London Calling.

Last night I got back from my very short trip to London where I met up with my ex flatmate (and long lost love) Kirsty and stayed in her student halls. I didn't get to do much shopping but I did get to look about Spitalfields again and went into the All Saints original store to look at what they're doing with their visual merchandising since my last visit.

Kirsty is doing a Masters in Art at the legendary Central Saint Martins (check out her blog of her amazing work) and it was great to go for dinner with her in SoHo and wander past her new uni.

I also managed to pop along to the impressive Marks & Spencer HQ (below) again where I got to speak to some of their buyers about their Spring Summer '09 trends and the current market. I did a placement during the summer with the Buying teams for Ladies Holiday wear and Leisurewear. The whole experience was amazing and I learned a lot. It was great to even revisit the building and be given the opportunity to work inside the building of the UK's biggest high street retailer. 

My only purchase of the entire trip was this vintage dress but I am so happy with it because it was such a bargain. Bought for £8 just round the corner from the M&S HQ. It looks as if it has been hand made. I don't suit long things because I'm pretty small so I am going to have it taken up. I love the sheer sleeves and the back is a great deal lower than the front. Watch this space for the finished garment.

My Burberry Mac

A couple of years back I bought a second hand Burberry Mac in a vintage store in Glasgow's West end called Watermelon for £30. I usually only find larger sized ones so when I saw this UK size 12 petite I had to have it despite being a UK 8 - I just convinced myself it kind of fitted. But 2 years down the line, I still hadn't worn it and was tempted to sell it on ebay.

Instead, I decided a few weeks back, to have it altered by a local seamstress who is fantastic and has fantastic prices to match (only £20 for this job). I asked for the hem line to be taken right up to update it and she took the whole thing in a few inches. And now I wear it all the time! (I have cut my face out this picture because I look miserable.)

The great thing about a Burberry mac is you know you are wearing a historic item of clothing (Check out the Burberry website to read all about the history of their iconic trench coat - so-called because it was originally worn by soldiers in trenches during the Boer War.) Also, I stupidly spilled my Pepsi Max all over it whilst waiting on a train and it just rolled right off: no mark or stain left what-so-ever.