City Chic: London

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Today I am thrilled that Leia and Sherin are sharing their knowledge of London style. They are two of the lovliest ladies I've gotten to know through blogging and their blog, HiFashion is a definite must-read for all things stylish.

♥ Tell us a little about where you live
Sherin: London truly is one of the shopping capitals of the world, and I never find it hard to find a nice restaurant. It really is an amazing place to live, and with so many different types of people living here, you can never feel out of place. The shopping is amazing, with something for everyone, and there’s always something to do or see when I’m bored, from amazing sights to beautiful parks.

Leia: London is one of the fashion capitals of the world, which makes for fun people-watching as well as walking around, soaking in the charm of the city. What I love about London is that you can find the most amazing gems hidden away in random little shops dotted all over the city, tucked in corners and alleyways. One of the charms of London for me is ducking in and out of shops, so I would recommend going to Oxford Street and Bond Street over a big mall like Westfield.

♥ Give us three words to sum up the style there...
S: Diverse, casual, fun
L: Eclectic, trendy, vibrant

♥ So what should I wear if I want to blend in with the locals?

S: Seriously, put on whatever you want and you’ll fit in. You can wear anything from a pair of jeans and a tee to neon tights and a dress and you’ll look like a local. There has never been a set style here, so people go out in all sorts of things.

L: Anything that fits well and suits you. You would stick out like a sore thumb if you wore clothes that were obviously "functional" rather than well-fitting and stylish. Layers are definitely essential as the weather is always changing - even if you're here in the summer, tuck a cardigan into your handbag!

♥ What are the 5 essential items I should have in my carry-on when visiting your city?
S: An umbrella for when you get here (even if it’s the middle of summer), a light jumper, a camera, a bottle of water and sunglasses.
L: An umbrella, a mac/raincoat, shoes that you don't mind getting wet (I have a pair of pink wellies that I wear whenever it rains!), comfortable shoes (like wedges or ballerina flats) and a camera - so many lovely sights!

from The Sartorialist

♥ What are your top 3 shopping picks for someone with a modest budget?

S:
Portobello Road Market (in Notting Hill) - you can pick up some amazing things at decent prices. I once picked up a lovely dress, which I wore on Christmas day, for only £10.
Dorothy Perkins - it is more than affordable and there is one everywhere, including Oxford Street. They have really nice and up to date clothes and accessories.
Bershka (on Oxford Street) - The stuff is amazing: it’s really cool and funky, and the prices are good as well. It is definitely shop worth checking out.

L:
All of these shops can be found on Oxford Street:
Primark - for trendy, cheap items (although their quality isn't quite top-notch)
-Zara - for smart, chic clothes
-Mango - for pretty, stylish pieces
Also, while you're around Oxford Street, make sure you check out St. Christopher's place for lots of little shops and lovely restaurants. It's often missed out on tourist guides, I think. And you absolutely must check out Selfridges (Oxford St.) and Harrods (Knightsbridge) - not for modest budgets, but definitely worth seeing!

♥ What are your top 3 thrifting/vintage picks?

L: I don't know any shop names, but I would recommend that you look outside the city center for one-off or vintage shops as their selection is much wider and the prices are much lower. Crouch End, near where Sherin lives, is a great place for unique, budget-friendly items!

S:
Cancer Research (the best ones I’ve seen are both in North London: Crouch End and Muswell Hill). I once picked up a pair of Warehouse Jeans for £5.
Marie Curie charity shop (Again, Crouch End). It has some of the best things I’ve seen in a charity shop – I once picked up a vintage Charlie Brown tee for £1.50
There is an Oxfam Boutique in Notting Hill, and it has some really cool designer items for the fraction of the price.

from The Sartorialist

♥ Where are the best cupcakes to be found in your city?
S: Candy Cakes – the variety is huge and I can smell it from a mile away. There’s usually a queue, but it’s worth the wait. There is one in Covent Garden (36 Monmouth Street), and one on Goodge Street (26 Goodge Street).

♥ What about the nicest cocktails/mocktails?
S: The St Pancras Champagne Bar in Kings Cross Station has some great drinks and it looks really cool as well.

♥ Tell us the number 1 thing we absolutely must not miss while we're in your city.

S: The Embankment - Try going either on the weekends or in the evenings, and you will see just how great the city is. There are all kinds of people out, with lots of different street shows going on, such as dances or magic shows. Walking past all these little shows is one of the best ways to spend some time, and it’s really relaxing to walk alongside the River Thames at the same time. Remember, bring your camera!

L: Little Venice - It's not one of the major tourist destinations, but it's right around where I live, and I always love walking down the canal. It's much less crowded than other pretty places in London, but it's definitely a gem. One of my favorite things to do is to follow the canal (although sometimes it hides under the street, so you have to guess where it is!) from Little Venice all the way to Regent's Park: it's a lovely walk where you'll see beautiful houses and end up in the gorgeous park.

♥ Anything else you'd like to add that we won't find in the guidebook?

S: The weather is so unpredictable so always be prepared, Alexandra Palace has the best view of the whole city, and Crouch End (in North London) is London’s little gem if you like clothes, and has the most adorable little clothes shops.

L: Covent Garden on the weekends is often buzzing with exciting street shows and has lots of lovely shops. You should probably also pick up a Time Out or check their website (timeout.com/london) for all the events in London, from plays and shows to street carnivals and places to eat. I definitely check it regularly whenever I'm looking for something fun to do! Hope you enjoy London - it's one of the most exciting cities in the world!

Do you live in London too? Add your observations in the comments! Remember, City Chic / Country Chic is an on-going project, so if you'd like to take part please get in touch. Right now I'm especially interested in Paris, Barcelona, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, so if this is you, please let me know! More details are here. Email me at ooh.la.la.cherie@gmail.com.