London Calling

First of all, I know I've been a "bad blogger." When the first thing you wake up to in the morning is a text from your mother saying, "you haven't updated your blog in two weeks," then you know it's time to buckle down at your laptop and hammer away. I have good excuses, though. Okay, they're not excuses, it's just that sometimes life happens in this completely chaotic, unexpected way. Like you find yourself on a whirlwind transatlantic trip. Like you are shooting muliple times a week with people in the fashion industry you've only ever dreamed of working with. Like you have a five-month-old-puppy. Like you make a mandate to be single and then find yourself falling for someone. (Cat, bag). And all of a sudden, it's fashion week. Continue...


 
Photos from Evans Shape Studio event, with cameo appearances by Marie Denee of The Curvy Fashionista, Callie Thorpe of From the Corners of the Curve, and Tom Doran - the original party boy. 

Just a few weeks ago, I was given the whirlwind opportunity to fly out to London for a few days to collaborate with Evans and Clements Ribeiro on some of their exciting, up-and-coming collections. The day that I was to make a decision (there was a lot to figure out - logistics, timing, balancing my already chaotic work schedule) I was on a first date, and my coffee-companion helped me realize the holy-crap-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity nature of the proposal. It all felt surreal. There were only a few key details in my hands, and a lot of unknowns, but I knew this: that I'd be whisked away to London (my second, or at least third, home, by all accounts), that I'd be seeing my friends at Arcadia Group (the teams that run marketing and PR for Evans, Dorothy Perkins, Topshop, and more), and I'd be in the company of some of my favorite blogging babes from around the globe.

I arrived in London late at night on a Wednesday. It was freezing, the Marks & Spencer's Simply Food at Heathrow was minutes from closing (so I rushed to pick up a few snacks, knowing that would be "dinner"), and I headed straight to my hotel. Someone at Evans loves me very much because they booked me at a hotel directly across from Miu Miu in Knightsbridge, and a minutes walk away from Harrod's and their sprawling Laduree tea room (though I never made it there)!

The following morning, I woke up bright and early and headed to Arcadia HQ, in Soho. The lobby was bustling with London darlings, all effortlessly chic and flawlessly put together. It was like a street style blog had come to life - but not the kind that is desperate or tries too hard. Everyone just looked good.

As soon as I got up to the press area, I was dropped into hair and makeup, to prep for a shoot with the Sunday Times (this should come out on the 16th or so, and hopefully I'll be able to share it then)! We also got to shoot at the Evans Shape Studio while playing dress up in Evans Collection, Scarlett and Jo, and Live Unlimted - all available in the coming weeks.

By far the most amazing parts of my stay in London were to follow the next day, however, and for those -- I'll have to wait until a later date to share all the details (and photos)! But, trust that it was a life changing experience. Truly.

This post was sponsored by Evans. Evans also provided my transportation and accommodation throughout the trip.