My wedding is in March 2012 Insha Allah and I will be moving to London then. I know I will need more winter thick clothes & mostly Western … those i will be buying from London.
What I need your help with is the Eastern clothes - I love wearing them and might need a few for the dinners there and if a wedding. I am planning to take 3-4 semi formals and maybe 1 heavier formal. **Please tell me if CHIFFON fabric will be okay for events in March April May in London or is it too thin? **All my semi-formals are in chiffon but my regular casual shalwar kameez are in thicker fabrics. So what kind of a weather is expected in March?
Re: Londeners - Help!
hey, I'm not from UK but I've been there, and its FREEZING in march and april! may wont be that bad .(but sweaters are needed).. so therefore, dont make any Chiffon clothing for London!
Re: Londeners - Help!
Mar/Apr/May the weather can be varied and UK weather can be unpredictable , especially in recent years. There's no reason why you cant wear the chiffon semi-formals but I would come prepared with matching shawls and a jacket/coat. You'll only need them when you're travelling as most events are indoors and are usually heated.
Re: Londeners - Help!
definitely stick with chiffon formals for march april may! as amreenD said everything is indoors so it makes no difference and again to repeat amreenD just have a few matching shawls - march onwards weather isn't too bad.
Bring what you can when it comes to desi wear - you will find shopping for asian clothes depressing in London! with western stuff - don't bring much. best to buy it all there
Re: Londeners - Help!
Hey DaffyDuck, it's nice to hear that you're moving to the UK :) London tends to be hotter than places in the north during the winter time, but yeah like the other girls said it gets very cold and even snows in dec/jan/feb months.
I think march/april/may months are okay - although it was raining in June!!! I think bring a lightweight coat or raincoat for the rainy days and a thicker coat and boots for winter. Gloves and scarves you can always buy from here :). I think with desi clothes, shawls and wraps are a good idea :)
Re: Londeners - Help!
generally speaking the weather is very fickle so you need to take both light and warmer clothes, i'd say it starts getting warmer in april but still, bring a few cardigans or shawls like others have suggested
Re: Londeners - Help!
It's generally pretty cold in March/April (less than 10°C). It's even snowed in April a few years ago. People wear a mix of semi-formals. Chiffon is fine. It will only be cold outside but then you will have a coat and scarf. And people do tend to wear things underneath to keep them warm. It wouldn't hurt to bring one or two heavier semi formals.
Re: Londeners - Help!
Salam DaffyDuck,
That time of year can be quite chilly and is often rainy. However, for dinners etc. you will be indoors, therefore chiffon is fine, as most people just tend to have a shawl/cardi or coat over the top whilst travelling. Everyone has the heating on full blast in the house. Also, I agree it would be helpful to bring a few more heavy formals for weddings etc. I really really would not purchase semi-formals in heavy fabrics. We do our clothes shopping in Pakistan when we visit, and my semi-formals are always chiffon, which I wear something on top whilst travelling.
Re: Londeners - Help!
I think the weather doesnt really matter..most of the formals are thin material (chiffon/georgette), There are many occasions through out the year so u have to wear formals regardless of the material, In my opinion.
Re: Londeners - Help!
Daffy Duck, London in March can be quite chilly with rainfall most of the time. Weather in england tends to be mixed, but the south of england is a bit warmer, so sometimes, on a warm day, you can get away with a chiffon or lighter material like georgette. Other days you will have to wear a thick material like a satin or thick silk. Most girls tend to own a couple of cardigans which they wear over their suits anyway on chilly days, you'll find loads of them once you get to London.
I never liked wearing a sweater, because I felt like it ruined the look of my outfit, so I just used to keep heavier materials for the winter months which start (at the earliest) in late september and end (at the latest) in mid-march. Summer is usually from late march to august and then I used to wear lighter materials such as georgette and chiffon. Also, England is not like other places, it is cold indoors too, sometimes even colder than it is outside! I can't explain why, but it just was that way, so you have to be prepared to dress for the weather indoors and out.
Re: Londeners - Help!
Thanks girls!
I dont like the georgette material but adore chiffons. I am planning to get some:
3-4 semi formals,
2 Heavier formals* (now that you say it)*
2 saris (cuz i love wearing them) 
3-4 Regular casual shalwar kameez
3 shawls
3-4 shrugs
**1-2 **sweaters
**3-4 **summer tunics/tops
**2 **jackets
The summer/winter pants, tops, sweaters, coats ill buy from London then. Does that seem okay?
Re: Londeners - Help!
Deffo buy the sweaters and coats in London. I'm from Canada and even though we have lots of selection for cold weather stuff here, I didn't take much with me, and I didn't regret it. The quality and fashion in England turned out to be much better.
Re: Londeners - Help!
Yes March, April, May will be chilly but all the events are inside so it doesnt matter. I'd suggest no sleeveless/capri bottoms apart from that chiffon shouldnt be a problem!