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I’ve been part of a delightful project with Karen Millen called “love your city,” where I styled an outfit from their new collection and shot photos around London. I also participated in a Q&A about my favorite Christmas spots in the city, which you can check out on their website.
Reflecting on the Q&A made me realize that I should write more about London, a city I’ve lived and worked in for about fifteen years. Models, like taxi drivers and couriers, really get to know London’s streets because we’re always moving between castings and photo-shoots in various locations. In a single day, you might have ten appointments spread across different areas of London. Before smartphones, we relied on physical maps to navigate, becoming quite skilled at finding places and figuring out the best routes using public transport.
I’ve diverged from the main topic – let’s get back to the outfit I put together from the new collection. Lately, I’ve become a fan of layering, almost reaching a “Helena Bonham Carter” level. Layering clashing textures, prints, and colors feels liberating, and I’ve been embracing leopard print. This outfit includes a gorgeous, lightweight leopard print coat that fits a big jumper underneath and pairs well with black skinny jeans and high boots for a rock and roll vibe.
Under the coat, I chose a crystal-beaded top that feels festive. The top has a casual sweatshirt base with heavy embellishments, which I tucked into a high-waisted skater skirt. The skirt’s cut is flattering on the waist and elongates the legs. I completed the look with black tights and Stretch Suede Over the Knee boots for a retro “girl about town” style.
I love how the boots give my legs a long, lean look while the rest of the outfit remains layered and voluminous. After styling my London look, I picked out some favorite items for Karen Millen’s gift guide. I opted for a red velvet dress for myself, reminiscent of my childhood, and a sequin pattern dress for a friend, which has a lovely shape and a party-ready hemline.
If you’re interested in exploring the new Karen Millen collection, you can do so online, and my Q&A session is available there as well. The photos were taken near St. Paul’s Cathedral, which you might have spotted from the big dome in the pictures!