We stepped into May and even though the sun has been playing hide and seek a little, it’s been lovely enough outside that cafes are starting to colonise the pavements in earnest, blackboards pointing to secret roof bars are popping up across the city, and Londoners are bravely leaving their jackets at home, venturing out in cardigans and sunglasses. This is something I really love about living in the UK: how ready everyone is to embrace any day of above average temperatures and their resilience in giving a shrug to the intermittent cloudy skies.

Of course May also means two blessed long weekends for the Bank holidays and there’s been just enough of the promise of Summer close-by to get me excited. For me that means booking short trips to the English seaside (Hastings at the end of the month!), pencilling dates in the calendar to invite friends around for cocktails and barbecue on the terrace, and of course diving into my favourite magazines for Spring/Summer Fashion inspiration.

Whenever I’m flicking through the printed pages though, I get inspired but I also often find myself craving the feel of the garments: manipulating the fabric with my own hands, inspecting designs up close and marvelling at the lightness of a dress, the embroidery of a sleeve or the intricate details of a leather handbag. That’s what I love most about shopping for new pieces: the element of discovery and the craftsmanship.

Luckily, living in London means easy access to an array of original labels, designers and independent boutiques, from vintage to heritage, alternative and modern, there is truly something for everyone and every budget right there on our doorstep or just a short bus ride away. We are very fortunate in this and I think perhaps this is something I take for granted a little? I’m sure I’m not the only one in this.

Yet, it does take just one afternoon of wanders camera in hand in one of the most stylish destinations the city has to offer to remind myself how diverse and exciting our Fashion scene is, and today I’m very excited to share with you a photo-diary that is Part One of a creative collaboration with Seven Dials and St Martin’s Courtyard to highlight the best of the fashion village across Womenswear, Lifestyle, Home, Beauty and Accessories.

For the occasion, I am making a handpicked guide of my favourite independent shops and labels ahead of the Spring Shopping Event of this Saturday May 9th so don’t miss out and grab your ticket today. It’s absolutely free to register and you will get 20% off across over 120 shops, bars and restaurants in the area. Exciting no?

They have a lot of things planned to make this a great afternoon out, from live music to street food, alfresco games, a pop-up urban garden around the dial, as well as complimentary makeovers, facials and massages in some of the participating boutiques. The media partners for this event are Elle and Esquire, whose editors will be hosting trend talks and have also selected a Spring wardrobe that’s up for grabs in a social media competition.

I personally attended the Spring Shopping Event last year with my friend Ioanna and grabbed some great finds at a very friendly price, so I encourage you to register for your free ticket today and I would love for you to stay tuned for my curated map guide to the area; I’m excited to share it with you. Now, for some photos of this weekend, you will notice that Rob makes an appearance! Details of our outfits at the end of the post.

Seven Dials and St Martin’s Courtyard
Spring Shopping Event | Free entry, register HERE
This Saturday May 9th from 12pm to 5pm
Follow on Twitter | @7DialsLondon and Instagram

Rob is wearing: Shirt – Ben Sherman // Jeans – River Island // Boots – Bellfield // Glasses – Gok Wan
Backpack – Asos.  Jesse is wearing: Dress* – COS // Jacket – Vintage // Shoes – Mellow Yellow
Necklace* – COS // Watch – Komono // Bag* – Urban Outfitters

Disclosure: This post is a collaboration between Seven Dials and Hecticophilia. If you’re interested in working with me, please head to my About page.

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