Kimono Lovers ロンドンで
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Better to wash an old kimono than to get a new one
Japanese Proverb
Photography by Rosalind Alcazar
STREET STYLED with Vintage Items & Oldies from my closet, but you can get something similar from the selection below!
Sk8ter Gurl
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If there is a sport that I am passionate about (apart from Badminton, obvs) is skating and skate boarding. I have never been a sports girl, so you won’t find a pro in me, but surely it is a funnier way to go from one place to another? I remember my trips to school music in my skateboard very fondly, I must admit.
Truth is though, since I moved to London I’ve barely touched my skate. The streets of London kind of freak me sometimes: there’s far too many cars and bumpy roads, and you never know what can happen*
Nevertheless, I recently got a very nice delivery from Weekday, which has recently open its first flagship in London, and I thought I would go to the skatepark in Southbank. Obvs, I dressed up for the occasion.
It is funny how the weather can affect so much the way you dress. A tiny slip colourful dress that I would never in London is totally something I would wear back home in Barcelona. Equally, it wouldn’t cross my mind to wear all-black-everything in Barcelona but it is practically my uniform in London.
And so I thought, let’s break the barriers (I am VERY daring, I know). I took a beach dress and put on my Christian Dior under/outerwear and off we go! Add a bomber jacket to it and it’s a killer.
TCB xx
*Bare in mind I come from a beach town and I use to skate by the beach walkway!
WHAT I WORE
Indian Breeze
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GET WHAT I WORE (OR SIMILAR) BELOW
I mean, where did summer go? Not that I am that bother about it at this point (I just came back from Barcelona, fully recharged), but seeing some sunshine would be nice :)
Sunshine and hot weather make people happier, and more willing to do outdoors stuff. So, we took advantage of the weather sometime ago before my departure to Promise Land and wandered around Granary Sq/ King's Cross afterwork. For the occasion, I recycled my wedding dress and decided to wear it more casually, with flats on. You know I am not the kind of person who wears one outfit once, your money would be wasted otherwise. Also, I think this dress is particularly quite versatile, so why not?
Now speaking of money...this area has certainly developed within the last few years. I remember when I first visit London many moons ago. King's Cross was considered to be dodgy, even the Red Light District of the city. These days, it's a hub for mega-companies like Google and a hub for shopping and afterwork wine & dine. Who'd knew!
MY FAVOURITE SPOTS
- Yeah burger at The Star of Kings for naughty hangover lunches or Grain Store for business ones
- Frame for a workout session in between meetings
- Vinoteca for a value-for-money drinks or German Gymnasium for a blow-off-show-off situation
- Drink-Shop-Do for fun and querky afterwork workshops
WHICH ONES ARE YOURS?
TCB x
Outfit Roles
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WHAT I WORE
Good Morning Careless readers!
As I write you from my London home with my tights on in the middle of August (that is British Summer, FYI), I look back with nostalgia at the pictures I took few weeks ago with JJ Smith in King's Cross. How can the weather change so drastically? I must be becoming very English, cause that's all I think about lately.
In any case, if you've been following my online stories, you've probably noticed I love to play out a role for every outfit I wear, or what I call #OutfitRole. Consciously or not, there's always a character or an idea in mind when we dress up, and I love to play along with it as much as I can. So far I've already been a Power Ranger, a ninja, Christina Aguilar and Scully from X-files. I wonder what the future holds? The look you see below it's one of my favourites from my NY shopping and it totally calls out an urban Venetian Boater. Or do you see something else? Press PLAY!
Stay tuned,
TCB xx
A Date In Primrose Hill
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Everybody knows Shoreditch, Hackney and London Fields as the perfect summer hangout, but about Primrose Hill? Definitely one of my favorite daytime areas to wonder around, specially over summer!
Primrose Hill is rather residential when compared to East London, but its vibe is still pretty damn cool. People are more posh here, but they tend to have a relaxed attitude about it. Streets are cleaner and pretty, fulled with designer shops, antique boutiques and organic food shops, cafes and restaurants.
If you ask me, a perfect day in North London starts by strolling down Regent's Street Rd, from Chalk Farm Station down to Regent's Park back entrance. Of course, parading around Primrose Hill to take in the breathtaking views of the city is mandatory.
I love starting my day by having a coffee at The Little One Coffee shop. It's a tiny place, almost unnoticeable, but their stuff is fantastic. You know I love my coffee and, I am telling you, this is a TCB Certified Good-To-Go place. Also, they have the most amazing snacks to go with my coffee: Pastel de Nata (MY FAAAAVE!) and Bolinha de Queijo, which basically means puffed cheese balls. YUM?
