I'm A Spoiled Spoiled Girl

Adventures in London with my New Camera

So before we headed to England we had planned on going to the New England Patriots vs. St Louis Rams game in London on Oct 28, but we couldn't get a flight back to London for me after my best friend's wedding the 27th that would get me in early enough. It was going to be our "anniversary gift" to each other. So I got Nick something then beggggged him (Puppy dog eyes were a must here) for a new camera after seeing the pictures my friend Ashley Fox was getting with her new SLR. I did some research debating between an SLR and Bridge Camera. I ended up with the Fujifilm S2980. Basically its a camera somewhere between a point and shoot and an SLR. It doesn't have interchangeable lenses. 

The Statue of Eros

I went out in London one day to take some pictures. I went to Piccadilly to get some pictures around there of the gorgeous buildings and the Times Square style displays. It's one of my favorite areas, aside from Westminster which really has my heart. 

Piccadilly Street

Regent Street

I went on a Harry Potter Walking Tour (More on this later! This is a post of its own!) But I got to see so much of the city!

 We took a River Boat Ferry to get down the river more quickly. These pictures of Parliament and the Eye were taken on the Thames.

Random Fact: There are 32 capsules, one to represent each of the London Boroughs, and just the one red pod to represent EDF's sponsorship of the Eye.

After my walking tour, I went up in The Monument to the Great Fire. It is 202 feet tall and stands 202 feet from the baker's shop where the Great Fire is said to have started. The idea when it was built was that if it was tipped over the golden orb at the top would be where there fire started. There is a viewing tower at the top of the pedestal (the big flat square at the top) which is accessible only by stairs.

By the time you reach the top you're so worn out its almost hard to enjoy the view!! It was gorgeous at the top though!

The Tower Bridge from the Top

A view down the river to the Eye

This building is called "The Shard"which is the tallest building in Europe

City Hall, where Boris Johnson works. Evidently there is no limit to time you can be elected as mayor!

View of the city down river

A shot down so you can see how high up it was!

The London Bridge area. 

Bank area

I ended my London Photo shoot day at Buckingham Palace. I thought I should hit it on my last day out in London juuuuust in case I didn't make it back in the country again!

Messing around with the panorama setting on my camera LOOOOOVE

& the self timer

The Monument to Victoria in front of the palace

The new camera takes some pretty awesome pictures and I'm enjoying taking them! Having this time has really given me time to get back into photography!

"Without You"

aka "Ashley met Anthony Rapp then dragged Nick to a musical"

For those who don't know me too well, I'm a die-hard RENT-head. RENT is easily my favorite musical. The original Mark was in town for just three weeks performing at the Menier Chocolate Factory Theatre in the London Bridge area. 

It was a solo show based on his book A Memior of Love, Loss, and the Musical 'RENT'.  I went to see the show alone, and it was absolutely amazing. It starts in 1994 when Anthony was working at a Starbucks. He shares his story of going to the audition for Rent, getting cast and the workshop and opening week including the death of Jonathan Larson. The portions of the show when he tells of the opening night tribute to Jonathan, as well as the loss of his own mother brought tears to my eye. I've heard the story of the opening night tribute told over and over, but hearing it straight from his mouth was breathtaking. 

The set was small and the theatre was intimate. It allowed to be able to see every facial expression which was good, but bad for those of us in the audience trying to hide our tears.

After the show he came into the bar and took the time to meet every single fan who was still around. I had met him once before so I told him I didn't need an autograph but would appreciate an updated photo. He was nice enough to take a moment from his conversation with his personal friends to get the photo with me before I left. He's without doubt one of the most down to Earth people I've ever met. It definitely made my night! 

I Died & Went to Fashion Heaven

....Or just the Victoria & Albert Museum's Fashion Gallery

Me & Dior=LOVE

Prepare for PHOTO OVERLOAD! I took over 100 photos in this gallery. 

I entered the V&A from the tunnel that comes out of the South Kensington tube station to museum row, theres entrances to all the major museums all from the tube station! Perfect for the rainy day that I went! I didn't have to go outside at all except for at the train station!

The Fashion Gallery was right there when I walked in, as if it were made just for me.  I took pictures of the plaques that accompanied most of the items so I would remember all about them :) I'll post those with the items so you guys can try to read them too

A dress from 1755-60. 

This is a fashion doll. They used to be carried from town to town. The doll would be dressed in the latest fashions of the royalty. They'd pay to see the doll and would sketch the look the doll wore then would take it to their seamstress to get new dresses made in the latest fashions. 

Fashion sketches

Overcoats from the same period as the dress pictured above. 1750's

Another Fashion doll, which probably inspired..

This dress.

Moving on to the bustle period, my personal favorite! 

 

This dress was easily my favorite! I really feel like I was born in the wrong time period! The dress above was an "Afternoon dress" can you imagine wearing that on an every day basis?

This had "Sleeve supports" which were filled with feathers to keep the sleeves nice and full

The V&A was set up in the weirdest way, it didnt go from start to modern in time order, it felt almost random other than being divided into 1700-1900 and 1900-modern.

A close-up of the peplum. Where this fall's biggest trend originated!

The first evening dress mentioned on the below plaque

Vogue from 1927... 33cents... I WISH

I want these shoes!! LOVE the Vintage recycle of styles

Oooh Chanel

That would have been me in the 40's makin a gas mask fashionable.

and now to my FAVORITE exhibit! Dior

The "New Look" Dior created was abfab 

Now for some amazing evening looks.

The more modern clothes are definitely London Fashion, very easy to see in the Mod Exhibit

Then I went to a temporary exhibit, British Ball Gowns from 1950's

You weren't supposed to take photos in the exhibit..... but I snuck a few, no one tell me on ok??

ahhh SHOES! 

McQueen from the fall/winter 2011 show! I stood and starred at this for probably close to an hour.

I went from there and looked through the jewlery exhibit which was four rooms of jewels, and absolutely impossible to get photos of anything in there for security reasons. But I went through one of the British exhibits and saw a bit more.

Saw some knight armour which was pretty cool. Seemed more real that what we have at home in exhibits since it wasn't set up as a knight standing at attention in a hallway

Then I decided to take a look at some of the treasures in the British wing

Yep, Leonardo Da Vinci's notebook. It was really cool, very tiny though!

I went through the sculptures & architecture exhibit and saw some awesome pieces, even though the main exhibits were under construction you could see the pieces in the walkways

Then I headed out to the famous garden, it had stopped raining but it was still a bit cloudy and wet overall

On my way back out I saw this:

and got a serious flash back to Little Mermaid! I didn't know Ariel's dad lived in London now! 

Overall I'd say the V&A museum was my favorite to visit so far, and there's still so much more to see! In October they open a Hollywood costume exhibit I want to go to!