I'm loving all the Glastonbury outfits. Lily in the jumpsuit, Florence in roses (thanks to Topshop), lovely! Makes me a bit sad I'm not doing any festivals after four years of 'em but but hopefully there will be something better instead! Exam results soon argh! But I stopped here to tell you that I went to London last week. If you don't live in London (or maybe if you do!) you will know that it's a treat to just walk around and soak up some of the capital's atmosphere!
There's a few things you can pinpoint that makes London so great, mainly being the people. It could be the amount of people or the pace of the crowds but it feels like there are a million new faces and outfits about to pass you, which can make you feel a little bit more anonymous. It feels like everyone's in a hurry to go and do something very important. Maybe it takes more to be an individual so that's why everyone seems to really consider their style? Or just because there are so many amazing shops!
I really went to have a chat about blogging with a company who had done a talk at uni. It's totally different and refreshing to chat to someone about blogs! This left me with loads of questions popping in my mind all day about our place in the blogging world and all the things that have happened to fashion bloggers. It was also pretty cool to see a really contemporary and sometimes quite elaborate office space!
My Mom booked the day off work so we decided to stick around Oxford Street as I had an errand to run! This was all aided by Susie Bubble's shopping map, thanks Susie it really helped!! My rough hand drawn copy left much to be desired but we somehow managed to visit all of the shops picked out, most by accidentally passing by when looking for somewhere else!
I think it was still half term as Oxford Street was rammed and we did all the flagship stores. This shirt is the one from the H&M lookbook a few posts down! It's seriously gorgeous but they didn't have it in my size or any of my fallback sizes. I'll look out for it in stores here but I think it was £50 so I'll have to think of a great time when I'll really need or want to wear a shirt! It reminds me too much of my Viktor Rolf x H&M shirt though, but it's still gorgeous.
The other lucky incentive of going to London was to take my Miu Miu teacup shoes back... to get fixed! Thanks to J who commented on a post where I said a bit had snapped off one of the curls on the back, who said the shop may repair them. I rang in advance and had trouble describing exactly which shoes they are to the Italian lady, even though they are officially called the tea cup shoes, but she said bring them in and most of the time they are fixable! It's a bit nervy bringing them all the way to London as they're quite special shoes. But the curls on the back are made of plastic and both were wobbly before wearing. I'm sure others had similar problems and I would have been a little peeved if I'd paid the full £350 price! Designer stores are quite intimidating but I got them out and they said they could send them off! So they are somewhere between England and Italy, I hope they're OK! If they are unable to fix them I ticked a box that said I'd rather have them back than get a credit note, but maybe they would have gave the original value back...? Hmmmm I'd rather not take the chance and keep the shoes, broken curl or not! A least that way I could subject them to some wear and tear, because if I get a second chance at a perfect pair I'm certainly not going to be inclined to wearing them just about ever! Also no payment was discussed so I hope I don't need to cough up double their price when I get them back!
A shoe bow lighter, we then went to Luella! It surprised me that a store for such a prominent brand is so small, but I guess they only have limited stock so don't need so much space. The shop was absolute heaven! I'm glad they were stocking the SS09 range because everything was pink, orange and purple. I also didn't realised most of the purple tweeds were glittery! There was a full on glitter coat in the second room where most of the range was reduced, it was wonderful. The shoes were gorgeous and the sales assistants were wearing Luella too- major envy!
I can reveal now another example of my scatty self as I'd snagged my polka dot tights on the train and I do always bring spare pairs of tights, but only had an opaque lilac pair. And I was wearing a red dress. Oh well! Red and lilac was a clashing theme that felt quite right in the Luella shop (unlike everywhere else!). The hair bows caught my eye straight away in a bowl near the front. I wrote about these absolutely ages ago, in fact I just found the post here and it's from April 2008! I'm assuming the style is the signature Luella style, released in colours to match the collection. There were head bands as well as the bow clips, and you must know how I'm a hair bow addict, can't go a day without one! I've always worn hair accessories and hair bows are so common now, they just feel in the same league as a necklace or a ring. I couldn't decide between the dark purple and lilac colour but the lovely SA pointed that the lilac matched my accidental tights so it seemed right. He was wearing a bright orange cardigan, it was great! The ribbon bow was £30 but the price tag says £59 so I think they were in the sale! A fine price for the ultimate hair bow I feel! I was equally excited about the Luella bag and heart sticker. And that's the only thing I bought! I was tempted by the laptop necklace above in Dahlia but I'm already geeky enough!
I was also tempted by a straw boater in Beyond Retro but will wait for a cheaper one online, and this necklace in Topshop was the best thing ever. It was HUGE! Everyone who walked by was lifting it up and laughing, it weighed a tonne! Serious neck pain would be free with that thing!
