london recap!!

one of my favorite trips of the summer so far - SHOPPING GALORE and reconnecting with family! Here is everything I did and loved! <3

Hi friends!!

Happy August !!! I’m sad. I don’t even want to think about this summer ending…but anyways - I rounded out one of my favorite months of my life with the most amazing trip to London. This was once again such a last minute trip, but I feel like it was truly meant to be - for some reason I had marked in my calendar “London?” last weekend…I was at drinks w my friend Clem in Paris and she told me she was going to London in a couple days and was like hey wanna come. And I booked my Euro star on the spot.

But I really did want to go to London this summer because fun fact - my dad was actually born there. He moved to NYC when he was 2 years old, but he still has family there that he is very close with. He brought us to visit them about 8 years ago on a family trip, but I haven’t seen most of them since. It was really so lovely to reconnect with all of my British family. How special to get to spend quality time with family members you really haven’t seen in forever!? I am feeling many more London trips in my future - because now ofc I want to spend more time with my fam, but I was absolutely freaking obsessed with this city. The only time I had been is that one time with my family, and I feel like in the past few years I have gone to Paris so much that I never think about going to any other city, but you guys London is a very close second for me. So let’s get into my faves.

The shopping in London was out of control. Maybe even better w Paris. I got so many good recs from you guys on IG and I literally mapped my trip around all of the vintage stores. Like most people plan their trips around museums, restaurants, sightseeing, etc, but then theres me. I fully plan them around vintage shopping and I have no shame. I am just going to go in order of where I went. Link to my map :)

SHOPPING

• Portobello Vintage Market - wow this was actually one of the best street vintage markets I have ever been to. I think I blacked out it was so good. I went to the Sunday market, but I believe it is going on other days as well. There was such a good range of designer vintage, but also just like amazing no label pieces, furs, knits, trench coats, fun tops and dresses. Literally SO good. I got some amazing cute little tops for so cheap from @cometheroux, a gorgeous silk pink dress, and an amazing fur coat from @ampm.vintage (like respectfully how am I getting that home, but the price was too good to pass up)

• Lover’s Lane - wow I was absolutely hyperventilating in this store. Some of the most amazing vintage designer pieces I have ever seen. A whole rack of vintage corsets, insane Chanel, Dolce, Pucci, Cavalli, etc every single brand you can think of - there were stunning amazing archival pieces. This place is honestly ridiculously expensive, BUT it is a must to get some inspo and a place to buy something really special for a special occasion. Overall, this neighborhood is a great place in general to vintage shop - there were so many great boutiques if you walk around Portobello Road/Notting Hill, but I didn’t have a chance to see all of them.

• Nordic Poetry - another INSANE place for archival vintage designer. This store was like honestly my dream assortment of pieces - everything was SO my style - vintage Dolce, Cavalli, Blumarine - everything so colorful and funky. Azner, who worked in the store became my BFF and brought out so many cool archival pieces to show me. We had so much fun here. Once again, extremely expensive, but where you’ll find very rare amazing pieces.

• Serotonin Vintage - same vibes as Nordic Poetry but you will find pieces for about 1/5th of the price. I got vintage Missoni, Blumarine, and Cavalli tops all for under $200 TOGETHER. Literally some of the best prices I’ve ever seen for vintage designer - so many fun Y2k type pieces.

• Brick Lane Vintage Market - overall, this area is AMAZING for vintage - if you walk down Brick Lane, there are literally back to back vintage stores, but the market is especially amazing! I didn’t have the time to fully do it, but there is soooo much good vintage in this space! And it’s open everyday!!

• Consigned Sealed Delivered - ok this was really one of my FAVES. I really love a high end consignment store - that is really where I find the best pieces. First of all, I am obsessed with Marylebone, the neighborhood this store is in, literally the cutest, chicest little streets to walk around. This store had so many amazing basically brand new high end pieces for such a great price and I absolutely loved everyone who worked there. I got the insane Alessandra Rich jacket you guys died over here.

