The history of London's fashion and style
London is a sprawling, dynamic exhibition of global style and design. For any student studying fashion and design, a visit to London is an excellent way to learn how clothing has influenced society over the years and how innovation continues to evolve to this day.
The city offers a unique environment where centuries of tradition, from the precise tailoring of a classic British suit to the grandeur of royal dress, coexist alongside the most radical and modern streetwear trends and designs.
In this blog, we will take you through London’s fascinating fashion history, revealing how music, art, and subcultures have shaped its aesthetic. We will also give you an easy-to-follow itinerary focused on design education and firsthand inspiration toward the end. But let’s start at the very beginning.
The history of fashion and style in London
London's style story is a continuous cycle of strict rules followed by exciting rebellion. This is why the city is always at the centre of new fashion ideas. For many years, London led the world in how men dressed. Everything focused on quality and fit.
Initially, from about the 1500s, the King and Queen set the trends. Clothes were a clear sign of wealth and social status, so they had to be made from expensive fabrics, such as silk and velvet, by skilled tailors. Those who were middle or lower class would wear clothing made of wool or leather. This changed in the late 18th century, when men such as Beau Brummell created the modern suit.
They chose perfect tailoring and great wool over bright colours or fancy details. This simple elegance continues to define menswear today. The focus on precision is why Savile Row became the world's most famous street for custom-made men's suits. That is why early history demonstrates the importance of excellent craft and attention to detail in British design.
Style on the street from the 1950s to the 1980s
After the practical clothing of World War II, such as the utility suit or siren suit, younger people started using fashion to show who they were and to push back against old rules. London quickly became the most exciting place for trends anywhere in the world.
The 1960s brought the famous “Swinging London” era, which was a lively, youth-driven cultural revolution. During this time, a designer by the name of Mary Quant popularised the short miniskirt, which quickly became a powerful symbol of young people's independence.
At the heart of this movement was Carnaby Street, which became the home for the Mods (a stylish youth subculture), who loved sleek, modern suits, and other fun, bright styles that were finally easy to afford. This shows how fashion power moved from the wealthy elite to the young people on the street.
When the '60s faded, the 1970s brought the loud, aggressive style of Punk. Designers like Vivienne Westwood challenged all ideas about fashion, culture, and politics from their shop on King's Road. They used ripped fabric, safety pins, and chains to create a defiant, anti-fashion look. Punk is an important study for students because it proves that clothing can be a strong tool for protest and for completely breaking the rules of what looks good.
Later, the 1980s brought dramatic fashion, featuring two main styles: the wide-shouldered power suit for women in business, and loud, colourful, artistic looks (such as the New Romantics) for fun, showing how music and celebrities now drove major trends.
Modern London Style: Mixing Everything
Today, London style is a rich, creative mix of everything that came before. It’s a city where a perfectly tailored jacket might be worn with vintage, ripped jeans. This mixing of high-end quality and low-cost street style is precisely what London does best, and it’s why designers all over the world watch the city closely.
London remains a global fashion capital, especially during London Fashion Week, which takes place twice yearly in February and September and showcases new British talent. Unlike some other fashion weeks (such as Milan, Paris, or New York), London often focuses on challenging ideas about beauty and identity. This is done by bringing strange new designs to life, adopting new technologies such as 3D printing for fashion, and promoting sustainable design practices, including zero-waste methods and upcycling. Designers here often treat fashion as both art and a way to talk about the world's biggest issues, such as global warming and climate change.
The true strength of modern London fashion, however, comes from its streets. It is a melting pot of cultures. This means you see highly diverse styles, from traditional clothing paired with trainers to expensive designer pieces worn with charity-shop clothing.
The freedom to mix and match keeps the street style lively, unpredictable, and endlessly influential. London’s style now is less about following one trend and more about personal identity, making it a fantastic place for students to study how people use clothes to express themselves every single day.
Top places to visit on a student design trip to London
A student trip to London is like a fast-track course in fashion history and design. Here are a few great spots that will let your students see London's style story themselves and get great ideas for their own work. From museums to retail parks, there are so many great places to visit, each offering its own unique benefits.
Learning from the museums
No student trip to London is complete without visiting a museum or two. Museums have collections that can teach important lessons to any design student; for example, they show how clothes were made and what they meant to people.
