Worth A Check

'Tis the season for plaid! After gracing its presence on the fall runways of Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, and Michael Kors, plaid has made a huge comeback. This season's tartan is anything but ordinary as we've seen this signature pattern mixed and matched to make us all mad for plaid. Embracing my Scottish roots, I went on the hunt for the perfect plaid piece. 

Plaid can be a tricky one. You don't want to go too obnoxious and look like you've cut up your grandmother's curtains, but you also don't want to find too small of checks that resemble a summer gingham. The hue is very important in finding a happy medium between holiday and straight off the Scottish Highland. The style of the garment is always a personal choice as I wasn't looking for the ordinary blazer, button down, or scarf - the norm for plaid sightings. My list for plaid may be specific, but it's worth every check. 

I've been looking to purchase a cape for some time now. Store after store, I've been constantly disappointed at the basic styles and lack of quality material. I'm a huge fan of textures and every poncho felt and looked the same. I wasn't even sold on this trend to begin with since I'm one of those people who are constantly cold... However, everything changed when I stepped into H&M and found THE winner. This soft leather lined, plaid cape was the perfect match. The elegant light beige and blue hues were ideal for everyday wear and the buckled hinge embellishment added that special detail that I had never seen before. The longer length resembled more of a blanket that you can easily snuggle with over a fire or simply wear with your winter coat. It was truly love at first sight. Check, please.

Cape | H&M
Sweater | (similar)
Jeans | H&M
Boots | Tory Burch (similar)
Sunglasses | Ray-Ban

xx Christie
 

Louis Vuitton Series 3

The much anticipated Louis Vuitton Series 3 debuted in London this month and let me tell you, it was nothing less than spectacular. Walking room by room, experiencing the conceptualized vision of creative director, Nicholas Ghesquière, truly made the Autumn Winter 2015 collection come to life. With fashion and design processes intertwined, Louis Vuitton wanted to retell the story of its AW15 collection that could not be shown simply through a livestream. This personalized retrospective invites the public into the creative mind behind this season's most coveted collection. From the inspirational muses, expertise craftsmanship, and cutting edge innovation, Louis Vuitton gives its fans a virtual reality behind the production of such an iconic brand.

This exhibition truly spared no expense at showcasing 'the team behind the team.' Ever wondered why these in demand bags come with a hefty price tag? It's all about luxury from the first stage of leather selection to the hands of its loyal fans. Louis Vuitton is one of the few brands that uses a laser to virtually scan every piece of leather for flaws, and only cuts shapes from the impeccable areas. This not only speeds up the production process, but makes every piece of leather on a handbag and shoe literally perfect. (no defects allowed!) Then, the cut leather makes its way to a lineup of skilled artisan workers who follow the next steps of glueing, stitching, and screwing any additional metal hardware or exterior pieces. After some 30 hours of work per bag, the season's winner is ready to be debuted down the Paris catwalk at Fashion Week before making its way onto the shelves of Louis Vuitton stores worldwide.

The exhibition provides a virtual tour into the birth of the iconic mini trunk bag, but like true Louis Vuitton form, the exhibit takes it one step further. Actual Louis Vuitton artisans are stationed in the next room to provide every visitor with their own personal experience of watching the magic happen. Luxury has always been at the helm of the Louis Vuitton brand, but Series 3 reinforces the talent and confidence behind the brand like never before.  If you're not already a fan favorite, you will be after experiencing their incredible story. 

#LVSERIES3 

Louis Vuitton Series 3
September 21 - October 18
180 The Strand
Free Admission

Photos my own and from Vogue.com

Uptown Girl

Kimora Lee Simmons says "You should always dress like you're going to see your worst enemy"... I wouldn't go that dramatic, but I do standby that you should always leave your house looking and feeling great. Whether for you that's gym clothes and sneakers or a daring pop of color. Whatever you choose to put on in the morning should have a personal touch to make you feel just as good on the inside. 

My personal style has never been, let's say, grey. I'm a naturally bubbly, fast talking American living in the most thriving city in Europe - how could I blend in even if I tried? I don't and that's ok with me. So when I found this Ted Baker floral skirt, I knew it was bold, but it had 'Christie Alexandra' written all over it. I've never been a head-to-toe, all black kind-of girl anyways. Even Anna Wintour turns her head to this despite the large population of female New Yorkers swearing to this iconic look. My Uptown Girl style is fun and flirty, while mixing traditional, classic pieces with bold accessories. Think Olivia Palermo x J. Crew x Sandro x Alice & Olivia. Just fabulous, right? 

