london calling


For me, the next best thing to being in London is my twin sister working in London. She's been across the pond for the last week or so shooting several fashion campaigns, interacting with the city's most in-the-know fashion editors and stylists and getting the scoop on all things hip. And she has been diligently phoning in this intel to me! For starters, she says, it's all about oversized jean jackets. The all-American topper effectively handles London's mercurial climate--and while doing so looks effortlessly-tomboy-cool. The oversized silhouette feels new and edgy, too--and would succeed just as well on U.S. soil. I'd pair one, such as this Joe's Jeans, this J.Crew (order up two sizes) or this Topshop with just about everything in my closet from a feminine, flowy dress to a casual romper. The other sartorial must-have: clean, minimalist sneakers. According to my sister, everyone's wearing them everywhere and with everything. The girls in London might have taken a cue from their counterparts on the Continent, namely the French and specifically Isabel Marant, whose pre-fall collection (see pics below) was shown with nothing but these Stan Smith men's sneakers (subtract two sizes from your US women's size to find the appropriate men's shoe). Moving on to the food scene, my sister could not stop raving about Chiltern Firehouse, a restaurant situated in a Victorian-Gothic fire station-cum-stunning-Andre Balazs hotel. While the inventive food--"crab doughnuts," for example--was off-the-charts-delicious, the people watching--Orlando Bloom, Ralph Lauren, Lauren Bush Lauren, etc.--was equally titillating. Last I heard from her, she was plotting her way back into Chiltern Firehouse for another meal.

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6 comments

Amelia said...

Actually from what I understand those are not Stan smiths, but IM's version is Stan smiths.

Sheri said...

Thanks for the tips! I'll be sending a lot of time in
London this summer and this information just helped
me enormously with my packing.

I'll definitely see about the restaurant too!

Sheri

Anonymous said...

Hey, I'm from London, hope you like it here! Oversized tops are big lately, I guess it's a world' trend. My favourite go to look consists of sweater dress (to feel snugly and compfy), leggings if cold, knee boots or sneakers and oversized jacket.
I can't stop thinking of those crab doughnuts, plotting to visit the Firehouse :-) Thanks for the tip.

Cheers, Mia
Domestic Cleaning Bromley

blondee said...

The jacket from JCrew is on sale online till May 15th. I wasn't sure whether to get the L or the XL (I'm usually a medium), so I visited a store to try them both on. You were right, get it 2 sizes up! Ordered it as soon as I got home.

Unknown said...

I've had a red engine jean jacket for at least 7 years which needed to be taken in to fit the look of the cropped jean jacket of the last 3 years…so glad it didn't hit the top of my to do list!

Unknown said...

Who are those sneakers by in the first photo? Girl with the black dress and sunglasses. I love them!

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