Lovng this Line [Brit Brands]: Missguided

loving this line [brit brands]:missguided by lapetitefashionista on Polyvore.com

I had the pleasure of visiting the Boudoir PR showroom while i've been in London. It was so adorable with its sparkling chandeliers, girly decor & cupcake platter! It was such a fun experience to meet the PR rep there I had been corresponding with and talk fashion and london shopping with her! She showed me all the lines Boudoir represents and I fell in love with Missguided, a british e-tail website.

Everything is super affordable (most pieces under 30 pounds) and trendy.. and they ship internationally as well as within the UK. They get new merchandise on their website several times a week. These were a few of my favorite items currently on the site. I'm loving the layered chains, exposed zippers, sequined blazer, and rosettes!

One of the best parts about studying abroad is being able to discover all these international labels and stores, I'm hoping to continue to bring more of my findings to you!

xoxo, lauren

Style Stalking & The World's Largest Cupcake

It seems like everywhere you go in London you see fabulously dressed people! Sometmies I can't help but whip out my camera and snap a picture of their cute outfits. Another common sight is statuesque model types wearing impossibly high heels, and carrying around their lookbooks to go-sees. It's so exciting to be surrounded by so many people who care as much about fashion as I do!

a model rocking some louboutins, no big deal.

Spotted this chic londoner in Covent Garden market

One of my favorite things about fashion magazines in the UK is all the freebies! Most of them come with some sort of gift whether it's a tee, nail polish, sunglasses, or book. It's sort of like a grown up version of cracker jack box!

My ELLE mag with a Paul & Joe ruffle tank

The World's largest cupcake, in Covent Garden!

Yesterday, we went to see Wicked in London's West End which was absolutely fantastic! I was so impressed with the vocals and detailed stage sets. Next week we scored tickets to see Jude Law in Hamlet, I'm already planning a cute outfit..

Today, we're making a visit to Harrod's and Selfridges, two iconic British stores. I'll be sure to give an update on my shopping finds!

xoxo, lauren

"You can find Inspiration in Everything.. and if you Don't Look Again"- Paul Smith

Today we went to the Design Museum located right by the Tower Bridge. It was one of my favorite museums I've ever visited; very interactive, informative, and a gift shop filled with coffee table books I could spend hours perusing. I took a 20th Century Design class last semester and learned an incredible amount. It was great to see some of the examples I've learned about in person. It's often overlooked by some of the bigger museums in London, but is definitely worth a visit!

the museum has a bauhaus influenced architecture

A designer's solution for all the London rain; repelling it w/ static electricity

the museum had designers from London show on maps how the city has inspired them.

the first issue of i-D magazine, where the winking cover tradition started

Paul Smith's solution for improving the city's trash cans

An interesting quote by designer Javier Mariscal

The exhibition by Javier was incredibly vibrant and colorful

Everything in the museum was so inspiring, I've definitely learned to appreciate good design and all the creativity that goes into it!

xoxo, lauren

the Shoes that Captured my Heart

I finally was able to do some shopping at Topshop (my trip over the weekend completely overwhelmed me!). I figured out the secret.. we went right when it opened on a weekday.. believe it or not it was still busy! I picked up these heart print sneaks for only 8£ (hearts are m thin); Quite a steal..! I love all of the fantastic displays inside the store, the candy shop within, and the rainbow of jewelry on the bottom floor. If only everything wasn't so darn expensive with the exchange rate! I'm so excited they finally brought one to NYC!

xoxo, lauren

Shopping in London: ROKIT vintage

Our study center is in the heart of all the good shopping in London, thus I've had quite a bit of time to explore all the cute nearby shops! Walking around one day I discovered Rokit, a gem of a vintage store filled clothes filed by decade. I got lost browsing among all the bargains of vintage jewelry, Levi boyfriend shorts, and 80's tiered skirts.

Everyone's sporting boyfriend shorts abroad! I've already bought myself a pair since I've been here; this whole rack was priced at 10 pounds!

fun mannequins in the front of the store

Madonna style tutus and 80's brights

a very flashdance-esque window display

The store has 3 locations throughout London (one in Camden, Covent Garden, and Brick Lane). They also have an online store! They loan out their vintage duds to magazines like Vogue, Dazed and Confused and i.D. magazine! Definitely take a peek if you're ever in London!

Do any london-ers have any other shops I should check out while I'm here?

xoxo, lauren

"Do you know which pub Prince Harry goes to?"

I've spent two days in London and I must say, I love this city. It's so nice to finally be settled in somewhere and not live out of a suitcase. We no longer have to cram everything we want to do and see into a couple of days. Our study center is prime real estate and very central to everything!

feeling quite british in my tartan skirt!

Our first day in London we had Matthew Jeatt, the director of Promostyl's U.K. branch give us a seminar on forecasting for Fall/Winter 2010. My plaid outfit actually fit right into one of his predictions . He forecasted some looks like gothic romance, ivy league, and even rockabilly. I always thing trend forecasters have the most AMAZING jobs. How wonderful would it be to dictate what the next big thing in fashion will be!

the tower bridge, framed by gloomy london skies

This trip has definitely been an experience to say the least. Traveling with 35 girls can be a bit stressful at times to say the least! It's definitely helped me to realize how lucky I am that I can fairly easily adapt to any situation I'm put in! I've definitely made some amazing friends along the way (who are just as obsessed with fashion as I am!)

a student sketching the elgin marbles @ the british museum

Today, we visited the British museum. I'm a huge archaeology buff so I really enjoyed it;Especially the exhibits on ancient Egypt and Greece. I also think it's wonderful that the museums are free of charge to the public! It's definitely a good motivation to go get cultured!

a window display at Topshop on Oxford St.

