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Hi there, fashion lovers. This blog post is long overdue. I kept coming back to it, but then I would never finish it! Truth be told, part of the reason is because I’ve been really busy with work and life in general, but I’ve always missed living in London – so sometimes it’s tough to write about a thing that makes you reminisce on happy memories but also makes you miss your favorite place. Hopefully that makes sense?! What’s your favorite place? Anyway, I’m really excited to finally share this post with you!
While there are so many things to do in a city like London, I thought I would share a few of the things I love to do when I’m there and what I like to wear. So, basically, a mini version of my London.
To me, London is like New York or Paris when it comes to fashion – you can get away with anything! One of the things I love about being there is the fashion that you see just walking down any street, whether it’s in a shop window or a person who passes you. This city is full of inspiration for any fashion lover.
First of all, I always talk about versatility in pieces, and travel is such a good example of why I love clothes that you can easily wear with more than one outfit. These are often closet staples – button downs, blazers, skirts, and simple sweaters – that can all be completely changed with accessories. Here are some pieces I always pack when I travel to London:
Blazers, button downs, and a cute pair of boots will take you a long way when traveling! You can mix and match blazers with tank tops or t-shirts as well. And, instead of pairing a t-shirt and blazer with jeans, go for a skirt instead.
I thought it might be fun to also share a few restaurants, some shopping, and other destinations you could visit during a day/night in London, and then what I would wear to each of them. Let’s start with breakfast, and let’s go to the Ivy Chelsea Garden! First, what to wear? If I’m going for breakfast or lunch, I typically wear jeans or a skirt with a blouse or sweater, or a casual dress – flats and boots are definitely appropriate. I’ve linked below a few options I would wear – you can mix and match each of these pieces. This restaurant is at the top of my list for breakfast/brunch. The food and coffee are delicious, and the surroundings are just as good. The best seats are in the garden or on the covered patio that looks out into the garden, but there is truly not a bad seat in the house. Even inside you feel like you’re in the middle of a magic garden. I recommend going during the day so you can see all of this, but their dinner is just as good! (If you go for dinner, I’d wear something a step up from casual – like this dress or this dress!) The restaurant is always buzzing and the fabulously dressed clientele makes for great fashion inspiration. The service here is always top notch as well.
Pair any of these sweaters with this skirt or jeans, and then add boots! You could also go for a cute pair of knee high boots.
There are endless options for breakfast, but a few other places that are both delicious and popular are Hideaway in Mayfair (order the waffle with truffles), Aubaine at Selfridges, Farm Girl, and Granger & Co (order the ricotta pancakes). I recommend getting to Farm Girl and Granger early if you go on the weekend because they don’t take reservations. You put your name down and wait for a table, but in my experience, everything moves pretty quickly! Plus, they’re both in really pretty areas, so you can go for a walk while you’re waiting! I also start my day with a quick breakfast a lot of times – with a croissant or something else yummy from Gails Bakery (they have the most amazing pastries), Caffe Nero (get the almond croissant), or a local coffee shop.
Next, let’s walk off breakfast at a museum. London is full of incredible museums. One of my favorites is the Victoria and Albert Museum – commonly referred to as the V&A. The museum itself is gorgeous, and it’s always full of exhibitions that you won’t want to miss – from British fashion to jewelry throughout different parts of history and from different parts of the world, there is truly always something for everyone. I try to visit this museum each time I’m in London, and it’s also a favorite of my friends. Don’t miss the gift shop!
Since you’re at the V&A Museum, you’re close to shops and beautiful flower stands, so you might as well walk around or pop in. Window shopping and shopping in general in London is also something I like to do. Their Zara locations always seem to have a few better pieces than ours do here in the US, and I also love to shop at Mango – you can always find some trendy pieces at Mango, but I go there for the blazers and sweaters.
If you need an afternoon coffee, try the Instagrammable EL&N Cafe on Brompton Road (especially if you love the color pink)! There are several around the city, but Brompton Road would be closest to the V&A. If you are looking for my favorite pink cafe, you’ll have to walk a little farther or catch a taxi to Peggy Porschen Cakes. They have really good cakes, coffee, and bubbles! The entire street where Peggy Porschen is located is dreamy.
For dinner, the options are pretty much endless. You can go to the nicest restaurant you’ve ever been to or grab food from a grocery store and have a picnic (BTW this is one of my favorite things to do in London when the weather permits). London has amazing parks – whether for a walk or a picnic, they are worth the visit. I think I’m right in saying that Hyde Park is the most central, but Kensington Palace Gardens and Regents Park are also two of my favorites. Regents Park has the most beautiful flowers in the spring & summer, while Kensington Palace Gardens is set against Kensington Palace – I can’t think of a better view for a picnic (and a glass of your favorite wine or a gin & tonic). This past summer, I was actually able to catch an outdoor movie in Kensington Palace Gardens – an experience I will always be thankful for!
Okay, back to our dinner plans… some of my favorite restaurants right now are Sexy Fish (be sure to make a reservation ahead of time because it’s really busy), Colbert (delicious salads and fries), Bob Bob Ricard (don’t skip dessert here), Daphnes (the most amazing Italian food), and Chucs. Chiltern Firehouse is also a very popular option, and for good reason – the food is amazing. Attire is a little different for each of these places, but a dress will go a long way and so will nice jeans, a top, and a blazer. I haven’t worn jeans to Bob Bob Ricard, but I did wear leather pants and a sweater with flat booties! All of the previous restaurants are good options for when you are looking for a nicer dinner. There are so many other options as well – often times I will pop into whatever is closest to what I’ve been doing! And sometimes I get Shake Shack 🙂
Last but not least, London is a great place for one last drink after dinner. I love to find a nice hotel and try out the bar – Claridge’s is a great example. On my most recent trip, this was a lot easier than in the past because my trip was right after the UK opened without quarantine for vaccinated Americans. Things felt normal and very safe, and it wasn’t quite as busy as it has been in the past. If you go to Bob Bob Ricard, you are close to a lot of options for drinks after dinner – one place is called Cahoots. Their cocktails are delicious, and the atmosphere is something else as it’s inside an old train station.
So this is a full day in London! One thing I do love to do that I did not mention yet is Borough Market – it’s on the other side of the city to the day we’ve just explored. You can honestly spend an entire afternoon there at the vendors (think cheese, burgers, charcuterie) and nearby pubs – or cross the street for the Shard and head up 50-something flights for drinks with a view (and trust me, it is a view)!!
Okay, fashion lovers (and travel lovers!), that’s all from me today. Be sure to check out my UK highlight on my Instagram if you’re interested in seeing more of what I got up to recently in the UK (there are some Cotswolds highlights as well) and for more outfit ideas! Thanks so much for coming by!
