What I Wore in London

A day-by-day recap of my looks (with links!)

(Photos by Jarrard Cole)

I used to be the kind of traveler who stuffed everything I could into a single carry-on suitcase. Efficiency was the name of the game! No checked bags! Since the pandemic, I’ve been enjoying a bit more fashion whenever I venture away from home. And I love it! What a delight it is to wear something fun in a new city. I have found it adds to the overall travel experience in a way I really appreciate.

That was the energy with which I shopped and packed for my trip to cover the coronation of King Charles III. Below is a look at what I wore each day. But first! Three overall tips that helped guide me:

• Pick a signature shade. You’ll notice a lot of HRH blue here! Choosing one color as the focal point makes selecting new pieces easier and lends consistency to your series of looks. It could be your all-time favorite hue or one you are drawn to this season.

• Pack your faves! There are several pieces from my closet that I wear all the time and repeated throughout the week, including my favorite white jeans, a classic gray cashmere sweater I bought for last year’s Platinum Jubilee trip, and my most comfortable sneakers. These staples are a great base for any travel outfit.

• Lean into accessories. Small and easy-to-pack pieces add a welcome punch to any ensemble. Scarves are my favorite! They can be tied around your neck or wrist one day and then on the handle of your tote the next. Don’t sleep on hair accessories, either! The perfect finishing touch. I also found myself constantly reaching for these versatile sunglasses (on sale right now) as well as this adorable bag I picked up (for under $20) on a last-minute trip to Target.

🎧 ICYMI: The final episode of my SMT Coronation Podcast is an audio recap of my trip! Click here to listen.

What I Wore in London

Note: Some of these are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting SMT!

Day 1

Outfit 1 — Travel to London

Click to shop: Suitcase large / Suitcase small / Knit pants (similar) / Sneakers / Black tote

The flight from Los Angeles to London clocked in at 10-plus hours, meaning I need to travel in something comfortable! My new Away suitcases held up well — and held a lot. (Word of warning: I was just under the weight limit on the big one. So be careful when packing!)

Outfit 2 — Buckingham Palace visit

Click to shop: Jeans (similar) / Tote / Trench (similar) / Trench (similar) / Sneakers / Sunglasses (on super sale!)

My HRH blue trench by Theory was one of the stars of this trip. I splurged on it last year for the Platinum Jubilee and it has proved well worth the investment! I was nervous that the color would be limiting but it’s been surprisingly versatile. It’s no longer available but I’ve linked similar ones here. 

A note on scarves: Both my blue and purple scarves are from QEII’s Platinum Jubilee last year. The purple one was a gift from perfumer Floris and the blue one I bought at Buckingham Palace from the special Machin collection. If you are visiting the U.K., look for the scarf at the gift shops at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle — I saw a few there, and on sale!

Day 2

Outfit 3 — Kensington Palace ‘Crown to Couture’ exhibit

Click to shop: THE COAT / Black tote / Black flats / Black turtleneck sweater / Black frayed hem cropped jeans (similar)

Ahead of my trip, I received a flurry of DMs informing me it still felt like winter in London. With that in mind, I brought THE COAT, which is longer and heavier than you’d think. I wore it on my first full day in the city and it proved to be a little much — spring had arrived! Still, it felt right to wear it to Kensington Palace to visit the Crown to Couture exhibit.

Outfit 4 — Tea at Sketch

Click to shop: Dress (on super sale!) / Handbag / Gold platform sandals / Necklace

Then it was back to the hotel for a quick change before afternoon tea. I bought this dress thinking it was the perfect night-out attire on a warm weather vacation. But it got an early debut at Sketch, which is as fun as everyone says it is! The dress was out of stock but now it’s back, and on sale! Note: The neckline on this dress is very low! I didn’t mind but I’m quite flat chested. 

Day 3

Outfit 5 — Buckingham Palace ‘Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians’ exhibit

Click to shop: White jeans / Gray sweater / Sneakers / Tote / Scarf (similar) 

I squeezed in a quick trip to Buckingham Palace to see the new ‘Dressing the Georgians’ exhibit. It was fascinating! I swapped out my blue jeans for white ones, and tied my scarf around my neck (love the versatility of a scarf!) so it didn’t look exactly like my first day look.

Outfit 6 — Day trip to Windsor Castle

Click to shop: Linen trench / Dress (under $30) / Hat (under $15) / Flats / Handbag / Scarf (similar) / Necklace

The main event on Thursday was our trip to Windsor. Because of the aforementioned weather warnings, I did a quick trip ahead of time to my local mall in search of springtime coats. This linen trench is divine! It’s warm without being heavy. It layered well over this soft floral dress (an updated print in the same style that I bought and wore all last summer).