The shopping here is phenomenal! I've been doing so much, although regretably more window shopping than buying (darn that dollar to pound conversion). I fell in love with everything in Topshop! It was seriously, the most crazy packed store I've ever been to in my life. Everywhere you turned there was bargain hunting girls! I need to go back on a week day.. morning I suppose!

xoxo, lauren

Au Revoir Paris.. and on to Lovely London!

My last couple of days in Paris were absolutely lovely. We visited the Galleries de Lafayette, a collosal department store with huge markdowns because July is the month of sales in Paris. We continued our shopping ventures walking down the Champs Elysees, where I drooled over all the window displays.

That night, we went to the Eiffel Tower at night and watched it light up and twinkle. We met some American backpackers traveling through Europe! Must be such an adventure, though I think it'd be hard to do without a suitcase of clothes!

Our last day we visited the Museum of Textiles at the Louvre. They had an exhibit about Madeline Vionnet. She is definitely an underappreciated designer! She was all about modernism in fashion, freeing women from corsets and creating garments on the bias cut with beautiful drapery. I couldn't believe how forward thinking she was! In the thirties her design firm had a nursery for mothers, paid vacations, and copywriting designs!

Then, we stumbled upon Paris' trendy design concept store Colette. I've read so much about it and couldn't wait to see it in person. It has no signage out in front of the store, just a small plaque leading way to a phenomenal store. There was an art gallery within, and ipods connected to the walls. The clothes were all displayed on mannequins as outfits (no racks to be seen), as if on exhibit at a museum. It was by far the coolest store I've ever been in.

Now, I've just reached my study center in London where I have four weeks left to explore Europe, and (to my dismay) write some research papers..

xoxo, lauren

an American in Paris

Today is my last day in Paris and I'm not ready to leave! As you can see I've found a pair of harem-ish linen pants, but I'm still on the hunt for a silkier pair!

Yesterday, we visited the Yves Saint Laurent archives which was a fashion lover's dream! We saw where he created his incredibly influential Haute Couture designs. It was surreal to be standing inches away from Le Smoking collection, safari jackets, and his early work by Christian Dior. We weren't allowed to take pictures, but it was definitely my favorite thing I've seen on the trip thus far.

We've also been shopping around a bit at the giant department stores, Gallerie de Lafayette, Printemps, and Collette. July is their month for sales so there are some incredible deals. All of our assignments include going into stores, so it's so hard not to shop!

We leave for London tommorrow, so for all my London loves; I'll be there for 4 weeks so it would be lovely to have a coffee or shop the markets or something!

xoxo, lauren

When in Paris.. Do What the Parisians Do!

So far during my time in Paris, I've explored the area all around my hotel in the Bastille district. It's full of trendy bars and shops and fresh food markets! Our first day, we went to the Eiffel Tower and gazed out among the city (you can see for miles and miles)! That night, we bought nutella crepes and ate them on the steps of the Bastille while people watching (harem pants everywhere..!) I've noticed also, the French I learned quite a few years ago has come back to me & it's so fun to try to hold conversations!

Yesterday we started the morning shopping in Marais, a very beautiful arrondisement. It was almost like out of a movie, as we strolled the streets clarinet players set the scene with Parisian melodies. Later in the day, we took a very confusing metro and train ride to Versailles. It was so worth the frustrating trip, the palace is the most ornate and grandiose residence I've ever seen. It was once home to King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette!

The end to our day was so perfectly Parisian. We bought some wine and sandwiches and brought it down to the Notre Dame Cathedral. There we sat next to the Seine, listened to musicians play (mostly american songs, funnily enough), and took in the priceless experience. We even got serenaded in French! Ahh.. Paris.

I will never get tired of seeing the Eiffel tower!

While shopping on the 4th of July, we found a boutique w/ an Americana theme!

the landmark, Ard d'Triumph

a pretty blue door I saw while strolling down the street

EVERYONE wears harem pants here.. so chic! I'm on the hunt for the perfect pair!

an opulent chandelier & gold leaf crown moldings in a room in Versailles

night time @ Notre Dame

Keep checking back for my Parisian ponderings, and if you have any suggestions for things I should do during my trip, please let me know!

Also, don't forget to enter the contest below to win a pair of jeans!

Au Revoir mon amies!

xoxo, lauren

The Neverending Train Ride + YMI Jeans Giveaway!

Today was one of the longest days of my life! We had to leave our hotel in Milan at 6:45 am for the train to Paris. Unfortunately, I snoozed my alarm clock a few too many times and got a 5 minutes to spare wake-up call & had to scramble to get my things together. We had to drag our suitcases 1.5 miles to the station.

Reading "Travels of a T-Shirt in a Global Economy" on the train

Then, our train had techinical difficulties making what should have been a 6 hour ride, 8 hours. When we finally arrived in Paris we had a million flights of stairs to carry everything. It was quite a relief to finally make it to our hotel in the Bastille district!

me in the windowsill at our hotel in my YMI skinny jeans!

While I'm away, I've still got my lovely readers in mind! YMI Jeans is collaborating with me to bring a wonderful giveaway! They sent me a pair of black skinny jeans which I've already worn out and about. They were super comfy and I felt quite european chic pairing them with ballet flats and a side braid.

Just leave a comment on the post below (including your email) for a chance to win a pair for yourself as well! The contest will run until July 11th and is only opened to U.S. residents (sorry!)

xoxo, lauren

P.S. Also check out:

YMI Obsessed blog - http://www.blog.ymijeans.com/
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