Hi style stars,
I’m writing to you from an island in Italy, on a friend’s laptop. Mine is dead because I forgot to bring a European adapter and all the stores around us only sell lemons, flip-flops and beads.
Yesterday I wore an orange bikini with Jackie O glasses (from CVS maybe), Havianas and a creamy orange bangle. On top, a short white dress with flared sleeves and eyelet loops.
Today the same bikini bottoms with an orange and pink swirled top, sort of seventies, and a strange blue-grey eyelet swing dress with a round collar, which I got last week on Portobello Road. Someone stole my Havianas at the pool.
I’m trying not to spend much time fiddling around in Google docs while I’m here. No emails, just red hot sun behind my eyes.
There was a lot I wanted to write about in London. But it’s a big city, and I realized I couldn’t do it all before I split for holiday. And I like people in their own words, on their own turf.
So, this week you get to spend 48 hours with Camilla, a home counties girl fresh out of uni with a love of perfume and a boyfriend who makes her day-of-the-week knickers.
Camilla has a look people want since she was a teenager. Her photos would blow up on Pinterest and Instagram. Her style is British in its own way, I think — moody, lush, cool, a little cobwebbed.
I asked if she’d take us around London for two days and tell us the important things: what she slept in, her favorite tube line and whether or not she had a good day.
Name: Camilla
Age: 22
Occupation: At the moment, I'm working part-time as a bartender to save up some money. The plan is to do a masters in Archive and Records management, but I am also in the process of learning the art of perfumery. I have an exciting project in the works… so hopefully I will be able to escape the grips of hospitality soon.
Hometown/where you live now: My hometown is in Surrey. It was a lovely place to grow up. I moved to London when I started studying and lived in various places, my favourite area was Belsize Park. I am now at home with my parents again, but I pretty much live part-time at my boyfriend's house.
Your life in 2-3 words: quiet, cluttered and familiar.
London style in 2-3 words: unpredictable, expensive, walking
Your tube line: I love the Bakerloo line, especially when the lights flicker on and off. I hope they never modernise it.
Breakfast: Oat iced latte, a few figs and crisp menthol juul.
Hours 0-24
What time you woke up: around 6:30 am- my animals always let me know when they want their breakfast, so sleeping in late isn’t really an option. I do love waking up early, though. I am definitely more of a morning person.
What you slept in: It was fairly warm, so I slept in my favourite vintage nightdress from St Michael's. I found it in a charity shop for about £2!
As always, I was woken up by my dog. He has actually managed to get me into a really good routine of waking up early.
I felt excited today! My work is closed for a few weeks for refurbishment, so I'm trying to squeeze in as much to my days as I can- not waking up with pre-work anxiety is nice. Although I do like the routine of walking to work and back.
The weather: The sun is out, so I am happy!! I love sleeping with my window open and hearing the birds in the morning.
Breakfast: Oat iced latte, a few figs and crisp menthol juul.
Your outfit: not in the mood to dress up today, so I threw on my favourite skinny jeans and my new black top. Underneath, I am wearing a very old lace bralette and my day-of-the-week knickers that my boyfriend made for me. I also have a purple jumper in my bag as I will probably end up complaining about being cold.
My boyfriend Jack and I got dressed and worked our way to Knightsbridge. I have really been enjoying exploring areas of London that I wouldn't usually spend time in. We decided to treat ourselves and spend too much on sandwiches from Harrods for our Hyde Park picnic. It was so worth it, but the Harrods food court is a bit chaotic.
Hydration of choice: Coconut water- I tried a new one which had pineapple juice in it. It was pretty good, but plain is the best.
Lunch: Jack and I both bought a huge artichoke and truffle sandwich from Harrods lol. It was actually worth the £12 I spent on it. We had a great time eating it in Hyde Park.
After our picnic, we eventually headed over to The George Tavern in Shadwell to see Daffo [indie band] play. We arrived a tad early, so we sat outside and enjoyed some beers. I rarely drink alcohol, so the beer didn’t go down too well. The gig was lovely. All my favourite songs were played, so I left feeling content. I always forget how much I love live music!
High point: Lying in the sun and seeing Daffo play.
