They call Iceland a land of contrasts, and that seems the only way of describing it. There is the landscape of fire and ice, boiling water and icy waterfalls, steaming geysers and giant glaciers. There is also the pride in their unique history and traditions, along with an ultra-modern hyper-consumerism reflected in the expensive shops dotted around Reykjavik (once the richest country in Europe, their economy has now essentially collapsed.) Or contrast the generally cold weather and icy landscape with the wonderfully happy, sunny dispositions of the people who live there. Or their extremely progressive views on most environmental issues, contrasted with outdated and harmful practices such as whaling.

This was my first trip to a Scandinavian country, and I must say that Reykjavik looked very much like I’d imagine a small Scandinavian city to look: elegant, pristine, bright, but with a certain coziness and warmth to it.

Aside from being a gorgeous place, Iceland is also paradise for a knitter. It must be the wonderful combination of Nordic and Celtic ancestry in Iceland, but knitting here is elevated to an artform. It has a rich history, and the colorwork pattern and designs from Iceland are some of the most beautiful I’ve seen. I was so inspired by them. My big splurge on this trip was a giant, gorgeous book of traditional Icelandic colorwork motifs and patterns, published by the local museum. I hope to share the book a little later.

You can also buy hand knitted goods in Reykjavik, some of which come with little tags telling you who knitted them.

More pictures on Flickr

We went to London! I happened upon a very cheap fare to London and Iceland (more on that later), so off we went to experience this mythic city.

First, let me tell you that I had big dreams where London is concerned. I am a voracious reader, and I think this quote from the beginning of Anna Quindlen’s book Imagined London sums it up well for me: “I felt about London the way most children my age felt about pen pals. I knew it well, but only at a distance, and only through words.”

There was part of me that doubted that London could live up to the glory of all the fictional stories set there, all the fictional characters who have lived there. Instead, I found London was even more London-ish than I’d anticipated, and even more wonderful.

Pictured above: Regent’s Park, some phone booths, Kenn near Brick Lane, the Sherlock Holmes museum (so cheesy but awesome!), Liberty of London (yes, I bought fabric), the Coburg bar at the Connaught hotel, Albion Emporium, the Tate Modern, and photos of Portobello road.

One of our last stops was Portobello Market, where we saw Michael Kors shopping and holding forth on fashion to his young entourage. He was just as tan as on TV.

More photos of London on Flickr

I want some floral tights like these worn by lefthandendeavor.

I often acquire loud tights but then don’t wear them much. Maybe they remind me a little too much of previous fashion blunders, like the bright red, yellow, and orange photorealistic fruit printed tights I had when I was 14. They were totally covered in fruit. Those got a lot of comments.

This photo from Andrea Singarella makes me happy.

I love vintage glamour and pinup illustration. While much of it seems a bit kitschy today, perhaps because of the pervasiveness of the imagery, there are certain illustrators who will always knock my socks off. Vargas is one, Enoch Bolles is another.

Bolles was best known for illustrating the covers of Film Fun magazine until it folded in 1943. I love how cartoony and graphic his girls look, and the gorgeous, saturated colors.

I love this image by Cecil Beaton, from 1930.

I am obsessing over the details in these 1930s fashion plates.

These tap pants are just incredible. I have nowhere near the 20″ to 25″ waist called for to wear these beauties (and they’re marked a size MEDIUM!), but maybe you do?

They are only $26 from redheadgingerbread. If I were a petite girl, they would be mine.