My style has definitely evolved throughout the years with the help of inspiration from fashion week, mom's vintage pieces, and general lifestyle changes. But one thing has always stayed the same - my love for a good pair of shoes. And if shoes were the most powerful accessories, then these Aquazzura's would be the President. Aquazurra is a coveted designer label from Florence whose A-list clients reach across the globe. It's no surprise that fashion bloggers are rocking these designs daily and new styles sell out online before they can even reach a store. This pair rejects the traditional black pump and stands out with its translucent, mesh design that adds a new version of classic for the modern day working woman. I'll take one in every color, please. 

Blouse | Forever 21
Skirt | Ted Baker (similar)
 Heels | Aquazzura 
Clutch | Balenciaga
 Sunglasses | Taylor Morris
Nail | Dior "Metal Montaigne"

xx Christie 

Transitioning into Fall

Autumn is one of my absolute favorite times of the year! The leaves begin to fall, the evenings chill down, and college football is back on the television screens. You can wake up early for a glorious morning walk through the park before meeting up with some girl friends for a hot tea and scone date. But with every change in season comes a transition in your closet. Being a true Floridian, as soon as the temperature drops below 70 degrees, I immediately begin to unpack my jackets and scarfs anticipating the chillier months to come. Bye bye bathing suits, hello sweaters! 

With the weather in London being absolutely perfect, I've been trying to get out as much as possible to enjoy the crisp city air. Recently, VOGUE Magazine hosted Fashion's Night Out in London to kick off the upcoming fashion month and shopping season. With discounts at almost every store, I couldn't help myself but restock on some basic fall "necessities." When I checked out Miss Selfridge, the young, trendy boutique of the mega department store, Selfridges, I fell in love with this season's suede skirts, chunky sweaters, and adorable hats.

First on my list was this black, cable knit turtleneck that I instantly knew would go with every piece of my fall wardrobe. As much as I love J. Crew and Ralph Lauren's cashmere staples, the price tag isn't always worth it when you can find a great dupe on the high street. Next, I laid eyes on this to die for suede, wrap skirt. The style of this silhouette is truly a universal winner and can even add that wow factor to spice up a day at work. I also love to mix high and low brands, so I decided to style my go-to Gucci's and Chanel bag to include a little bit of European elegance into my look. These heels may be open toed, but sometimes fashion rules over the weather ;) When it gets really cold, I'll add a pair of leather boots like these Tory Burch 'Devon' boots or booties. 

Like I've always said, some people may be against mixing black & brown, but I say give me more!

Sweater | Miss Selfridge
 Skirt | Miss Selfridge
 Heels | Gucci (Similar)
Sunglasses | Gucci
 Purse | Chanel

xx Christie 

London Calling

Even though I've been living in London for over a year now, I still get this sense of awe every time I step outside my flat and take in the beauty of its everyday moments. Between the adorable mews and colorful row houses, flower stands at every corner, breakfast spots like the Kensington Muffin Man, and the gigantic palaces that sit parallel to the everyday traveler, I seriously can't get enough of London. 

Living in the Royal Borough, there's more perks than simply seeing Kate at your local Zara Home. (which actually does happen) This post code opens your eyes to the glamorous life of the regal and the historic charm that has made expats like myself crave to call London their home. More than Big Ben, Shakespeare, and Prince Harry's "royal nights out," London exceeds all expectations with its captivating aura and dreamy lifestyle that compels visitors to cross the pond. New York and Los Angeles may have better weather, but London's European flare gives every art aficionado a beautiful canvas to fantasize day after day. Architecture continues to suffice my daily inspiration and walking past King Albert's memorial brings me back into an era of majesty. London has maintained its pride in showcasing the royal history of kings and queens for centuries, but this glorious monument may not show its true meaning behind the naked eye. Queen Victoria, now the second longest reigning monarch after the current, Queen Elizabeth II, built this statue as a memorial for her true love and husband, King Albert. Queen Victoria's reign continues to be talked about in the history books, but her love and fond admiration towards her husband can sometimes be lost in translation. This is the true London - the London that has depth and meaning behind every corner, brick laid, and embellishment adorned. The London that rejects the contemporary and cherishes the rich history that lies in its very heart and soul. This is the London that produces serenity and thought; this is the part of London that I love. 

There's no doubt in my mind that London will continue to change as modernity creeps up with the cutting edges of technology. After all, London is a global city. But London's history of royalty, rock n' roll, literature, and art will continue to be there throughout the ages, waiting for any lucky individual yearning to call London home. 

Dress | H&M
 Hat | Urban Outfitters
 Ring | Brandy Melville
Booties | H&M 

xx Christie