Drink
But not too much. Us Brits have got a knack for binge drinking into all sorts of trouble, while the rest of Europe/the world looks on appalled. There is nothing wrong with drinking, but take it easy, and above all drink proper drinks. No alcopops. No cheap wine. No Jack Daniels and coke (if anyone tells you it's whisky, point the fool in the direction of Scotland). Any true Brit will drink Port, Whisky, Sloe gin, gin and tonic in the winter, and (proper) cider, real ale and Pimm's in the summer.
The Royal Family
Being a royalist has gone distinctly out of fashion, but the royal family are something we ought to be hanging on to dearly. The royal family and aristocracy link us back in time, and remember our heritage is one of the best things about Britain, so do not dismiss the monarchy on the basis of fairness. Yes, it's unfair that the Queen is so rich, and you are not. Deal with it, getting rid of the monarchy will not change that. At least the Queen draws in thousands of tourists (and their money). What about the Big Brother contestants? Or Pete Docherty? Or Posh Spice? What use are they? Why on earth are we so willing to hand these worthless idiots money then, but not the Queen? If you're going to complain about taxes and how we pay too much, don't blame royalty. Blame VAT. Blame that bloody NHS money blackhole. Blame the ailing state schools. Blame the fact that we are on an island and separated from Europe. It's not all down to the Queen.
The Pound
True Brits do not denounce their national currency, especially one that has been around in various forms for over a millenium. The Euro is for traitors.
Wear Tweed
Nothing says British like tweed. Wear it. Oh and on the subject of tweed....
...Dress properly!
London is a world fashion centre, we are one of only a few countries host to international fashion shows. Our fashion identity is entwined with our cultural identity. This is why we cannot hope to compete with the Italians or New Yorkers for sophistication, nor the French for chic style. In fact, our fashion identity sets us completely apart from the rest of the world, and that's why it's such a winner. Other countries can't understand quite what we do, which is nifty because nor do we- eclectic is our look, fabulously put together but without all the priss and hous of planning that other countries go for. Our look is almost accidental style, something we just "put together", even if we didn't. I am not talking about average Joes wearing tracksuits down the high street, or northern lasses wearing the shortest of dresses in the coldest of weather. I'm talking about Lily Allen teaming ball gowns with trainers. Kate Moss (yes I said it) making ladies waistcoats fashionable. British fashion breaks the rules, often teaming old and new together, and it's not just for celebrities, everyone can do it. Try wearing an old Barbour wax jacket with a pair of skinny jeans. Instant festival cool. Here is my breakdown of the key British brands:
Barbour. Duh.
Sadly, this has become fashionable with the Wall St. types in NY, especially the Berwick Tweed (the Queen's favourite) which I think is a shame. Shooting jackets were meant to hold cartridges and keep off the driving weather, not look cool over a 3 piece suit.
Mulberry
Forget Louis Vuitton. It's crass. It's common (despite the price). It's footballer's wife-y, and no longer synonymous with wealth, but with a lack of taste. Instead, go for Mulberry. Understated, classy, and you will be handing these luggage bags down to your children. Timeless British classics.
Burberry
Sadly this brand has had to fight hard to keep customers, after their signature plaid pattern became a method for identifying "chavs". Happily, you can still enjoy this brand, as it was meant to be, without aligning yourself with these stereotypes- the easiest way is to own one of their trenchcoats. This is considered a staple for many people, and there is no hint of that pattern except for a slight flash on the inside brand tag. Most people will never know what you are wearing. So what's the point then...? That IS the whole point, and exactly what I am driving at. Brits should not be showing off how rich they are. That is the fastest way to look poor and desperate. It screams new money, lack of money, "look I just got some money and I want eveyone to know about it!". So keep the logos simple please.Jack Wills
This divides people like Marmite, but one thing you can be sure of is that public/private school kids will want it. This brand has become THE thing to wear at university, automatically disguishing you as "a certain type". Some people wear it for exactly that reason. Some people hate it for that reason. Who knew clothes had such power? Most people just wear it because they're very nice clothes. I know I would much rather buy one shirt that will last me a few years and has quirky attention to detail (just take a look at the washing instructions! Or if you buy a pair of jeans, reach into the pockets... Oh my god someone left me a note!) than several cheap versions from Next. But there are some who take the Jack Wills thing too far, so tone it down to avoid looking like one of them...
