Selfie Sunday! Portobello Christmas Market

HOORAY first of the themed blog postings, starting things off right with Selfie Sunday!

We are beginning the Christmas season quite early here in Londontown, which apparently is the norm here, but to Americans who are waiting for the nonexistent Thanksgiving rush it seems a little like a preemptive strike on the Yuletide cheer.

We scooted on over to the turning on of the Portobello Road Christmas lights and it definitely got us in the spirit!

I decided to wear my red skater skirt with some sheer black tights and my black riding boots. On top, I donned a white button down blouse (such a cop-out, it's my go-to. thanks, private school uniform days!) I also wore my new black draped leather and knit jacket, which I now know does not photograph well.

We also went into the COOLEST vintage shop on Portobello road (I showed great restraint and didn't buy vintage Ray Ban's, Mom) and the dressing rooms were covered in newspapers all the way back to 1976! So cool. Enjoy the myspace picture I managed to snap:





So...that was selfie Sunday....hope you liked it!

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Dreamin' of Theme-in'

Horrible titles aside, I was wondering how to keep these posts somewhat streamlined and on-track (considering I now consider a 250 word post on skorts an acceptable addition to society)

So, I have determined I need to start having themes! Obviously due to my nerdy tendencies (and slight hint of OCD), they are all alliterations!

Make-up/Menswear Monday- I either discuss something exciting in the male fashion world, how something in that demographic will apply to my life, or some sort of beauty aspect I am currently fascinated with. I know, weird things to put together, but I will chose only one to discuss (unless men's makeup becomes a thing, and then all bets are off!)

Trend Tuesday-Choosing a current trend and giving my two cents (I promise no more about skorts)

What to Wear Wednesday- Pretty self-explanatory, I tell you what to wear, just like an overbearing stage mom.

Thrifty Thursday-I give away all my secrets to being stingy and stylish

Footwear Friday- Because shoe Saturday ended up sounding like shoe Shaterday when I said it out loud...

Silly Saturday-Bascially a free-for-all, and always a surprise (even to me)

Selfie Sunday- where y'all get to see me in my hangover prime, because that's why Sundays were invented.
SOOO get ready for some of those! WEE!
In the meantime, here is a photoshopped picture of Ryan Gosling on Jesus' body...

Thanks, Buzzfeed! Source

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Are Skorts Still a Thing?

God, I hope not.
Catching up on my trends on Vogue.com after a few weeks of slacking was a jarring experience. How, after enjoying myself for a mere 2 weeks, did such a revolution of Skorts come back?!
Granted, these styles were shown in the A/W '12 shows, which took place this past Spring, but like many runway looks, I never thought they would translate into the real world!
According to Vogue.com, however, these "skirt trousers" have "grown up and got sophisticated". Some of these looks are too reminiscent of when I was in 8th grade and just discovered leggings, and thought that they looked FAB with a jean skirt and flip flops. Oh, the horror.

Giambattista Valli, Source

Marc Jacobs. Source

Louis Vuitton, Source

Although this look is lightyears better than the skorts I remember, I am still quite quite dubious as to who would purchase an ensemble such as this from Louis Vuitton? Also, what occasion yields a skort ensemble? Does the invitation to a tennis match read, "Dress Skorty-Casual?"






This was just a perplexing way to begin my Monday morning.

Portobello Road

Shmortoshmello Shmoad am I right?! 

WRONG. 

I know, I know, living in london for 3 months already and this weekend was my first trip to Portobello? Shame on me!

However, journeying to Portobello with my mom who was visiting was far more enjoyable than any other company I could have gone with.
Going in with the inclination that all I would see were antiques upon antiques with some gourmet food that I don't have a kitchen (or skills) to cook was not the right mindset. The tables were overflowing with vintage (and knockoff) jewelry, leather goods, records, paintings, fur, etc. and I loved every minute of it.
Many of the vendors did not appreciate photographs being taken of their booths, but I managed to find some nice people who didn't seem to mind (or notice..).

While I may have fallen in love with more than one impractical pair of vintage clip-on earrings, I came away with a Firkin (faux-Birkin) bag, which was victory enough for me!

I will cherish you as my firstborn child.

