Simple Summertime Tea with Fresh Strawberries

Iced tea is ideal for warm, sunny weather. Here's how you can make some of your own.

Step 1: Brew a fruit flavored tea as usual. I chose echinacea and raspberry tea from Twinings. Make sure you use a large mug so you have enough water.

Step 2: Take the tea bag out after a few minutes and let it cool down. I let mine sit for about 15 minutes.

Step 3: Pour the cooled tea into a glass over ice.

Step 4: Toss in some freshly cut strawberries and enjoy outside!

9 Best Shops to Buy Dresses Online

Modcloth: The largest, and most adorable collection of retro dresses (like the one pictured to the right). I love this website because they have styling tips with every product description, and the brand has a strong online community.

Anthropologie: Vintage and indie inspired designs. You can also have a styling consultation on what to pair your dress with if you haven't a clue which shoes and accessories to add. In the product reviews, girls can add their body type, which can give you a better idea of how things might fit.

ASOS: Cute, feminine, sexy and just about any other adjective you can think of to describe dresses. This e-tailer has over 2,000 styles of dresses. Amazing. And each product has a runway clip, so you can see the dresses in motion.

Miss Selfridge: Another shop with an unbeatable range of dresses. They have a designated "dress shop" with categories from day to night dresses to bodycon dresses. And they have a side view of their dresses, instead of the standard front/back/close up, which is very useful.

Romwe: City street style meets online fashion. You sort of have to sift through the dresses, but there are some true gems if you look closely. Plus, everything is pretty affordable and there's free regular shipping worldwide.

Rare London: Fun and funky, I love the dresses on this site. My favorites are the ballerina dresses and strapless styles with fringe. Lots of unique options.

Alice and Olivia: Ultra girly, candy-colored frocks. This collection of dresses screams summer. What's also great is that you can read a fairly detailed description of the dress to get a better idea of what you're buying. For example: "sequins and beading featured on a tulle overlay".

To spoil yourself or for window shopping

Frockaholics: Elegant designer dresses. I'm not a fan of their daytime dresses, but most of their evening dresses are incredible... sweeping floor length gowns, decorated at the bust, or dresses with all over embellishment. Makes me want to host a black tie event at my flat.

Farfetch: Collection of dresses from top designers. Nearly every dress on this site is wishlist worthy. And, they have a fantastic search feature to let the buyer find pieces quicker.

If I'm missing any great shops on my list, let me know!

Sunny Afternoon in a Lilac Dress

Picnic Pretty by fashionandtea featuring a lilac dress

Body Paint in Stopmotion Creates an Image of Couture

Artistic, yet fashionable. Reminiscent of Alexander McQueen ©

African Market in Covent Garden

The African Market brought a bit of vibrancy to Covent Garden this afternoon. I went to the last one in Shoreditch, and the market delivered once again today... Ghanaian print hair bows, skirts made from Nigerian fabric, and jewelry from around the continent set inside the Africa Centre to the beat of drums and the hum of the bar. Lovely afternoon.

African drumming 

        

Colorful accessories made by Be You T

Handmade tambourine with bottle caps and wood

       

Jewelry designs inspired by African roots: Soul Apparel 

Cute card holders and other accessories created by Leila Heinel

The next market will be at Richmix on 3rd June.

Burberry Summer '12

Burberry Summer '12 by fashionandtea featuring burberry tote bag

Burberry long dress, $2,448
Burberry espadrille wedge, $550
Burberry tote bag, $1,295

Brighton Fashion Week is Coming!

The girls and I are going to be heading to Brighton Fashion Week next weekend. It'll be a five-day event showcasing the most brilliant creations of distinctive designers in Southern England. Described as "a hub for individualism, and a haven to the underground," Brighton should provide one of the most artistic and creative fashion events to the UK. It'll kick-off with an eccentric catwalk show on Wednesday, 30th May and ends with plenty of designs on the catwalk of ready to wear shows on Sunday, 3rd June. Throughout the week, there will also be off site events happening. We looked up train tickets from London the other day, so if you're coming from the city, you might be able to find a ticket from £10 here: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Find the schedule, info on designers, and more: http://www.brightonfashionweek.com/

Fashion & Film: Norman Cavazzana

An emotional film with decorative fashion.

African Inspired Look:

Out for Coffee by fashionandtea featuring platform shoes

FAIR true printed top, £75
Silk skirt, $206
Platform shoes, $48
Mar Y Sol clutch handbag, $85

Feminine Looks for Sunny Days

Summer is upon us, and I can feel it! The weather has been beautiful over the past couple of days. As we transition from spring to summer, it's best to trade in your rain boots for high heels, and coats for light blazers or bare arms. These are some of my favorite looks from Look Book for warmer weather.

I love that these heels add a bit of sunshine to a neutral dress and blazer.

The print on this skirt is a fun contrast to her crochet top. Plus, open toe heels are perfect for sunny days.

A galactic purple bustier, with a twirl-worthy pink skirt can leave you basking in the warmth of sunshine and admiration of passers-by. 

Classic red on black and white makes this outfit. Short sleeves with stripes and a short circle skirt is a great combination for spring/summer. 

Shoe Designer for Tiny & Not So Tiny Feet

I was so excited when I found Andres Machado on Amazon! My feet are not so tiny, and it takes me forever to find shoes that I actually love and look just as cute in my size as they do in a 5 (UK). You can find everything from slippers to sexy high heels in special sizes from this designer. See what you can find for yourself: Amazon: Andres Machado. I bought the adorable rose heels below. In the mail as we speak!

Victim Fashion Street's Sample Sale and Tea Party

One of my favorite designers and F&T's March designer of the month hosted a cute tea party and sample sale on Brick Lane yesterday. Vintage tea cups and sweet cakes were the perfect little editions to the upcycled collections of Victim Fashion Street. My faves were backless cotton dresses with lace trim, and British themed creations.

Designer Meihui and her daughter Freya

Fashion & Film: Rencontrer

Rencontrer is a street style type of fashion film, shot in beautiful Paris.

Vintage Boutique and Cocktails

This sounds like a great place to browse a lovely collection of vintage finds with a cocktail in hand. I'll definitely check this out before it ends on Sunday.

Spending Rainy Nights in with Your Guy

April showers are going on far too long in London. Although my boyfriend and I have been going out some nights, there have been others when we've looked out the window and waved our white flag. More rain is forecasted this week, so we've both thought of ideas on how to spend rainy nights indoors.

• Video games: I grew up with two older brothers, so I'm used to sitting in front of the TV, watching boys play their games. But, it's so fun to join in and play a two-player video or computer game with your boy. I prefer car racing games because those are usually the only ones I ever have a chance at winning. Bowling on Wii is also lots of fun.

• Cook together: It's so easy to eat out in London, especially if you've both had a long day at work or it's the weekend. Instead of going out, look up a recipe neither of you have ever cooked and try something new together.

• Have a cocktail party for two: A lot of people have a book full of cocktail recipes they've received as a gift that is just accumulating dust on a bookshelf. Break it open and experiment with different cocktails. Or, you can look some up online. Get a little tipsy and proceed with the next tip.

• Listen to old music: I love playing music I used to listen to when I was like 13 (oh yes... B*Witched) with my friends. But, it's a great thing to do with your boy, too! You guys will be laughing for hours, and it's so much fun to reminisce.

Feel free to share any ideas you have, too!

Fashion & Film: Serpentine Dance

I saw a clip of this silent short film at the Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid. I just love how the fabric flows.