Living in the Trenches

After a memorable holiday in the sun, all I can think about is palm trees, turquoise blue water and sun-kissed skin. Unfortunately, since I've been back, I've seen a lot more rain, cloudy skies and gray-toned cheeks than any of the above. I love London, don't get me wrong. The rain has always appealed to me as a kind of a necessity to a romantic Sunday afternoon filled with long walks in Notting Hill, tea and scones at the local coffee shop. But now, I am desperately seeking to make this week go faster and Spring seem nearer than it actually is. Screw the rain, tea and miserable baked sweets. I want a colourful cocktail with a little umbrella in it. I want a sunburn on the back of my neck and some aloe vera to soothe it with. I want some salsa and guacamole. I want a hot and humid afternoon at the beach. But I can't have that so I've got to find a way to survive.

Here's my remedy. Find myself a warm and practical accessory to protect me from the rainy weather. The famous trench coat is the obvious answer. The trench coat will help me find my way and help me last til the much awaited springtime in London. So let me present you with a selection of my favourite S/S 10 zesty discoveries.

The zestiest one of all, the APC trench (to find at Liberty's)

It's short, it's spunky, it's well-tailoured and it's definitely sexy. The detachable hood makes for a perfect rain and shine accessory and you'll love riding your bike in it since there is no excess material to get caught in the wheels of your Pashley bicycle.

My guilty-pleasure and object of desire, the pink Burberry trench, timeless

It's not as pricey as you'd think, though it still exceeds the amount I would spend on a barely-there piece of cloth. At £695, you can look, act and dress the part of a glamazon living in London. Love the pink, it gives the coat a little spice, a little attitude, a little je ne sais quoi.

The wanna-be Burberry trench, the Banana Republic trench coat

 

For £140, this adorable belted trench gives you the confidence to walk into any room and feel like you're worth as much as the Burberry-clad Emma Watson: 9 million bucks. 

The Comptoir des Cotonniers trench, a far cry from the Burberry one, but a lasting style at that

The baggy hood makes for an air of skateboarder meets Harry Potter and I've gotta admit, I kinda like it. 

So go on, confront the rainy weather with the Brit-style trench coat. It will guarantee a faster recovery to Spring and a long-lasting fashion item to last you for at least a couple years.

Non-Fashioney Fashionistas

It's funny because I've never been that fashioney of a person. I like fashion. I wear it, yes. I admire it in magazines and my eye will occasionally stop its self when a cool ad intrigues me on TV or on print. However, I am not at all the fashion type. I don't go crazy over the next IT bag and I certainly don't subscribe to any fashion magazines. Up until last month, I actually didn't know what A/W stood for. I would literally keep asking myself. What do they mean by A/W? Awesome Wear? Another Winter? A What??? I know. It's embarrassing. I am, however, keen to window shop once in a blue moon and I do have my favorite designers (Sonia Rykiel and Isabel Marant) and favorite shops in London. I've never been a huge department store fan. Selfridges makes me woozy and Harvey Nichs is just a tad too euro for my taste. I don't know, it just doesn't do it for me. I like my small boutiques and I completely buy into the personal shopping experience. I love it when a salesperson remembers me and makes me feel uber special (like the awesomely delightful Ashley at Honey and the Rough in NYC). SO when my friend told me last week that my favorite designer's new fall collection, which  I could not find anywhere in London no matter how hard I tried, was featured at a cute shop on Ledbury Road in Notting Hill (as it always has been, Hello?), I jumped at the occasion to make it a special visit last week. And Isabel Marant's Fall collection was there! Among others. Needless to say, Isabel Marant only does Ready to Wear (RTW: another mysterious acronym, OMG, WTF, xoxo!) which is one of the big reasons why she rocks my world. As a French designer, she captures all that is elegant and cool in her designs and she never fails to add a splash of rock n' roll in her outfits. If there's one thing I learned from her inspirational style, it is to never look too matchy matchy. Always always pair up a cute little grey dress with a leather jacket, or always always remember to strap on some biker flat booties with thick tights and a short skirt. Also, you can never wear that thick sweater enough.

I know you're probably sick of me rambling on about Notting Hill, but I cannot hide this zesty gem from you any longer. You must go. Period. Aime is an adorable hidden boutique on the south side of Ledbury Road. From Isabel Marant and APC, to Vanessa Bruno and Les Prairies de Paris, you will find all the cool French designers and styles that you've been missing from your wardrobe all of these long shopping-less months since moving to London! (uh, yeah, I guess that's me). You will love their selection, their shoes and their lifestyle stuff. Their jewelry is also to die for and not outrageously expensive. They even offer a superb selection of Repetto ballerinas and they have the greatest Isabel Marant leopard print flats (note: they go wonderfully well with one of Isabel's silk black dresses). So go take a peak. It's a special place and deserves your attention.


                    Aime Clothing Boutique, Ledbury Road, Notting Hill

A Few of My Favorite Isabel Marant Things 

Black Wool Top With Cotton Belt A/W 09 Collection (like wearing a cloud)

Swarowski Crystal Necklace A/W 09 Collection (Day and Night, it rocks the hell out of any outfit)

Plad Red Dress A/W 2007 (!!!) Collection (Still one of the sexiest items in my wardrobe)