Day 4

Outfit 7 — Live shot with NY1

Click to shop: Suit jacket / Suit pants / Nude pumps

The day before the coronation had three different occasions and three of my most favorite outfits! I began the day with breakfast and a live shot with my friend, NY1 superstar Jamie Stelter. This blue suit worked really well for both — and it was extremely comfortable — plus these new nude heels, made by Dr. Jill Biden’s go-to brand. Even though we got caught in a flash hail storm (!!) both the suit and the shoes somehow dried and didn’t look awful? 10/10 recommend!

Outfit 8 — Tea at Claridge’s

Click to shop: Dress (other colors) / Dress (exact) / Mini version / Earrings / Gold platform sandals  / Gold ballet flats

Then it was off to tea at Claridge’s with this dream of a dress I was gifted by Staud. It comes in a whole range of prints and colors. It’s voluminous in the best, most fairytale way. I’ll say that it is quite long — you can see how the hem grazed the floor even in my tallest platforms. Good news, there’s a mini version, too! Linked above.

Outfit 9 — SMT meet-up

Click to shop: Lace nap dress / Slip / Sweater / Bow / Blue platform heels

And finally, for the SMT meet-up, I had to wear a Hill House Nap Dress! This white lace one was gifted to me (thank you, Nell!) as was the sweater, bow, and heels. Highly recommend the slip that comes with it, it’s the perfect under garment. This might have been one of the most fun looks of my trip.

Day 5 

Outfit 10 — Heading to the crowds

Click to shop: Silver flats / White jeans / Gray sweater / Hello! tote bag / Sunglasses

Coronation day started very early! I made my way through the streets of London to the Hello! meeting spot in a pair of silver flats I ordered just days before my trip (thank goodness for speedy shipping!). I wore these so much more than I expected — they come in a range of colors. Also, I got a lot of questions about my Hello! bag featuring the queen. It is from last year’s jubilee but they made a new version for KCIII.

Outfit 11 — Covering the Coronation

Click to shop: Dress / Heels / Earrings

This dress was the first thing I ordered for the trip! The minute I saw it, I knew it was exactly what I wanted. For starters, it’s a British brand worn by many royals. What’s more, the suit-like blazer top and the pleated skirt held up well throughout the long day (even after standing in the rain multiple times). I added a pair of earrings from Susan Caplan, who provides the vintage jewelry used on The Crown (this is a style worn by Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth!) and some sparkly heels because it was a coronation after all!

Day 6 

Outfit 12 — Royal Mews + London Eye

Click to shop: Trousers / Necklace / Sneakers / Sunglasses / Tote / Scarf  (similar)

No time to rest! I booked tickets for Sunday morning the Royal Mews to see the Gold State Coach and the other assorted carriages in the royal collection. Then it was off to the London Eye for a birds-eye view of the city. These voluminous chinos were a bit of an impulse buy, but I love them. So comfortable yet so chic! With trousers this size, I wanted a lower profile so as not to add any bulk, hence the (Kate-inspired) white sneakers.

Outfit 13 — Coronation Concert 

Click to shop: White jeans / Gray sweater / Purple coat / Silver bow / Silver flats / Bracelets / Hello! Tote Bag

Sunday evening was capped off with a trip to Windsor for the Coronation Concert. I slipped back into my silver flats and white jeans, layered under this incredible coat Hill House gifted me for the trip. It’s fittingly called the Duvet style — it feels like wearing a blanket! If that blanket came with sparkly buttons. Talk about a statement piece! I paired it with another HH bow, this one I’ve had and worn for years.

Day 7

Outfit 14 — Work Meetings + Interviews

Click to shop: Blue polka dot dress / Nude pumps / Sneakers

And finally! One last working day of the trip. I recorded a podcast with the Hello! team that morning, followed by lunch with British designer Bruce Oldfield and then an interview with Inside Edition. I adore this dress! So comfortable, and by a British brand that has become one of my favorites (I also wore one of their designs to meet First Lady Dr. Jill Biden in January). This dress looked as good with white sneakers as it did with heels. A win!

I’ve already repeated my Windsor Castle outfit for a six year old’s birthday party last weekend — proof these pieces have a longer life ahead of them!

💭 Have any questions for me? I’d be happy to answer them in the comments.