Low point: probably feeling nauseous after one half pint of beer
Listening to anything interesting? I enjoyed silence today
Best outfit you saw: many great outfits at the George Tavern. Lots of good shoes
Worst outfit you saw: There were some interesting outfits in Harrods…I saw a man wearing some crazy chunky trainers. I dread to think how much he spent on them
Dinner: I ate so much bread at lunch, so I wasn’t too hungry. I ate a ‘kind bar’ that I got for free from a stall next to the station, and had a few bites of Jack's vegan Cornish pasty.
We travelled home and sat at the back of the DLR by the big window. I was so sleepy, so I took my makeup off and got straight into bed with a cup of herbal tea.
What time you went to bed: I went to bed at around 1 am. We got home late and stayed up watching Virgin Island(very strange show). As usual, I fell asleep and missed half the show.
Good day? It was a lovely day. I wish I could have overpriced picnics every day.
Not in the mood to dress up today, so I threw on my favourite skinny jeans and my new black top. Underneath, I am wearing a very old lace bralette and my day-of-the-week knickers that my boyfriend made for me.
Hours 25-48
What time you woke up: around 7 am.
What you slept in: I slept in my favourite silky nightdress again. It's like sleeping naked without the fear of sleeping naked.
The weather: the sun is out again with a little breeze. It’s light jacket weather.
Breakfast: a coffee with oat milk and cinnamon. Jack cooked us some tofu and mushrooms, with kimchi, avocado and a whole bunch of herbs. I love herbs so much- I have parsley, coriander and dill on almost everything.
Your outfit: I’m wearing my new brown knit top and skirt co-ord from Mais x Frida, Brown leather boots and my mum's old leather jacket. I wear a lot of my mum's old clothes.
Hydration of choice: coffee and herbal tea today. I have been enjoying jasmine and green tea lately.
Lunch: No time for lunch today as I am at a perfumery class.
High point: Making my perfect earthy, woody, rose perfume.
Low point: no low points today, other than pulling out my whole wardrobe trying to decide what to wear.
Today was another perfect day. I loved spending the day with my mum at the perfume class. I spend a lot of time with my mum. I learned so much about the raw ingredients of perfume and how they are made and where they come from. I smelled a really interesting cedar, which came from the wood of old whiskey barrels. One of my new favourite scents is Coumarin. I was a bit nose blind by the end of the class.
Listening to anything interesting? Listened to Addison Rae whilst I got ready. One of the women at the perfume class works as a writer for Fragrantica- so interesting hearing how she got into it. Apparently, putting plumber's tape around the perfume lid can help it last longer!
Best outfit you saw: I saw some great hats today. The mums of Hammersmith were so chic.
Worst outfit you saw: accidentally see-through leggings
My mum and I went to Richmond after the class was finished. My parents lived in Richmond whilst my mum was pregnant with me. We had a walk around and saw all the places they used to spend time in. I wish it weren’t so expensive because I would love to live there. It has a really nice balance of a city feel with lots of green space. We gossiped the whole journey home.
Dinner: Tofu red curry and Kale Tempura. The tempura was soooo good.
I had a pretty peaceful and slow evening. Jack and I went for a walk and fed the horses that live near me. They live in a field under a bridge next to the motorway-which feels like a slight juxtaposition. We fed the horses some chopped-up carrots and celery.
I got to pet the newly born foal, I think the mother recognises me now. I love spending time with them, they always put me straight into a good mood. I would love to lie in the field with them, but I think I would probably get told off.
We then walked down to the local pub and got a drink. I got a Diet Pepsi, and Jack got a cider.
What time you went to bed: I went to bed at around midnight. My boyfriend stayed over again, so I stayed up a bit later than usual. I'm usually half asleep by 10.
Good day? Perfect day. I was a bit nervous for the perfumery class, but I had the best time and learned so much.
This week has been so full of new things. I felt so inspired after the perfume-making class. I've been struggling with feeling creative and motivated recently- well, ever since graduating, really. I think a lot of that is down to feeling uncertain about what I want to do with my life.
Hearing how the class teacher, Sarah McCartney, became a perfumer reminded me that it’s not always a linear journey, and we often end up in completely unexpected careers! So I have decided to keep learning and see where it takes me…
camilla is so gorgeous!
love love love