I'm going to skip a bit ahead in my travel adventures so I can tell you about a fun afternoon of shopping I had at Harrods in London and a couple of splurges I made.
I had high hopes for my first-ever trip to Harrods; it was one of those shopping destinations that I had heard so many people talking about over the years and after seeing the infamous Harrods bag carried by many a stylish lady, I was determined to be let in on the secret of the world's most beautiful department store.
It was even more important for me to visit the store given my family history: my late grandmother was a senior fashion buyer for Harrods in the 1930s, where she had worked her way up from being a Clerk at the age of 14. It was through working at Harrods that she met my grandfather, who was in the rag trade business and was selling his pieces to Harrods.
They say fashion comes full circle and in this case I think it very much does.
I had planned to make a few splurge purchases on my trip and knew that Harrods would be the perfect place to make them. Not only do they stock every major designer label a seasoned shopper could wish for {including the likes of Chloe, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney + Mulberry} the store itself is luxurious and everything from the overly helpful staff, the decadent bathrooms {complete with perfume for you to use}, and the plush decor made my shopping experience everything I could have hoped for...and then some.
The Blazer
I wear blazers all the time - to work, on the weekend, shopping, out with friends - what I love most about them is their versatility. So investing in a timeless blazer that would never date was high on my list. I tried on several but kept coming back to this perfect-fitting Helmut Lang blazer.
The Classic Pump
I found myself in shoe heaven after discovering the both the custom designed Manolo Blahnik + Christian Louboutin shoe boutiques on the first floor at Harrods. I was tossing up between a stunning pair of Mary-Jane Manolo's {yes, just like the one's Carrie lusted after in the Vogue shoe closet}; Louboutin pumps or a pair of Jimmy Choo patent pumps. I decided to go with the Jimmy Choo's as they are such a versatile shoe that I knew I could easily wear with jeans, a suit or a cocktail dress, plus they are super comfortable {if that is even possible?}.
I have to say that since I have gotten home I have worn the blazer on numerous occasions; so even though it was expensive I know the cost per wear will be very low. The shoes I haven't worn quite as regularly, but I know have a classic pair of pumps to pull out on any given occasion.
If you are ever in London I highly recommend visiting Harrods; it truly is a beautiful place to shop; and if not, well their online store is only a click away!
Rachel xo