Our stay in London was AMAZING…in fact; it was so wonderful that I have decided London is my city! Shortly after we arrived, we met up with Freelance Fashion Journalist, Wendy, for dinner. Wendy was very insightful, and spending time with her for a few days really gave me a better understanding of British fashion. On Thursday, we began touring the major fashion highlights of London; the Victoria and Albert Museum (The V and A) was our first stop. We had an early morning tour at the “Power of Making” exhibition. This exhibition showcased a large variety of individual skills; the collection on display explores craftsmen making “what they make.” Walking through the exhibition was meant to inspire us, and I found one of the quotes particularly inspirational; “Making is the most powerful way that we solve problems, express ideas, and shape our world. What we make defines who we are, and communicates who we want to be.” I have no idea what the future holds, but I hope I am able to communicate the person I am in everything that I do. All of the talent showcased in the V and A was educational and for the first time, I understood why designers come to museums to find their inspiration. After our tours at the museum, we were on the way to Harrods department store. Harrods was breathtaking; the enormity of the store surpassed what I had expected. While outside of the building, we were asked to analyze the window displays which presently focus on the current trend, taxidermy—courtesy of Chanel. We weren’t allowed to shop while “studying the store,” so I had to come back on Saturday to buy my mom her Christmas ornament. For the remainder of the evening we explored British fashion stores, and after all of our “school work,” I went with my roommates to see Big Ben and to a British pub near our hotel. Friday was equally as intense with tours, but at 3:00 we attended a Bernard Chandran Fashion Show! Bernard Chandran graduated from the Paris American Academy, so Peter knows him very well! He is known as the “King of Fashion” in Malaysia, and he has dressed Lady Gaga and Rihanna. His Spring/Summer 2012 collection was inspired by his mother and her 1950’s fashion sense. All of the garments in his collection had elements from the 1950’s but fit modern time; the pieces were very feminine and sophisticated. I also noticed that many of his designs included a zipper extending past the length of the garment; a fashion statement that will become more popular next year. When the show ended, Chandran took a picture with us, and then we were off to the British Museum. On Saturday, we were free to explore the city and shop!! After sightseeing and shopping around London all day, we journeyed to find the famous, Abbey Road. We decided to take the bus because it was an impossible walk, and someone told us that Abbey Road was near Lord Cricket Ground (wherever that was). Minutes into our bus ride, we weren’t sure we had taken the right bus or if Lord Cricket Ground even existed. We were exhausted, couldn’t stop laughing, and we’re asking each other (in very British accents) “Where is Lord Cricket Ground” when the nice man sitting beside us announced we should get off now and then explained how to get to the road. His directions were rather confusing and it ended up taking us too long to find, but we finally made it! After an Abbey Road photo shoot, we headed back to the hotel to get ready for a nice dinner at a restaurant that was closed by the time we got there. It was getting late and we had walked so much at this point that we decided to hop in a taxi, telling the driver to take us to the closest open restaurant (which happened to be French). It was such a long day, but I had so much fun. We spent Sunday morning at the Buckingham Palace, and then left for the train station. I slept most of the way…I can’t remember my body ever feeling so entirely worn out but LONDON was absolutely FABULOUS! In a city famous for street wear, I concluded that “Anything Goes.” The fashion is unconventional which is why designers from all over come to London…“It’s FUN!”
