If you thought you’d heard the last of London with the finale of the Olympic games, think again. The allure of the city’s street fashion and the rise of Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, as a fashion icon left their impact on designers. You don’t have to look far for signs of British influence on fall trends, from ladylike frocks to the opulence of brocades and beading, and crisp, tailored jackets.

All I can say is, it’s about time. If your only idea of British fashion is the queen’s mumsy look, think again. The late, revered "bad boy of British fashion," designer Alexander McQueen, was only one of the latest in a long lineage of fashion originals, from 19th-century bohemians like Oscar Wilde, to 1960s mods and 1980s punks, whose artistic and musical influences drove their distinctive sartorial choices. Throw in a dash of imperial style, Savile Row tailoring, the anything-goes Carnaby Street ethos and soggy-weather Wellies, trench coats and scarves, and you’ve got the mad, eclectic London Look.

Unlike American dressing, which is largely conservative and based on fear of breaking "the rules" or looking out of place, Brit style is positively cheeky and built on the ideas of fun and eccentricity. How else do you explain those quirky hats?

Cold weather there is made for layering, so the ability to mix odd prints, patterns and eras from head to toe results in a cohesive look that appears effortless. Think of the thrown-together look of a floral dress with denim vest and black motorcycle boots, or shorts and tights with a fitted blazer and string of pearls.

At Neiman Marcus you can shop the Brits, from McQueen to Stella McCartney to Spice Girl-turned-lauded-designer Victoria Beckham, or you can piece together an eclectic ensemble from the many designer pieces offered, while keeping in mind such fall trends as mixed greens in a range from chartreuse to olive, borrowed from the menswear influences of tailored jackets, and leggings and pants in abbreviated lengths to highlight ever more sculpted and artful shoes.

IF YOU want to train your eye, stop in at Nordstrom, which recently welcomed contemporary Brit retailer Topshop (for women) and Topman. It’s nearly as comprehensive as having a stand-alone shop here, although only three of the Topshop’s four fall-winter collections made it to our shores. The fourth, "Scandi Girl," a line marked by Nordic sweater dressing, was likely deemed too heavy for our 80-degree winters.

The collections you can shop are:

» Sensationalist: Think of that other British fashion icon Kate Moss for this rock ‘n’ roll collection of high-low pieces of bead-embellished tank tops, sequined shorts, studded jackets, fringed dresses and dark colors just right for the party season.

» Factory Girl: Think Kate Middleton, with a pre-marriage edge, for this collection, which includes tailored boucle jackets, peplum skirts and dresses, shapely dresses, pencil skirts, blazers and military coats.

» Pennsylvania: America provides the inspiration for this take on the homespun, folksy spirit of the Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish, and the Wild West, with maxi skirts, button-up shirts in denim, Western-style heavy boots, bolo necklaces and textured jumpers (that’s sweaters for those stateside).

For men there are skinny blazers for a dressed-up look, similar in quality and fit to Zara, a step up from H&M. There’s also plenty of cas­ual wear, with T-shirts and hoodies for guys who don’t mind making a statement with colorful prints and patterns that range from polka dots to leopard spots to designs inspired by Peruvian blankets.