Kensington Palace

If you read my post yesterday, the last few weeks have been a bit stressful. 

I've been trying to balance the load of homework and job applications on my plate with activities in London. It's part of my whole goal to see as much of London before I leave at the end of June. 

Last Friday, the weather was gorgeous. I wandered through Kensington Gardens after having a working breakfast and a quick haircut. 

Kensington Palace

Stopping by Kensington Palace, I saw they had a few new exhibitions open. I hadn't been inside Kensington Palace since I was abroad in 2010. Then, it was still under renovations. So, I was quick to buy a ticket and check it out! 

There was a photography exhibit which featured the famous photo of Wills, Kate, and Prince George. 

There was also an exhibit about Queen Victoria and other royals during that age of British history.

My favorite exhibit was the one that featured the Queen's dresses from the 1950s- 1970s. 

Dress of the Queen's 

Dress of the Queen's 

Lizzy's Fashion

The exhibit also had a small section dedicated to Princess Diana and her fashion. 

Princess Diana's Gowns

It was a perfect Friday afternoon! Although, I did not run into any members of the royal family...

For those students reading my blog, make sure to show your student ID to get the discounted entry fee. There are two different cafes at Kensington Palace. There is one directly inside the Palace post the gift-shop. Yet, I recommend going outside to the Orangery. I've been there several times, and I've never been disappointed!

Have you visited Kensington Palace? Did you happen to see the sighting of the royal family? 

House of Fraser: AW13 Look Book Sneak Peek!

Last week, I got to take a sneak peek at the House of Fraser Autumn/Winter 2013 Look Book! 

I sat down with some Starbucks as I poured over the amazing looks and clothing pieces that I would love to own! Simply put, my closet, or rather my wallet, is just not large enough to hold the items that I put on my wish list!

It was hard to choose my favorite looks out of the look book, but alas, I managed to narrow it down to my four top picks!

Jacket: Mary Portas; Cardigan: Dickins & Jones; Trousers: Marella; Clutch: Love Moschino 

These pants are to die for! They remind me of the J.Crew Collection cafe capri pants for their Fall 2013 collection! 

Shirt: Dickins & Jones  Pants: Paige 

I love the simplicity of this look! You can simply not go wrong with traditional pieces. Ideal outfit choice for running to a class at university or wandering the stalls of Borough Market on a Saturday!

Dress: Linea; Clutch: Mary Portas

Shaking up the work wardrobe, but still in a conservative manner! I think this would be an ideal piece for my fall internship wardrobe and seasons beyond!

Dress: Untold 

This dress is perfect for a Christmas party or to wear when ushering in the New Year! I have at least one Christmas party on my calendar for December, and I think this beauty would be the perfect standout piece!

Check out these designers' home pages at the House of Fraser for more great looks!

What ones are your favorites?

Primark Autumn/Winter Collection 2013

A few days ago, Marie Claire UK tweeted about Primark's Autumn/Winter 2013 collection.

Clicking on the link, I expected a small sampling into what the collection would be for the season. Surprisingly, the slide show was 150 photos deep. 

For those of you who are not familiar with Primark, it is a retail department store in the United Kingdom. Often associated with high streets, it provides clothing to women, men, children, and also offers housewares. Fashion trends come and go, but Primark provides an alternative way to introduce a trendy piece or two with avoiding depleting your bank account. 

When I initially lived in England in 2010, I shopped into Primark once. I was frightened. It's often crowded and reminds you of the end of the world. Yes, that description just happened.

Yet, you can't beat Primark. Moving back last year, Primark became a destination to find some cheap housewares. 

During a venture for housewares, I stopped in to browse the large women's section. Let's just say that I left with a bag full of new clothes and a new appreciation towards a store that I used to be cautious and  well, frightened of.   Of course, I do recommend using noise canceling headphones during a shopping visit.  But, we can come back to shopping tips at Primark in a future post.

Back to the 2013 collection preview, I kept flipping through the slideshow very impressed with this season's trends they are offering as well as what appears to be higher quality merchandise in some respects. I'm going to have make a trip to either the Oxford Street or Tottenham Court Road location in my first week back in October. 

Here are some of my favorites that have landed on my fall fashion wish list: 

(Note, that I do not own these photos)

You can check out more of the collection here: Primark Autumn/Winter Collection 2013 Video

What piece is your favorite? What has been your experience with Primark? 

New Weekly Feature: Five on Friday!

I'm starting a new feature on the blog! I'm joining in on the five on Friday posts sponsored by a. liz adventures, Carolina Charm, Hello! Happiness, and the Good Life Blog. I love reading these posts, and figured it might be time to jump on the bandwagon. My threshold was finally met! 

This Friday, I'm loving:

1. Roar by Katy Perry.  

I know that it may have started to get overplayed, etc. But, right now it's my jam. I especially love it in the mornings! 

2. Sneak Peak of the Mindy Project Season 2! 

Who else caught the sneak-peak up on Hulu? It literally made my Tuesday!  Of course, I have my season pass purchased on iTunes since I will be hopping back across the pond, and that just limits my watching abilities. 

3. Leopard Everything.

It is almost fall! We had a few very hot days this week, but that doesn't stop me from planning my fall wardrobe. I just picked up these pretty pumps the other day! Super excited to dress them up and down!

via Target 

4. Routehappy

Has anyone else started to use routehappy? It's one of my new favorite travel websites. You can make an account, review your experience on a plane or at an airport, and actually book tickets on the website based on the reviews. Entirely free to join! I'm planning a longer post about it in the near future, but make sure to check them out now!

5. Million Second Quiz

I'm a sucker for quiz shows. Trivia, actually. In college, I competed with several friends in trivia competitions. In one, we won over $300 worth of Syracuse merchandise and gift cards, each! I caught the tail-end of the show the other night, and now I'm addicted! Are you watching this show?

What are your fives on Friday?