Category Archives: LONDON LATELY

london lately: the orangery at kensington palace

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We took Will’s mom to afternoon tea at the Orangery at Kensington Palace. A royal residence in Hyde Park, Will & Kate are currently renovating to move into after their baby is born. The gardens are lovely and the Orangery is a beautiful classical building they’ve modernised – it’s bright, gorgeous place to have afternoon tea.

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The sultana scones were my favourite, especially when served on the royal china pattern. We didn’t make a reservation, but you probably should. Especially if it’s a pretty day.

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I recommend touring the palace too – I think it was £15 a person with concessions. There is an amazing narrative installation in the Queen’s State Apartments called “House of Cards” by Coney on the fall of the Stuart dynasty – told through the eyes of little William – the future King who died unexpectedly days after his 11th birthday. Don’t miss it – it’s really special. Open until March.

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london lately: saturday in bloomsbury

I’m having a crazy moment thinking about where I was a year ago… Will and I were spending the spring travelling, trying to decide where we were going to move in the fall. London seemed like a crazy risk, a silly pipe-dream. We spent Easter in Toronto and Spring Break in New York. I remember sitting in the airport bar telling my mom that we were going to go to Canada – it felt right. But as soon as we got back, we had an ‘a-ha’ moment and our compass was pointing east – very east.

I love this place with its polite & mild-mannered inhabitants, generous healthcare, unreliable weather and cobblestone streets. Saturdays like this one remind me that we are exactly where we need to be. It was the coldest Easter Saturday since 1962 but we bundled up and took a long walk to Bloomsbury.

1 – chai latte from Leyas on Camden High St. // makes the cold wind a little more bearable

2 – outside the British Museum  // my handsome & knowledgable tour guide showed me around the Syrian, Egyptian & Grecian galleries

3 – Russell Square // unstaged appearance of a double decker bus…

4 – Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon // took my breath away

london lately: & other stories

i have a retail history… so whenever i go into a big high street store, i am the weirdo straightening the merchandise and casing the joint on shopper demographics. on wednesday i took an impromptu trip to & other stories, the new luxury brand from h&m & COS. this store should be re-named: no other stores. their merchandising is very impressive. the industrial space creates the atmosphere of a model at a fashion show – signage clipped to rolling racks, merchandise laid out on marble-topped tables next to model stock shots.

why i love it: classic, well-made garments you can wear through several seasons and carry into your own wardrobe. high quality materials – nice silks, good hardware. options - very different ‘stories’ you can shop from. impressive in house beauty line.

here are some of the things i’d love to own:

now accepting donations! i feel like these pieces are basic enough to allow you to showcase your personal style, not the latest trend. though i am (obviously) loving the sporty/luxe/minimal thing…

blazer £79 | leather wedges £95leather clutch £55 | eyeshadow £7 | hair barrette £17 | bangle £19 | cropped cotton sweater £39 (bought this & love) | emerald soft bra £19

 

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