“You can take the girl out of Chelsea, but you can’t take Chelsea out of the girl.”

It’s been a while since our Toronto editor, Athena Tsavliris, ventured home. Here, she shares some favourite haunts from her old London neighbourhood.

The Shop at Bluebird
This fashion/lifestyle store keeps getting better and better. You’ll find big labels like Moschino and Marni, as well as lesser-known gems like Peter Jensen and Osman. John Derian plates, Isabel Marant shoes, Cire Trudon candles and Vanessa Bruno bags all hang out in this super cool space. 350 King’s Rd., London, www.theshopatbluebird.com

French Sole
This is the only ballet flat we wear. (They’re quite spendy, but worth every penny.) The newest store is packed with every colour, finish and print imaginable. Look for the Harriet in cherry red leather or metallic sparkles. 323 King's Rd., London, 0207-351-1634, www.frenchsole.com

The Chelsea Physic Garden
One of Chelsea’s best kept secrets, this beautiful garden is lovely for lazy lunches and sweet scented strolls. Lunch is served in what feels like a school hall and is quintessentially English. Think bangers followed by treacle tart and cream. 66 Royal Hospital Rd., London, 0207-352-5646, www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk

Ad Hoc
We raided this place as teenagers, and it’s still a go-to if we're ever in need of a tutu, lace stockings, a neon wig or some fun faux baubles. 153 King's Rd., London, 0207-376-8829, www.adhoclondon.co.uk

Picasso
This Chelsea mainstay is our secret hangover spot. Bob Geldof and Eric Clapton were regulars, and even though the waitresses are moody and the food mediocre, there’s something about Picasso that has lasting appeal. 127 King's Rd., London, 0207-352-4921.

The Pig’s Ear
This pub has a great atmosphere and the food is pretty good too. In warmer months, punters spill out on to the street, it’s so popular. Try the steak tartare or one of the lovely seasonal risottos. 35 Old Church St., London, 0207-352 2908, http://www.thepigsear.info

Manolo Blahnik
The store is like a little shoe museum, with some of the most daring styles Blahnik designs. Many amazing pairs have been scored at its annual mega sale. Manolo Blahnik, 49-51 Old Church St., London, 0207-352-3863, www.manoloblahnik.com

Our new British girl crush isn’t Alexa Chung, Daisy Lowe or even Georgia Jagger. It’s the Guardian's fashion editor Jess Cartner-Morley. 

In her video blog, How to dress, Cartner-Morley expertly tackles a new fashion trend every week. From clogs and party dresses, to pulling off sorbet shades and the tuxedo look, she breaks new styles down from high-end to high street. We love how she translates even the trickiest trends for us mortals, without sacrificing the vital details. Her angle? Find what flatters you, instead of blindly following a fad from head to toe.

Watch How to dress and other Guardian Fashion videos here.

April 2009: Topshop opens its flagship store in Soho.

March 2010: Topshop begins shipping online orders to Canada.
One more sleep: Topshop arrives in Toronto.

Yes, tomorrow Toronto gets Topshop access in the flesh thanks to Ossington favourite, Jonathan + Olivia. J+O is expanding to carry a range of lines from the high street retailer including Topshop Unique, Boutique and even select pairs of shoes. As for La Moss’ latest collection, look for it in-store this fall. 

No word yet on pricing but if the supply is limited, get your elbows ready—we predict a riot at the racks.

Topshop in store at Jonathan + Olivia from June 19, 2010, 49 Ossington Ave., Toronto, 416-849-5956, http://jonathanandolivia.com

Mother, model, designer and author, India Hicks lives an inspiring life with her four children and partner on the island of Bahamas. Hot off the heels of her third marathon, Hicks whizzed into Toronto for the 2010 Canadian Fragrance Awards. Here, she shares anecdotes from London, the Bahamas and one monumental royal wedding:

You have a speedboat named 'Spider Lily' after your Crabtree & Evelyn fragrance. What other floral scents do you love?
Tea Rose. Princess Diana wore it on her wedding day and she gave all her bridesmaids a small glass vase of it.