After your coffee fix is sorted, you can relax and pamper yourself at Cowshed Spa, literally within seconds distance, or continue strolling down the road. I love grocery shopping here, they have lots fresh produce. Fresh crispy bread and great cakes at Sweet Things or Primrose Hill Bakery or a bit of everything from Shepherd's Food. I particularly like this place because they always showcasing new businesses and new products in their front door. In fact, that's how I met Une Normande a Londres, which now sells all sorts of cheeses and cured meats (Hello, saucisson sec? OBSESSED!) in Borough Market.
Now you've got food, what else? Grab a book at Primrose Hill Books or the newspaper at the local newsagent and head to the park! If it's a lovely day, you can stay there for hours, take in the sun and enjoy the view, probably the best to see the London skyline.
Of course if sitting on the grass is not really your thing, you can people-watch at The Queen's while sipping a drink and then move on to Lemonia for a deliciously cooked Greek Meal. Afterwards you'll want to walk down your meal, trust me.
Don't forget to wear comfortable shoes (that can be a nice pair of heels, surely?), but don't forget: comfortable do not mean dressing down, just dressing accordingly; and always, ALWAYS, in style.
TCB xx
Sakura Baby
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Photography By Rozalind Alcazar
Don’t ask me why, but this recent purchase from Stradivarius (yep, you heard right!) is a total winner. I am talking about THE red pants. Yes, a bit kinky some may say, but hey, why not? Every time I’ve worn these jeans, magic happened. No kidding, EVERY SINGLE TIME. Even when we were doing the shoot!
While I will leave the details of what magic entails to your imagination, I wanted to share with you a cheap and cheerful outfit that will work wanders wherever you go. Here it is: take a simple but pretty lace top and some rocky pants. Add a tuxedo blazer and some biker boots and OFF YOU GO! I’ve rolled my blazer sleeves by accident (too hot) the first time I was wearing it and realized that worked quite nicely so decided to keep it that way.
What a better outfit for an evening in the city? Now that spring is coming and flowers are blossoming I would endure some risqué outfits. After all, improper is what we like the most.
TCB xx
Addiction Withdrawal
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Photography by JJ Smith
Balancing social life and work life has been a struggle over the last couple of months, I must admit. And if there is something I crave after a night out or extreme tiredness is junk food. What can I say, my body just needs it. Quite funny considering that’s the last thing you should have.
According to some healthcare practitioners (see here if you don’t believe me!), the best cure for a bad hangover is good/ green/ healthy food. SAY WHAAAAAT? Yep, having broccoli and green juice followed by lots of fruits, for example, is what your body needs to replenish what you’ve emptied the night before, while you were softly poisoning it to ridiculous levels. Let’s not go into details about my latest nights or I will never finish this post, ha!
In any case, what I wanted to point out with all this is that I am a sucker for junk food, and this would be the perfect excuse to pay a visit to all those hated locations that nobody seems to go (but they secretly, you do, you really do).
On one of those days, I also managed to get JJ to come with me and reproduce my love for the 90s and all the colourful signs from my beloved McD. Turns out there’s a drive thru not far from my house, and that’s a top-notch location for a shoot, isn’t?
In any case, here’s my take on LA’s Disney House, in London.
If you are in need of other “healthier” or let’s say “cooler” options than McD, so that you feel better about going there, I’d suggest the following, by order of preference:
- Lucky Chip in Dalston (conveniently placed 10min walk from my house…danger!) is a cool and hip diner, serving the naughtiest burgers in a very nice ambiance. The place is tiny and they serve their menu on an old-school VHS. SOLD!
- Honest Burgers in Brixton Market (amongst others) offers the biggest portions I’ve encountered in London so far, with a great quality-price.
- Five Guys in Angel (amongst others) for their milkshakes and yummy buns. However I don’t like they serve it without plates or anything other than foil paper, really. A bit messy to my taste? Yummy regardless.
- Byron Burger in Coven Garden (amongst others) is a staple since a moved to London and always a winner while in the city centre.
Business Turns Fashion
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Photography by Michael LP
Despite the terrible weather in Paris and the fact that I had to work while going to PFW, I tried to live things up with my outfits. I think I've mentioned to you numerous times that there's no need to dress boring just because you have an office-based job, and here the evidence!
Ok, probably the fishnet tights are a bit much for those who do not work in fashion. Back in the day in Spain, wearing fishnet tights was related to being kinky, to say the least. But I guess I am quite kinky, so why the hell not? After all, I was working remotely, so I could care less.
TCB xx