Is that your room in the first picture? Serious wall envy! I've been slowly building up my postcard/polaroid collection, and it's getting there, slowly!
The Luella bow goes gorgeously with your hair, btw :)
Posted by: Tasha | June 29, 2009 at 11:18 PM
i so want to go to the luella store. And i am so jealous of your bow, though what i really want is one of thier glorius netted concoctions.
-indigo
Posted by: indigotangerine | June 30, 2009 at 12:57 AM
Ah Selina, I was in London town on Friday, seems like lots of bloggers have been shopping in London lately. I must check out Luella next time. I spent most of my day wondering around Brick Lane and Carnaby Street. Dahlia do such pretty jewellery!
Posted by: Winnie | June 30, 2009 at 01:33 AM
That Luella bow is gorgeous, I love the lilac :)
New Zealand style at www.sophistokat.blogspot.com
Posted by: Kat | June 30, 2009 at 07:45 AM
love the luealla bow, too. i'm so jealous! :)
Posted by: mademoiselleglitter | June 30, 2009 at 12:34 PM
you are too adorable
Ive recently come back to my blog, but you ought to know I've followed yours all along
through the miumiu shoes, the butt grab, and everything...
You're looking gorge as usual
Posted by: Dana | June 30, 2009 at 03:39 PM
Oh my gosh, the Luella hair bow is honestly so perfect! Cutest thing I've ever seen.
Posted by: Isabel | June 30, 2009 at 04:25 PM
The bow is lovely, i've wanted one of those for ages but still don't know if i can justify the price!
R.D Franks is an amazing book shop, I used to go to uni round the corner from it and spent a fortune there!
x
Posted by: Bee | June 30, 2009 at 04:55 PM
Love that Luella Bow! :)
Posted by: Cafe Fashionista | June 30, 2009 at 07:16 PM
Love the hair bow, so awesome!
Posted by: Emma | June 30, 2009 at 07:22 PM
I love living in London. I don't live too far from Oxford Street and I know how great it is. I've always wanted to go to 'Beyond Retro' - I don't know why I havent already.
Posted by: Sherin | June 30, 2009 at 08:15 PM
Gorgeous bow. London is great...especially for shopping.
Posted by: Carmen | June 30, 2009 at 08:23 PM
lovely post! cute bows!
Posted by: Nicci | June 30, 2009 at 08:29 PM
Awww...glad the map helped.... an Arcadia press officer said you were down in London... hope you had a fab time!
Posted by: susie_bubble | June 30, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Whats that R. D. Franks bookshop like then?
I'm off to London in less than a week for three days. I'm SO excited and was tempted by the H&M blouse you posted but i don't think i could spend £50 on something unless it was REALLY special... have you any rec's for what to check out and what to avoid in London?
i love coming to your blog every now and then and theres a few new posts for me to read ^^
the luella bow is the perfect colour with your hair, my oh my.
Posted by: Zoe | July 01, 2009 at 02:03 PM
@ Zoe- i went to R.D.s for magazines! they have a great collection! I recommend all the shops i went to, but apart from those i don't know many other places anyway! i had a great time at portabello road market on a saturday once, it was fantastic!
Posted by: selina | July 01, 2009 at 02:07 PM
i got a pink luella bow on thursday!
Posted by: hannah | July 01, 2009 at 04:06 PM
i love all the necklaces in dahlia
did you go in the changing rooms
they are so cute :)
Posted by: megan | July 01, 2009 at 09:54 PM
Hello Selina
You didn't happen to visit the ASOS head office did you? Only I work in the same building and I saw someone who looked a lot like you...I'm not a stalker I promise!
Posted by: Paula | July 02, 2009 at 04:56 PM
Guuuurl!! Why did you not email me if you were coming to London!??! Especially since you visited Oxford street, I live RIGHT near there I could have met you in about 10 minutes!! Aw, I'm so dissapointed :( At least you snagged some good stuff! I'm off to the Luella sample sale right now!
<3<3<3
Posted by: nice_and_shiny | July 02, 2009 at 05:00 PM
@ Paula- I visited marketing comp called exposure near oxford street? maybe they are close offices who knows!
Posted by: selina | July 02, 2009 at 07:00 PM
Your bow is adorable!! Money well spent.
I love the Luella shop. I went in there to 'research' for a uni project and had to ask if they could give me any packaging for my research book and they GAVE me a bag, loads of Luella print tissue paper and loads of stickers! I almost keeled over with joy. I bought a £5 badge which I treasure! I loved how there were cheaper items available for younger fans such as us, who don't have a lot of money!
Posted by: Gem Fatale | August 09, 2009 at 07:43 PM