LILA Loves London

LILA Loves London

London is one of our favorite cities. It is impossible not to fall in love with the history, the tea, the castles, towers and palaces, and most of all the fashion. We are working very hard to find original British brands to collaborate with and bring a little bit of the United Kingdom back to the Main Line - but that is for another blog post - we wouldn't want to give anything away just yet! However, we would like to shed some light on some of our favorite British brands and designers... 1. Vivienne Westwood Dame Vivienne Westwood has got to be one of our fave English fashion designers. Westwood brought punk and new wave fashions to Britain and we love her for it! Now for a little bit of trivia - in the Sex and the City movie - Carrie Bradshaw's stunning, awe-inspiring, simply drop-dead gorgeous wedding dress - was a Westwood! This season however, wedding dresses aside, Westwood's Faded Tartan Hope Kilt was one of our personal favorites. Nothing says English like a little tartan! Screen Shot 2015-01-06 at 10.01.06 PM 2. Barbour Hmmm... our love affair with Barbour is a tale as old as time. We just cannot seem to get enough. Founded by John Barbour in 1894 the Barbour jacket is like no other - practical, comfortable and stylish. This season the Spark Trench Coat was our pick. This particular coat was influenced by Barbour's unique military heritage. Screen Shot 2015-01-06 at 9.45.22 PM 3. Fair Isle Sweaters The Fair Isle sweater has taken the world by storm. Sweater's such as this have been featured in major American fashion houses such as J.Crew, Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers and Free People. However, the only place you can find an original - the tiny island of Fair Isle in northern Scotland. We adore these sweaters and their heritage - intrigued? Check out Mati Ventrillion and start a consultation! Screen Shot 2015-01-06 at 9.23.12 PM 4. The Cambridge Satchel Company We have decided that for the female student, entrepreneur, young professional and business woman there is nothing better than the traditional English satchel. Originally used by school boys to carry their books the satchel has been transformed by the Cambridge Satchel Company. These bags made of genuine cows leather are truly unique. Will feature our new satchels in a later blog - want them personalized? They monogram in-store. The satchel below is part of the Metallic Seasonal Collection and one of our top picks! Screen Shot 2015-01-06 at 9.17.46 PM 5. Alexander McQueen Nothing says "edge" like a piece by Alexander McQueen. McQueen made the skull a fashion icon and we love him for it. For those ladies out there who can appreciate punk, prep and heritage but yearn for something bold, rebellious and free we are with you and so is McQueen. We adore McQueen's Deco Knucklebox Clutch with its brass hardware and gold finish and his Classic Silk Chiffon Skull Scarf in statement red and black colors. Screen Shot 2015-01-06 at 9.33.00 PMScreen Shot 2015-01-06 at 9.31.26 PM 6. Mulberry Founded in England in 1971 by Roger Saul, Mulberry has turned into an internationally renown company - celebrated for its stylish, leather, women's handbags! We could not agree more! Mulberry bags have a definite elegance to them and add a touch of British charm to any look. Their logo - a Mulberry tree. In this town however women are not the only ones who are fashion forward - men are often seen carrying Mulberry satchels and briefcases. We say the more the merrier! Our favorite this season is the simple, yet chic black Bayswater Tote. Screen Shot 2015-01-06 at 9.35.59 PM 7. Muubaa It is virtually impossible not to add Muubaa to the list of British fashion houses we can't do without. Our Muubaa jackets have served us well and have appeared in previous blog posts! Muubaa makes a leather motorcycle jacket like no other - edgy, stylish and with plenty of hardware - just as we like it! Muubaa has united bloggers from around the world, including San Francisco, New York, London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Milan and dozens of places in between to showcase how versatile Muubaa garments really are and how they enhance every woman's sense of fashion regardless of location. Check out their showcase here! Our fave this season  - the Santara Grey Leather Biker Jacket with shearling collar - it really doesn't get warmer or more fashion forward than this. Screen Shot 2015-01-06 at 9.28.16 PM 8. Ted Baker Last on our list but also dear to our hearts is fashion house Ted Baker - mixing a touch of punk with a whole lot of prep! Both of us own Ted Baker wallets and simply cannot get enough of the glitz and the glam that this fashion house has to offer. This seasons fave? The Maryah floral print wallet with bow and crystal clasp to boot. One hundred percent leather on the outside, this wallet is was built to keep you fashionable season after season. Screen Shot 2015-01-06 at 10.06.32 PM