Dad (Tony) and I finally arrived in the big smoke London! It feels like a world away from little Timaru. Most likely because it is! With my ultra-fashionable (please note sarcasm) walking stick due to a small hip surgery three months prior, we hit the pavements. Four days of shopping, now seems a blur whilst travelling on the Eurostar to Paris.
We visited all the top fashion areas, tourist havens and large department stores. To name a few Bond St, High St, Convent Garden, Notting Hill, Harrods, Fortnum and Mason and Selfridges.
Here’s a wrap up of what I saw.
COLOURS
Beautiful autumn tones of burnt orange, burgundy red, tan, mustard, olive or khaki green
STYLES
Flares (flared from the calf), wide leg pants, sleeveless vests, ponchos, capes, cowl necks, anoraks, oversized everything with an androgynous (manly) feel! Sneakers and sporty shoes.
WHAT DID I LIKE
Colour wise the burnt orange is nice and I’m still debating the burgundy. Being short I’m not doing backflips over the flares, but my next purchase may need to be wedges. The extreme oversized styles are rather strange and I haven’t seen anyone actually wearing these yet! When I say oversized imagine a massive raincoat with a ballooned hemline. Oversized can be flattering, but sumo suit resemblance, perhaps not. I think I will need to try this one in Paris. Androgynous style is not my thing….. yet.
FOOD
Our best evening meal was Carom Spice on the Thames – delicious Indian with a superb backdrop. I recommend the chilli squid.
I was also very impressed by the food halls in the department stores with a wonderful selection of pastries, sandwiches, salads, seafood and treats. The sizes of these halls are really overwhelming.
TOP TIP
Early bird does not catch the worm in London! We were ready to go and shop by 9.30 presuming the shops opened at 10 but nope…. not till 12 on Sunday and 10am weekdays.
QUAINT STREET
A beautiful street Westbourne Grove with cute shops I recommend you go to. A café called Granger had a line outside 10m long. Pippa Middleton is apparently known to hang out here.
PLACE OF INTEREST - Shoreditch
I would compare Shoreditch to Brunswick in Melbourne. An up and coming area that used to be a bad part of town. As Dad would say "where the hipsters hang out” Red Brick Lane – graffiti galore, plus a container area that reminded me of Christchurch.
Now we are en route to Paris where my 5th form French comes out to play!
Sophie xx