London Calling

So, it's happening again. My daydreams of moving back to London have resurfaced. Images of row houses, black taxis and Pret a Mangers around every corner dance about in my mind, tempting me to return to the city of posh accents and Kate Middleton. I'm thinking all I need is $3.5M to purchase this bright Holland Park flat (plus the $400 for a one-way plane ticket) and all will be well.

The whitewashed walls and wide-plank floors open up this admittedly small space. The Saarinen table along with the pink and yellow accents beckon my girly side, and the cobblestone street outside is the icing on the cake. Yes, I think I'd be quite happy here. Once settled in, I could walk to high tea at Kensington Gardens or peruse Portobello Road Market on Friday afternoon, before the weekend crowds descend.

If only...

Happy Weekend!

Channel Paris. And London. And New York...

Winter is tricky. At least in Chicago. Staying stylish under layer after layer is no easy fete. Unless you're a guy, in which case you throw on a suit, overcoat, wool scarf, and you're good to go. But when holidays and fancy parties roll around during below-freezing temperatures, what's a gal to do? Answer: think outside the box. Or for the purpose of this post, think outside your city. I'll be honest. The inspiration for this post was to feature the gorgeous overcoat my friend just purchased from Anthropologie (shown directly below). But it was just so fabulous and Parisian, I wanted to accessorize it up a bit. Which is when I came across the amaaaazing red hat. And it all kind of went from there... so here's to looking good, despite being cold, no matter where you live - thanks to inspiration from some of my favorite shops and the world's most stylish cities.

Channel Parisian chic via Anthropologie

with this ruffled overcoat and red flower hat.

Embrace your inner, trend-loving New Yorker

via Urban Outfitters with their slouchy coat and fringed boots.

Take a cue on staying warm from us Chicagoans via

J.Crew's colored trench and fluffy earmuffs.

Longing for a weekend away in foggy Londontown?

Dress the part with Ted Baker's large-collared coat and black and white scarf.

I don't really know what they do in LA come wintertime, but I imagine they keep it light and colorful. Pretend like you live there via French Connection's white double-breasted overcoat and cheery leather gloves.

Style Icon: Kate Middleton? Verdict: Definitely.

UK's Sweetheart and probable future Princess of England - Kate Middleton - sure knows a thing or two about dressing well. Whether it's her natural knack for fashion, a nod to the late Princess of Wales who always looked flawless, or a high-paid stylist that sets this girl on the right track, Middleton is rarely seen with a hair out of place. What I find most amazing though, is how someone can appear so pulled together while still looking relaxed and natural.

I'd hardly call her look gutsy or diverse, but why dapple in the unknown when you've got looking good down pat? I give Middleton's sense of style two thumbs up. If I could, I would most definitely raid her wardrobe. After all, as icons like Audrey Hepburn, the fictitious Charlotte York, and the late Princess Diana herself showed the world, class never goes out of style.

The KM Uniform:

Simple top, fitted blazer, skinny jeans,

and one fab pair of knee boots combine to create a classic look.

Recipe a la Kate with a twist:

Exchange the skinny jeans for a short plaid skirt
and some black nylons. Voila!

Impeccably tailored suits and coats make the perfect ensemble - formal yet feminine - for official events with her heir-to-the-thrown beau.

A fedora and graphic prints? This girl can pull off trendy, too.

And then there are the hats... oh! to live in England where it is acceptable, actually required, to wear fun, feathery hats to weddings. I know most Americans probably think they look silly, but I love them. And Kate looks gorgeous in them.