• Loop Generation - this store made me feel like I was in the Real Real in Soho which made me miss NYC tbh. I was not in a digging headspace when I was at this store, but similar to the one above, amazing amazing luxury high end pieces in GREAT condition for pretty fair prices. Way better than TRR in Soho TBH!! And such a beautiful store.

• Pandora Dress Agency - OMG. I wish I had more time here. This store was freaking insane. Very overwhelming upon first walking in because there is just SO much merchandise here. Like racks on racks on racks. But there were so many gems here - all types of pieces - tons of vintage Chanel, honestly every single brand, and there were so many sales going on. I got two amazing tops on sale which you will see in my haul on IG :)

• Rixo store on King’s Road - last one not vintage but the Rixo team had me in to their flagship store in Chelsea and it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL - like I literally want to move in there. Rixo has such amazing pieces - I am obsessed with this cutie PJ set I picked out :) They also have a special bridal room with the most stunning white pieces for any of my brides out there!!!

EATING DRINKING COFFEE ETC

I always feel unqualified sharing my food recs because it is definitely not my expertise, but I feel like I always end up finding really great places. I love to eat, but I also LOVE a vibe, so always going for a cool, fun place. I got so many recs from friends who live in London and also from my friend

denna

who has the most amazing travel recs. Literally the second I got to London I went to her IG story highlight which is honestly where I found half of these places - she kills it!!! But anyways, here is everywhere I tried!

• Jolene - this is the CUTEST coffee shop ever in Shoreditch, literally the best vibes, yummiest pastries, and AMAZING coffee. You guys I just don’t think good iced coffee in Paris exists - I’ve tried so many and nothing is hitting for me. And this coffee like gave me the coffee high that I’ve been chasing all summer so long. This is a must stop!!

• Layla - that same first day, I also stopped into this adorable bakery for a coffee. It is in Notting Hill near the Portobello market - so many cute food spots around here I needed more time to try!!!

• Brat - ok my friend Clem and I literally had the best night ever at Brat. This restaurant is fucking amazing. The name, the food, the vibes, it was a 10/10. The bread and butter was insane and they had such good seafood. We sat at the bar and became best friends with our waiter who we ended up going out with until 3am after. Honestly so iconic of us.

• Shreeji News - my London bestie Amaan gave me the best recs, Brat included, and he told me I needed to get a piece of banana bread at this little coffee shop and it was freaking SICK. Also on the cutest street so grab a coffee and a slice and take a morning walk here.

• Nina - this is the coolest, chicest restaurant. I went solo and got the Cacio e Pepe and it was sooo good. I just loved the vibes here, I wish I got to try more dishes because everything looked so good. The art in here was also so fun. My friend met me for dessert and we got the cheesecake and it was BOMB. Definitely go here on your next London trip.

• The Surprise - one of my besties from college moved to London a few years ago so it was so fun to see her in her new life - she took me to her neighborhood pub - this place was so cute and loved the food! Great area too.

• Birley Bakery - She also gave me this amazing rec for the next day. I met up with my cousin here for a delicious iced coffee and many pastries. Really cute great vibes.

• The Dover - on our last night, Clem and I wanted something with a chic vibe, so we found this spot on TikTok. We sat at the bar again for the vibes and got some small Italian bites and some martinis - delish and definitely chic vibes for SURE!!!

• Jenki Matcha - Clem showed me this spot on our way to the train and I think this was the best matcha I’ve ever had!!! So delish!!!

Ok well that about SUMS up everything I did. I absolutely love this city and can’t wait to go back. The only downside is that London is VERY big and things are very far from each other, so I would pick a couple areas a day and stick to those. I also have just realized that I am obsessed with public transportation. Like I had so much fun on the tube. I feel so comfortable on a train in a random city tbh. My favorite neighborhoods to explore and where most of these recs are were Shoreditch, Notting Hill, and Marylebone! Hope you guys enjoyed this recap <3 I have so many Paris recs to come for you!!! Have a great week!

xoxo,

Soco <3