My mom faired even better than I did and came away with a matching Firkin (hers is red) and a gorgeous white and silver bangle to add to her already expansive "arm party"(credit to ManRepeller)

My mom, the hand model

Aside from the MAYJUH jewelry presence, the live entertainment is not to be forgotten. Not only do street performers usually sound better when you are in a market such as Portobello, but they are also 1. British, 2. exceedingly attractive, although those two points seem to go hand-in-hand, right?

pulling off the between-the-legs drum FLAWLESSLY

Now, I would take this time to analyze the different aspects that differentiate Camden Market and Portobello, but in all honesty, I am far too busy making an escape route in preparation for election results tonight.

MovingToLondon2012!

Blocked.

I haven't updated this in FOREVER, and I apologize. It's not like I haven't been busy! Since updating, I have been to the Czech Republic and Ireland as well as romping all around London. In the last few weeks I was also crudely awoken to the fact I am actually STUDYING abroad....studying being the operative and forgotten word. Needless to say, midterms kicked me where the sun don't shine, but I am back with a vengeance!

And by vengeance I mean writers block. Basically I am trying to relay the fact that I have been sitting in a Costa coffee on Kensington High Street attempting to write something profoundly interesting and have come up with a haiku about my love for lattes.

I won't bother you with the poetic details unless this writers block lasts another week, and then I just might have to. My fabulous mother is making her way across the pond in exactly 48 hours, so there will  hopefully be some updates from the amazing weekend that awaits me.

BYE!

Send All My Lovin' To You

I have been in London for 6 weeks and in that time have seen so much that has made me fall deeply and irrevocably in love with the city. This weekend, however, I could only describe as something magical.

I have always been a fan of the Beatles, as anyone with a brain is, and have always fantasized about going to see Abbey Road in the flesh (or concrete).

What you don't fantasize about, is that the road itself is just that, a road. And a busy one at that! So getting that picture that tourists alike dream about, (walking across the crosswalk of the famous street) is a feat you simply hope to come out alive after. Luckily, I was in good company, and my friends and I were absolutely determined to accomplish this.

The result is a little less than perfection, but I take that as an allegory for life not always being perfect. (psh, who am I kidding, we had already been there 2 hours, and we did our best, sue us!)

Anyway, aside from the typical touristy shot we managed, the wall outside the studio might have actually been my favorite part. The once-white wall and gate are absolutely COVERED in graffiti from tourists and fans alike, many whom simply write their most favorite Beatles lyrics. All of these combined make for a truly magical experience, when you read that the writings are from years ago, weeks ago, or even hours ago and written by people from all age brackets, religions, and countries. It really is cool when you see how a band and music can unify all walks of life. Not to mention, I was able to not only sign the wall, but also happened to have my red lipstick handy and planted a big, unsanitary kiss on the wall as well.

BACK TO THE IMPORTANT STUFF: How I managed to transition my beloved mint jeans into the fall!

I decided to pair my mint jeans with my dark green field jacket from J.Crew to keep the majority of the outfit at least somewhat monochromatic. I wore my over-the-knee brown leather boots to make the outfit seem more fall-appropriate, and it was also 55 degrees in London so they seemed like the most suitable option. Although you can't see because I was too distracted having a transcendental experience to take a proper outfit picture, underneath I was donning a grey t-shirt and my leopard belt.

All in all, I can already tell this will be one of my fondest memories from London. Not only was I in one of the coolest places ever, but the people I was with cannot be beat.

That's All Folks!

Hey Sole Sista

I have been horrible about updating this recently, but being in a fun city makes it hard to stop and write consistently!

The other day, I had a little field trip to The Serpentine Gallery in Hyde Park for my art class. Although the exhibition wasn't my cup of tea (british humor), the day was glorious and my ideal day.

The Serpentine, in all it's glory, plus a fluffy dog

This day was only made better by my obsession with my pair of prep school-esque oxfords!

Try and not be entranced by my beauty in the outfit shot......I am not one where candids look cute, this girl needs preparation.

pretty face, right?  Shirt: Jcrew, Jeans, Urban
Oufitters, Belt: Francesca's, Shoes: Target

To say that I am obsessed with these shoes is a gross understatement. The pop of pink on the sole is probably my most favorite addition to a pair of classic shoes since the metallic heel.

I am so obsessed with these shoes that later in the day, as I was strolling around Hyde Park, I had finally decided on a bench to place my bum, and immediately pulled out my phone to take a picture, yet my shoes somehow decided to sneak in there too!

And by "sneak in there" I mean I was employing some pilates-driven core strength to keep my feet raised long enough to take the picture...

oh yeah...this was the exhibition I was seeing for a class in The Serpentine...

source

YEP. Prepare for the nightmares....