Free The Regal Rules for Girls by Jerramy Fine Page A

preppy twist. Even if the only stores you hit are Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, and J.Crew, the clothes will be at least 30 percent cheaper than in the UK, and you won’t look like every other girl in London, who’s draped in a hodgepodge of catwalk knockoffs that will go out of style within the month. To their credit, British girls are unabashedly
experimental
when it comes to their fashion choices, and no one could accuse them of not being
individualistic
. Some even look quite
cool
. But classy?
    This is where you come in. American women are world renowned for their classic grooming, their understated elegance, and their overall polish. Which is precisely why all those lonely Jude Law types will be so intrigued to meet you…
    If you can’t resist shopping in the UK (and believe me, very few can resist), don’t walk straight into Burberry and Aquascutum. I love these stores (How can you not? Have you seen the guys in their ad campaigns?), but there are more enduring ways to spend your precious pence.
    The UK is unique in that it has a fabulous “high street” line of shops. “High street” is another way of saying “main street”—and shops found on the high street (as opposed to Bond Street! 2 are much more affordable than their couture counterparts.
    My favorite of the high street chains is L.K. Bennett. Any piece from this ladylike yet quintessentially British store (be it a coat, a dress, a handbag, or a pair of peep-toe heels) will last you forever and is guaranteed to be acceptable for any English social occasion. (You’ll note that the Duchess of Cambridge agrees with me, as many of her most worn accessories come from here.) www.lkbennett.com 3
    ALSO TRY:
    Hobbs (for fitted suits and gorgeous day dresses), www.hobbs.co.uk/
    Brora (for exquisite Scottish cashmere; these sweaters last
decades
without a trace of pilling), www.brora.co.uk
    Joules (for fun, country casuals), www.joules.com
    Russell & Bromley (for classic city boots) www.russellandbromley.co.uk
    Blue Velvet (for beautiful, affordable ballet flats) www.bluevelvetshoes.com
    BEST AREAS FOR SHOPPING:
    Covent Garden
    High Street Kensington
    King’s Road
    Marylebone High Street (Be sure to stop at Daunts bookshop while you’re there—pure bookworm bliss.)
    Regent’s Street
    Richmond (George Street and Hill Rise)
    SHOPPING AREAS TO AVOID:
    Harrods (too touristy!—although you should at least see the Food Hall once in your lifetime)
    Knightsbridge (too touristy!)
    New Bond Street (too expensive—but fun to window shop)
    Oxford Street (too crowded! and too touristy!)
    Portobello Road (unless you like flea markets)
    Sloane Street (too expensive—but fun to window shop)
    Westfield Shopping Centre (London is a city where you shop on the street, never at the mall.)
American Beauty
    There are no ugly women, only lazy women.
    —H ELENA R UBINSTEIN
    This summer I was sitting in the beer garden of a pleasant West London pub, when I spotted two women sharing a bottle of white wine.
    The girl on the left was wearing well-fitting jeans and a simple navy-and-white striped T-shirt; her hair was clean and sprinkled with a few impeccably placed highlights; her nails were neatly trimmed and painted nude pink. She had a larger than average nose, but her cheeks had color and her skin tone was even. Her makeup was expertly applied, and her large eyes and perfect lips were subtly emphasized so that her natural beauty shone through.
    The girl on the right was wearing a patterned dress in a style that was considered “in this season” but that absolutely did not suit her figure. (I could tell that she definitely cared about and put an effort into what she was wearing; she just had no clue what colors and proportions were appropriate for her body.) Her dark hair was slightly greasy and sloppily tied back. She was blessed with pretty features, but her complexion was pasty and her eyeliner was badly smudged, which gave her a subtle panda-like look.
    I couldn’t hear