If you’re looking for some really jolly cushions for your nursery, look no further than Michelle Mason. She’s on a London jag at the moment, it seems, with this whole range of co-ordinating scenes that remind me a little bit of some of my favourite illustrators.

Something in the subject matter and busy-ness is redolent of both Miroslav Sasek‘s This is London, and Richard Scarry‘s Busy Busy World.

Note the pom-poms too – what kid doesn’t love a bit of frou-frou? There’s just one word for them, neatly summed up by this cushion from another Michelle Mason range…

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Lauren Child did the same Illustration MA as me, during which she was famously told by the tutors that her scribbly characters on collage backgrounds would never be published.

Those scribbly characters went on to become Charlie and Lola, the biggest sensation to hit children’s books, TV, and tie-in toys in the UK for the last ten years, and Lauren Child? Well, she went on to become a very rich woman, presumably.

(As for me, I was never told any such thing on my course, and I went on to NOT become a very rich woman. Such is life.)

We’re Charlie and Lola (and Clarice Bean and all the rest of Child’s illustration projects) fans as much as any household, and my daughter’s room still has her treasured picture-books carefully shelved. Thus I was fascinated to hear that Child’s latest commission has been to create fabrics for the historic London store Liberty.

I am not sure what I was expecting – perhaps plain colours dotted with little sausage dogs, or drifts of the Charlie and Lola butterflies – but the end results are a surprise. It makes sense of course that Child would move away from Charlie and Lola, but still, these fabrics are more ditsy – more Liberty – than I expected (with the possible exception of the tree design).

A read of the webpage and it all makes sense. Child has used vintage Liberty prints as inspiration, in some cases cutting them up to feed into her usual method of collage. We can consider these prints to be Child with a hefty dose of Liberty.

The finished products would undoubtedly make fabulous kids’ clothes – perhaps as dresses and skirts; definitely as linings. And though they are not to my own immediate taste, I do admit they are growing on me. I wonder if my old tutors have become similarly reconciled to Charlie and Lola.

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I cannot believe that an entire semester has gone by since I wrote my initial hopes, fears and–of course!–study abroad style observations in my first “Style Diary.” It seems like it was just yesterday! Of course, it was not “just yesterday” but the four months that I have spent exploring and discovering the intricacies of foreign cultures by browsing ancient cities, museums and plenty of markets and retail stores has gone by fast.

So, for my last post written in the lovely London, I wanted to pay homage to some of my favorite shopping spots I have found while here. Being abroad has seriously given me so much style inspiration, and these are the places where I took that inspiration out on my credit card!

I also wanted to create the perfect looks for each of these spots that will also transfer to your own favorite shopping spots back home. These are looks I’d envision being worn for a day of shopping or any other of your favorite daytime summer activities. I hope you enjoy them!

Shopping Spot One: Camden Market

Product Information: Top: Topshop.com, Skirt: Shopastygal.com, Sunglasses: Monsoon.co.uk, Bracelet: Urbanoutfitters.com , Wedges: H&M.com, Bag: Modcloth.com

Definitely one of London’s funkier spots, Camden Market literally has something for everyone, with stores ranging from hardcore punk-rock styles to cute, girly dresses. The market itself can be a bit overwhelming; it’s a maze of stores carrying everything from jewelry to dresses to souvenir shirts. But the possibility of getting a little lost is totally worth it, and the vibe is totally inspiring, with all of the different styles of clothing next to each other!

For this outfit, I wanted to combine a variety of styles to create an effortless, original look that has many different elements but still works all together. The cropped tank is a nod to the surplus/safari style that’s popular this summer and is a great “throw on” shirt to have for the summer. Meanwhile, this super girly, full skirt gives the look some fun and color, which is highlighted by the wine-colored shoulder bag. Slightly longer skirts can sometimes cut off your legs in an unflattering way, so ensure they look long and sleek by throwing on some wedge heels.

Mixing prints is a great way to change up your look but can be tricky, so I tried to ease into it by adding printed sunglasses that were a bit different from the design on the skirt to make the look a bit more edgy. To keep it from going over the top, I stuck with a neutral accessory–a bracelet with a golden brown stone to highlight the buttons on the top.

Shopping Spot Two: Oxford Street

Product Information: Top: Wetseal.com, Shorts: Spoiledbrat.co.uk, Belt: Missselfridge.com, Bag: Debenhams.com, Sandals: Gap.com, Sunglasses: Forever21.com, Earrings: Topshop.com

A tourist classic boasting iconic stores such as the epic, multi-level mecca that is Topshop, Oxford Street is definitely a must-visit for any fashionista traveling to London. With high street stores ranging from inexpensive (such as Primark) to slightly pricier ones like Topshop, there is literally something for everyone on this stylish street.

The one downside to Oxford Street is that it is literally always crowded–weekend or week day, rain or shine, get ready to fight through crowds not only in the stores but on the actual street as well. Therefore, I wanted to create an outfit that is super comfy and easy to run around in while still being cute!

The first piece I chose was a pair of broken in shorts, as a skirt wouldn’t allow you to lunge for that adorable shirt on sale a few racks over. Since the shorts are slightly high-waisted, I added a belt to accentuate their shape. The floral belt’s summery pink color inspired the shirt that I found next. The ruffled detail on the the shirt screams “summer day” to me and I love how it is subtly reflected in these gold sandals.

My style personally is never complete without a touch of rocker-chic, so I added on a pair of chain earrings and Ray Ban-style sunglasses to rough up this girly look a bit. Complete your outfit with a cross-body bag with a secure closure–Oxford Street is crowded and you want to make sure that your belongings stay close to your body and safe!

Shopping Spot Three: Notting Hill

Product Information: Romper: Urbanoutfitters.com, Sunglasses: Asos.com, Bag: Asos.com, Sandals: Forever21.com, Hat: Modcloth.com, Necklace: Modcloth.com

Immortalized by Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts in the romantic comedy by the same name, Notting Hill is so much more than just a backdrop for Hollywood magic. This area has some of the best vintage shops around as well as some trendier new ones (there’s even an American Apparel!), so I wanted to create a look that mixed old classics and new trends just like Notting Hill itself.

I still love the stylishness and comfort of rompers in the summer and the blue hue, and scalloped, lace-like pattern on the bottom of this one give it a great vintage feel. I paired the romper with some accessories that would pick up on that feel, like this precious clock necklace, oversized sunglasses, chain-link leopard purse, and adorable hat with a simple bow trim. To make the look a bit more modern, I finished it off with some lace-up gladiators.

Now all you need to do is find a Hugh Grant to go shopping with!

What Do You Think?

Where are your favorite areas to shop? Have you been to any of these places in London? Are you interested in trying any of these looks for the summer? Where would you wear them? Let us know if the comments!

Also, two weeks from now will be my final “Study Abroad” post, so if there are any topics you’d like me to address, let me know!

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