It is fascinating to see how the finer points of fashion vary regionally. What’s über trendy in Germany is not necessarily très chic in Paris, even though general clothing styles are similar. Even more intriguing is how frum fashion differs by location.

I interviewed Sarah Herskine, a frum and fashionable Londoner, who fills us in on Orthodox Jewish fashion in the UK. Sarah is my former flatmate from sem in Israel and always looks smart. (Excuse my use of Britishisms – they are impossible to resist!) In this interview, Sarah mentions the latest British fashion trends, the Prince William and Kate craze and what’s unique about Orthodox British women. (See my translations and comments in the brackets.)

Q: What are some current fashion trends in England?

A: Big watches, maxi skirts and dresses, leggings in bright patterns and colors {Orthodox fashionistas adapt this trend by wearing black leggings under skirts}, biker jackets, kitten heel court shoes {kitten heel pumps}, hunting jackets {blazers}, cape coats, and elasticated flats {these are also very popular in America, but we call them…. uh, you know… those flat shoes with the stretchy back?}. There is also quite a lot of tsnius fashion out there at the moment. Also, the weather is very fickle, especially autumn time, so people wear a lot of layers.

Q. A few months ago I interviewed a frum French woman for my blog. (Click here to see the interview with Ruchel, the Parisienne) She mentioned that people dress very casually in France in shul or at weddings. Is it the same in England or is it more formal?

A: In some shuls I have been to, especially the more modern ones, it is like a catwalk! Women dress up, wear high heels and suits. They look very posh.

Q: Any fashion inspiration from the Royal Family?

A: Yes! Every wedding I’ve been to since the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge got married, the bride has worn a dress very similar to Princess Kate with a lace top and a long train. In some synagogues the women wear large fancy hats as well.

Q: The Royal Wedding received considerable media coverage in the U.S. and Kate Middleton is a regular in American fashion magazines. Was it even more glorified in England?

A: The Royal wedding was massive here; it was a public holiday and there were lots of street parties. We watched the wedding on TV as a family. It was amazing to watch it live and it was so beautiful. There was a lot of hype here before and during the wedding. Yes, Kate is a massive fashion icon here and she is constantly in the magazines. She and Will were all over the newspapers with many pictures from the wedding as well as at many engagements since.

Q: How do Orthodox British women differ from other frum women around the globe?

A: We often come across as refined maybe more reserved and quiet than Americans and Israelis. We are more private. For example, we don’t generally talk about how much we earn or how much the things we have are worth. Whereas in Israel, for example, they are much more open and some seem to be more pushy. Americans too are louder and more extroverted and touchy feely I think, though obviously it depends on the family and where they come from; it is very multi-cultural here. It also depends on the area in the UK you live it as it does vary a little. We are also known to be polite and maybe more cautious. Also things are often more about quality rather than quantity here. For example the portion sizes are smaller and some people live in cottages {small and modest homes}.

Thanks to Sarah for sharing her photos and insights into British fashion trends and customs. If you’re interested in being profiled as a frum fashion representative for your country, e-mail me or leave a comment below!

(This article originally appeared in the Jewish Press column “Beauty and the Bellabusta”.)