty, Hannah has over 16 years in the field as a journalist, editor, content strategist and brand consultant. Hannah has interviewed industry heavyweights such as designers including Marc Jacobs and Jonathan Anderson through to arbiters of taste including Katie Grand and Anna Dello Russo. A skilled moderator and lecturer specialising in the shift to digital media and e-commerce, Hannah’s opinion and work has been sought by the likes of CNBC, BBC, The Sunday Times Style, The Times, The Telegraph and MatchesFashion.com, among many others. Hannah is often called upon for her take on trends, becoming known as a person with their finger of the pulse of what’s happening in the fashion space for stylish Brits. Hannah currently resides in Eastbourne with her photographer husband, incredibly busy son and highly Instagrammable cat.