Here are some top choices for museums to visit, as well as some practical information for each:
The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)
The V&A is one of the world's premier museums of art, design, and performance, holding a massive collection of clothing and jewellery that spans hundreds of years. This is the best place to study how historical garments were put together, and how fabrics changed over time from linen and early plant fibres to printed cottons.
You can spend hours just in the fashion galleries alone, observing techniques and materials from different centuries, such as 17th-century French silks, often with decorative waistcoats.
You can find the V&A on Cromwell Road, right next to the South Kensington tube station (District, Circle, and Piccadilly lines). It’s usually open daily from 10:00 to 17:45, and on Fridays until 22:00.
The Fashion and Textile Museum (FTM)
Located at 83 Bermondsey Street and founded by the renowned designer Zandra Rhodes, the FTM focuses on fashion from the 1900s to the present. Unlike the V&A, which is enormous, the FTM is smaller and more focused on temporary, modern shows. The FTM is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 11:00-18:00.
Here, you can see special exhibitions on modern designers, textile arts, and current industry topics, such as material innovation and sustainability, which focus on the use of recycled materials in fashion. Check their website ahead of time to see which exhibition is running, as they change often.
Shopping for ideas
Museums are not the only way students can observe fashion and design on their trips to London. Walking the main shopping streets can also be a great way to do some research and see how history meets modern sales and what people want to buy now. Here are some examples of the main shopping streets found in London.
Savile Row
This is the global home of perfect custom-made suits, a tradition dating back to the 17th century. Visiting this street is a lesson in expensive fabrics, like Vicuna wool (One of the world's most costly fabrics), careful hand-cutting, and incredible quality.
The students won't be buying a suit, but they can study the elegant window displays, which are masterclasses in luxury marketing and craftsmanship. They can also take in the beautifully dressed mannequins, historic storefronts, and a deep sense of British tradition.
Savile Row is a short walk from Piccadilly Circus or Oxford Circus tube stations. Most shops are open during standard working hours (10:00–18:00), but students can view the street and shop windows at any time.
Carnaby Street
Though changed, Carnaby Street still holds its famous, lively spirit from the Swinging Sixties. This small, pedestrian-friendly area is great for finding unique, independent brands, such as Pangaia, which focuses on sustainable materials and tech-infused basics. There are also many fabulous boutiques and niche labels for students to explore here.
It’s a fun street to see how historical youth culture continues to influence contemporary shops that focus on trendier, younger customers. As on Savile Row, most shops open at 10 am, but students may visit at any time to view the shop windows.
Beyond the museums and high streets of London
The inspiration for fashion and design students does not end with museums and high streets alone. They can find inspiration by studying real street fashion at London's markets and creative areas where new trends start, away from the major fashion houses.
Camden Market
Camden Market is famous for alternative styles, including punk, goth, and general vintage clothes. It’s a good place to find custom clothing, cheap accessories, and small businesses selling handmade goods.
Students can learn here how music and subcultures (Like how punk rock music led to the punk or goth look) create their own dress styles and how those looks are sold. This area demonstrates how powerful style is beyond high fashion. The market is enormous, featuring indoor stalls, food vendors, and small shops lining the canal.
King's Road in Chelsea
A walk along King's Road in Chelsea is significant due to its rich history. This was where the famous Punk movement started (thanks to Vivienne Westwood’s iconic shops in the 70s), but today it also features high-end boutiques and well-known brands, such as Peter Jones or Rixo.
This allows students to see how expensive fashion and rebellious history exist side-by-side in one fashionable, famous area. Look for the blue plaques that mark historical spots, such as the one found at 138A King’s Road, Chelsea, where you can learn about Dame Mary Quant.
Your students' London fashion adventure awaits
London is a unique city because it respects its long history while always seeking the next big idea. For any student, walking these streets is an excellent addition to reading textbooks or attending lectures.
They can see the world’s finest tailoring on one corner and the wildest, most creative street style on the next. Every museum, market, and shop window has something new to teach them about how clothes shape our identity and our future.
By visiting some of the iconic sites we mentioned, they will not only learn about the past; they will also find the inspiration they need to create their own style and perhaps even become the next big name in design.
At StudyLink, we specialise in creating unforgettable student trips that bring subjects like fashion and design to life. We handle all the details so you can focus on the inspiration. Get in touch with us today or request a quote to start building your custom itinerary!
