London: The day before the end of the world.

It was a rainy day in London, so Mom and I went to the Victoria and Albert Museum--easily one of my top five favorite museums ever. I think it's now one of my mom's favorites too! Instead of lengthy descriptions of everything, I'm just going to share pictures.

Robe à la Polonaise wins, hands down.

Why don't men still dress this way?

After the clothing exhibit, we went through all the Medieval and Renaissance rooms...

15th century Italian.

You have been weighed, you have been measured, and you have been found wanting.

And then, my favorite rooms: Britain 1500-1760, and 1760 onward (but we stopped around 1910 because what's the point).

Elizabethan mittens.

The inspiration for Chucky 2: Bride of Chucky.

Interior, 11 Henrietta Street.

I like wide hips and I cannot lie.

Apparently, the V&A added interactive rooms...which often had clothing items in them. So, what did the 18th century have? Hoops and a petticoat that would have gone under a robe à la française. With an audience of several British children who kept throwing me strange looks over their shoulders, I donned these lovely undergarments that someone felt the need to rip at the waist. Do people have no respect for 18th century fashion?!

I can't believe I'm putting these on the internet.

Without fail, I found the rest of their eighteenth century fashion on display. Below: a Spitalfields (Garthwaite) silk robe à l'anglaise, shoes, and a men's coat.

Another example of eighteenth century fashion--as well as a favorite style of mine--the robe à la française.

In the Victorian section, they had another interactive room. A very entertaining (and handsome) British gentleman and his son watched while I helped my mom into a mid-century corset and hoop skirt. Jokes about sitting in chairs, breathing, and women fighting for decades to defeat the restricting undergarment abound with our audience. (Much improved over my glaring youngsters...Hurrumph.)

 I think I know who I get my belle from...

I will say that while we were going through the gift shop, there was a cute little British girl picking up everything and playing with it, so her mom told her, "I would prefer if you look at those with your eyes, not your hands. You're so much better at looking with your eyes, you know!" These people. I love them.

So, after the V&A, we went to Harrods. We spent hours in there before walking down Sloane Street to Sloane Square, getting on the Tube, and calling it a night.

 Christmas in Knightsbridge.

I think I had a moment, if you will, with our dinner waiter, but all too soon the moment had passed. Tomorrow is another day of museums and shopping. Unfortunately, the candlelight performance of Handel's Messiah at St. Martin in the Fields is sold out tomorrow night, but I'm sure we'll find some way to entertain ourselves.