Incandescently Happy

Incandescently Happy. Selfridges & Co., London. December 2015.

London really knows how to show off during the holidays. I visited Oxford Street in December and was more interested in taking photos of the light installations in the squares and streets than shopping. It was a nice surprise to find equally elegant lighting details inside stores lined along Oxford Street.

A crowd favorite along Oxford Street is Selfridges & Co. Walking into Selfridges is walking into an experience—it is grand, stately, and classic—a time capsule into 1900s design. As I wandered through the floors, I stumbled across this hidden gem in the basement—a room that, to steal a line from Jane Austen, made me "incandescently happy." The idea of hundreds of bare bulbs illuminating a room is simple and obvious, and yet so elegant. I love the warmth this style of lighting exudes. I realize Selfridges is not the first to execute this concept, but given the atmosphere of the season, it was really magical to see. 

Souk Specialties

The hustle of the souks can give you anxiety or a good dose of adrenaline. I enjoy the frenetic action and, luckily, have a high tolerance for hard bargaining. Once you enter the maze, it is very difficult to exit without gaining some extra weight along the way. All self-restraint seems to go out the window. I ventured into the souk surrounding Jemaa el-Fna Square with one item in mind to purchase - a camel colored leather backpack. Of course, my shopping list grew significantly as I began to browse, bargain, and see what my Swatchroom Service teammates were picking up. 

Shopping in the souks is budget friendly as long as you are willing to play some hardball. Since you rarely find a price tag on any item, be ready with a number in mind. My rule of thumb, take a vendor's initial offer and counter with 1/3 of their asking price. Start there, be firm, haggle, but be prepared to walk away if they do not budge. If you walk away, more often than not, you won't get far before they track you down and accept your offer. Vendors are skilled at upselling and sometimes it works to your advantage if you bundle a few finds at one storefront. 

Here are a few things I picked up: 

• Cognac Medical Bag: 650 MAD
• Moroccan Wedding Blanket: 1,800 MAD
• Pillow Cases: 200 MAD
• White Moroccan Pouf Ottoman: 250 MAD
• Camel Colored Backpack: 600 MAD
• Black Crossbody Bag: 250 MAD
• Patterned Clutch: 100 MAD
• Fuscia Clutch: 85 MAD
• Hamsas: 600 MAD
• Horn Pendant: 130 MAD
• Eucalyptus and Jasmine Oils: 50 MAD
• Glasswear: 170 MAD