Sunday, October 25, 2009

Travelogue: London, Bath, Windsor & Stonehenge

Bath
Bath2
Bath1
Bath0

England will always have a special place in my heart. It was the very first trip the hubz and I took together back in '04. We had such a blast then and vowed to come back. We managed to keep that promise and now after 5 years, we are back!


Bath3
-- mini: AE -- jacket: Target -- scarf: Benneton -- boots: Hot Kiss --

This time, we wanted to cover a few cities in the London outskirts. I didn't want to stress myself doing all the planning myself (this is an anniversary trip afterall), so I just booked a tour for us. For $125, we covered three attractions all in one day: Bath, Stonehenge and Windsor. The rest of our stay, we window shopped and day dreamed along Bond and New Bond streets, ate fish & chips, watched West End shows and experienced a Topshop overdose.

With its steep history and fabulous citizens, I cannot get enough of England! I enjoyed it so much and so we vow to be back again here. Hopefully, sooner than 5 years.


Windsor CastleWindsor0
Windsor2
Windsor3


Stonehenge
stonehenge2
stonehenge1



West End
London Stonehenge Bath Windsor1
-- dress: Prairie New York -- ruffle cardigan: Banana Republic --
-- belt:
Oscar by Oscar dela Renta -- thigh-high boots:
Nine West --


London
London4

And with this ends my Paris/London adventure posts. We had such a blast and felt like we stepped out of our normal lives and lived stree-free for a full 7 days. It was such a good break and felt so blessed for the opportunity!


If you haven' done so already, please join my Paris giveway here. It's still open for a few more days and a winner will be picked on my next post. =)

Have a happy mid-week everyone!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

My Paris Top 10

(Sorry for the long post, guys. This is the last of the picture overload, I promise!! =)

1. Eiffel from Avenue d'Eylau
RAR_4374

2. Eiffel from Trocadero
RAR_4422
-- mini dress: Diane von Furstenberg -- beret: Banana Republic --- jacket: Target --
-- scarf: Benneton --


3. Eiffel from a secret alleyRAR_4532


4. Eiffel lit up
RAR_4530


5. Eiffel from Champs de Mars
RAR_4541


6. Arc de Triomphe at night
RAR_4514
RAR_4521


7. Parc de Monceau
RAR_4241
RAR_4269


8. Haute Cuisine!
Day4 - Lauduree3
Breakfast at Laduree - the hot cocoa was so rich, the truffles omellete was so expensive but the macarons were the best!


Day4 - Le Safran1
Four-course meal at Le Safran


Day4 - Lardoise1
Three-course dinner at L'ardoise. I will definitely go back for the escargot and the foie gras! I tried foie gras before here in the US but didn't like it as much. I guess the French really do know best how to cook their own cuisine!


Food
Steak au poivre at Chez Omar. It was not the best cut of meat but the sauce was so good we cleaned our plates, and I mean CLEAN!


9. Consignment shops
RAR_4159
Reciproque - this was my least favorite of the three. Went to all their 5 stores on Rue de la Pompe but I found each one to be overstocked that you can hardly move around, and overpriced too.
Chercheminippes - my fave! This is where I found a really nice Givenchy skirt for so cheap! I regretted not staying here longer and buying more. They have so many Hermes scarves for €110 all in mint condition, an Anna Sui wool jacket for €90 and Isabel Marant sweaters for €30! It's also very well organized and not too overstocked that you could actually still move the hangers.
Catherine B - great selection if you're in the market for Chanel jackets (€700 and up) or vintage Hermes bags (saw a Kelly for €2500).


10. Alaia Stock Shop
RAR_4171
RAR_4169
When I first read about the Alaia adventures of the lovely and classy Thien of A Pinch of Style, I knew I had to include it in our Paris itinerary.

I was not as lucky as her and didn't have an interaction with the genius himself but I did have a 5-second glimpse of him as he walked out from the stock shop (right door) carrying what must have been a dozen or so black dresses.

When I buzzed at the stock shop door, nobody answered. I waited for a few minutes at the courtyard and was told that they're closed for the day. My heart sank. I didn't print the address of the boutique because I know it would be way too pricey for me so I just gave up and went to a consignment shop right around the corner.

When I came back, intending to take pictures and document my sorrow, the door was open to my surprise! They were were open for a few minutes because some rich madam sent for her assistant to pick up a few items. I mustered the most pleading smile my face could conjure and asked, err begged the SA if I could browse around and she gladly said yes and then closed the door behind me. I felt so lucky!! I must have been a good girl that day to deserve such twist of fate!

There were so many lovely items there. Although they're from the previous season, they're all steeply discounted! Well, except for the dresses that I wanted! At about €1500 (and that's after the markdown, mind you!), I'd have to give up 3 Google shares just to snag one. The hubz revolted against the very idea and so, I settled for the shoes. But hey, settling for the second best has never been this sweet! Just check out these lovely beauties and the beautiful box they came in with!

ALAIA-3ALAIA-python
ALAIA 3


* * *

And that marks the end of my Paris adventure!

To share my happiness, I'm giving away this Oct issue of the French Vogue, a taupe scarf and a Tower London key chain. Why the key chain? Coz that's what my next blog is about, London!
Simply leave a comment here for random drawing next week.
Friends from outside the US: Should you win, I can only send the scarf and the key chain, sorry! The mag is so thick and heavy...

DSC03136

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Paris in Sepia

Notre Dame
Day 2 - Notre Dame 0Day 2 - Notre Dame 1
Day 2 - Notre Dame 2
Day 2 - Notre Dame 6Day 2 - Notre Dame 01Day 2 - Notre Dame 4
Day 2 - Paparazzi 1
Day 2 - Paparazzi 2
RAR_4111



Jardin des Tuileries
DSC02900
RAR_3956RAR_3953
RAR_3939



The Metro
RAR_4017RAR_4023



90 Years of Vogue Exhibit
RAR_3868RAR_3849



Along the Seine
DSC02925



Louvre Courtyard
RAR_4006
RAR_3973RAR_3978
-- cropped wrap top: Max Mara Weekend -- cashmere-blend shell: Banana Republic
-
-- denim mini: Guess -- tights: Forever 21 -- sunnies: Fendi --
--boots:
Hot Kiss (cheesy name, I know.. but it's super comfy!! It's like I'm walking on pillows) --


LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...