What I will be wearing to the pub this summer
Many assume that pub workers are just there to overcharge you for a Guinness and purposefully avoid your gaze as they unload the glass washer. These are both true, especially in London where Guinness stands at a hefty average of £7.50. However, to gain a sense of autonomy behind the shackles of beer taps, I have started using any customers that come my way for summer outfit prediction and inspiration. Working in a pub in Camden acts as a bonus in this aspect. Fashion wars are waged by chic twenty-somethings who come in channelling beer garden realness, armed with Bottega slouch bags and Prada sunnies.
I partake in spectacles of style mentally, conjuring up all the wardrobe staples dictated by the chic wine drinkers who wander in and out, giving the ice in a refreshing G&T a run for its money. It is only polite of me to impart all this wisdom gained from my time behind the bar so that you don’t commit any fashion faux pas over cocktails with the girls.
When discussing the rising popularity of the super high-waisted trouser, I am not talking about the JONI TOPSHOP 2016 kind. Think leg lengtheners in shades of beige, cream and black paired with crisp oversized shirts spilling out like refreshing cola down the side of a cool glass. Adding a belt to make your high-rise look more cinched and tailored is only polite. Sashay into pubs with tight-fitting top halves, purposefully emphasising the balloon nature of a sought-after high-waisted bottom half. These are perfect for a casual yet seamlessly chic pub endeavour that has been decided last minute but pre-planned in advance. Every pubgoer that dons this wardrobe staple can rest assured their wait for the toilet will be met with shrills of omgwheredidyougetthose as your Erdem high-waisted secret weapons are fawned over.
To wear the dress or not to wear the dress? a question so integral that Shakespeare’s Hamlet had to comprehend such (right?) Too much does not exist when going to the pub. Do not let the hungover pub garden-goers in their comfy sweats deter you from going the dressy route. My go-to dress this summer season is the puffball, not to be mistaken with the collector pet from Club Penguin. Skimming the top of your thigh with its meringue-like bottom half, it channels ethereal fairy, bringing feminine and playful puff-ball fun to a casual pub trip. I like to wear mine with cowboy boots, producing a contrast that veers on delicacy and cowgirl edge. Waiting for cocktails can get long, but every fashionista knows to use this time productively, drawing eyes and making your fashion mark in the pub through a dress that uplifts the mood of the room (and mine as I serve the hundredth fruity cider).
Although only graced with a customer’s upper half, I cannot miss the dash of a delicate Mary Jane or Ballerina pump on my way to the toilet as I escape the customer demanding an Aperol Spritz. The nature of these delicate footwear contrasts with the boisterous nature of the pub in summer during the Euros 2024, bringing balance and a sense of tranquillity amongst the chaos of watching England shoot for glory. ASOS opt for affordable flamboyance, with a range of pumps and ballet flats that can be paired easily with the summer staple must-have flowy-maxi. Like a lemonade left on the side for too long, the Adidas Samba may have left us all feeling a bit flat. Perhaps it is time to seek out a different look (that hasn’t been left ruined by Rishi Sunak).
Blooming hell it’s hot behind this bar! Everyone can rely on their denim cut-offs come summer. If your denim is leaving you distressed this summer, however, then have no fear, the bloomer is here! To some, it is a type of loaf, to others it is a Pinterest board full of inspiration. Bloomers are taking over, originally worn underneath dresses in the 19th century. Today, they have been claimed under the ‘coquette’ aesthetic, worn in girlish frilly fashion underneath a chunky belt. Symbolising freedom for women back in the 1890s, this hyper-feminine bottom half is perfect for a playful pub look that will have your mum reminiscing back to 1970s gym class. With a strappy vest and calf-skimming boots, bloomers allow for more movement than your usual denim go-to and they mar together the dressed-up nature of a skirt and the casual look of a pair of shorts.
Whether the puff ball leaves you feeling like a stress ball or your new high-waisted trousers leave you in a chafing mess, do not feel constrained or dictated by your summer wardrobe.
The pub is a time to unwind with friends over refreshing aperitifs and spilling pints. Whether you’re wearing a ballerina pump or a specific shade of red, having fun with fashion has never been more acceptable. That’s the only rule I will be abiding by this summer,