Wellingtons. Or wellies. Or rainboots.

We had the most beautiful weather in Blighty on Sunday. It was bright and breezy with sunshine that warmed your bum when you stood in it; basically, a perfect autumn day. I wore this to watch my brother taking part in a cycling race: I’m glad I wore my wellies as it took place in the grounds of a country house… lots of grassy verges and muddy patches.

As far as I could see I was the only person wearing a bowler hat and stripy blazer – there’s very little chance of me turning up in the same outfit as someone else in the wilds of the Devon countryside. Especially teamed with a neon yellow scarf, which looks like a snood but isn’t – I simply tucked the ends down the back of my blazer. I prefer the neatness of a snood sometimes.

Bowler hat: Asos
Scarf: Asos
Blazer: Very
Sweater: Debenhams
Skinnies: Gap
Gloves: unknown
Sunglasses (in hand): Rayban Wayfarers
Wellies: a gift
Socks: unknown

Now something I have realised from reading fashion blogs a lot: in the UK we say snood, Americans say infinity scarf. (The latter makes perfect sense. Snoods were actually some Old English hairnet thing originally.) Also I think maybe wellies (wellingtons / rainboots / gumboots) is a British expression. It got me thinking – when you’re learning English as a secondary language, what words are you taught when learning things that the Americans and Brits (and other English speaking countries) name differently? Assuming we’re talking fashion, take these examples (please correct me on the American if I’m wrong!):

British: American
Wellies (Wellington boots): Rainboots
Courts: Pumps
Pumps: Tennis shoes
Waistcoat: Vest
Vest: Undershirt
Trousers: Pants
Pants: Panties

How confusing is all that?? It does tickle me every time a blogger comments on my “pants”… of course I know they’re referring to my trousers, but if you’re “caught with your pants down”, the connotations are even worse in the UK than in the US…! (Note: some British girls say knickers instead of pants; I say pants. Some girls insist only boys wear pants.)

Ooh I feel a sartorial dictionary post coming on 😉
If English isn’t your first language, which do you say – pants or trousers? I’m intrigued!