Do you remember the first scent you ever bought?
I had rather avoided fragrance growing up. However, my happy but perfume-less existence was interrupted by the arrival of Crabtree & Evelyn, whose name alone stimulated memories of an English heritage capturing home comforts and remedies. Apparently my Caribbean island sensibility and simple aesthetic had caught their eye. We have since had a happy marriage.

You have modeled for Gap, J. Crew and Ralph Lauren, among many others – what other designers do you wear?
I love Day Birger et Mikkelsen, a Danish brand that designs very wearable clothes. I sell a lot of the collection in my shop The Sugar Mill, which I own with my Canadian partner Linda, who shares my sartorial taste.

Whether it’s fashion or interior design – how would you describe your style credo?
Modern classic, but not too modern. I love to look at modern rooms and trendy clothes, but I don't want to live in them or wear them.

You were bridesmaid to Princess Diana in 1981 and wore a very frothy dress. Can you share a funny moment from that day?
Ever since that day I have had an aversion to frills.  However, I am enormously proud to have played a part in that historical event. There were so many moments chronicled before millions and millions of people but there were also many tender private moments, such as Diana dressed in jeans wearing a diamond tiara on her head, waiting to climb into her wedding dress, or the tin cans Prince Andrew and Prince Edward tied behind the carriage that Charles and Diana rode away in with the Queen, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret running behind joyfully. It's not often we see our Majesty run.

What do you look forward to most as you touch down at Heathrow?
The seasons ...leaves falling, snow on the ground, fog in the air, or the smell of summer grass wet from the rain. The Caribbean does not experience seasons and our smells are entirely different.

What do you always bring back to the Bahamas after a trip to England?
English marmalade, marmite and licorice Allsorts.

There are plenty of things Toronto editor Athena Tsavliris misses about living in London—cheeky builders, double-decker busses, Marmite, flapjacks and the haberdashery at Peter Jones.

But now that Topshop ships to Canada, she’s got one less thing to miss.

On her wish-list is a nautical tunic dress (US$70, pictured), a vintage floral one-piece cozy (US$60) and a straw boater hat (US$40).

The prefect capsule wardrobe for a warm weekend on Hampstead Heath.

www.topshop.com

Step aside Nigella, there’s a new goddess in the kitchen whipping up wholesome treats like cauliflower cheese, pear and ginger muffins and grilled bananas with Greek yogurt and agave.

Model turned writer, Sophie Dahl brings a sweet, nostalgic voice to the subject of food in her first cookbook, Miss Dahl’s Voluptuous Delights ($36.99). “A welcome dream was a cloud made of trifle, a slick spring bubbling with chocolate or a fountain bursting with forbidden Sprite or Cherry Coke, ” she writes in her intro.

Herewith, a recipe for Clover Dahl's (Sophie’s younger sister) Carnation milk jelly:

1 packet strawberry jelly

125ml cup hot water

1 can evaporated milk

Slices of strawberry, swirls of cream and curls of chocolate to decorate (optional)

Dissolve the jelly in the hot water. When the mixture is cool, whisk in the evaporated milk until the mixture is thick and frothy. Leave it to set for at least two hours. Cover the jelly with strawberry slices, swirls of cream and curls of grated chocolate, if you wish - the camper the better, really.

At Good Egg, 267 Augusta Ave.,Toronto, 416-593-4663, www.goodegg.ca

If your man sat through Dear John you owe him big time.

Start with a sweater, scarf or hat from cool British brand, Folk. It’s one of the best independent labels out there, with gorgeous Peruvian cotton knits, resin coated overcoats, super soft shirts and boxy bomber jackets.

He’ll love you forever, and hey, you may even rope him into When in Rome.

At UPC, Lower Level, 128 1/2 Cumberland St., Toronto, 416-929-9209, www.upcboutique.com

With the humble postcard making a comeback after years of being stamped out, we’ve discovered an original way to send one.

A London company, Postcard Teas, will send your postcard affixed to a lovely bag of loose teas.

Simply choose your tea from the wide selection, fill out the virtual postcard, and they will print it out and post your tea anywhere around the world.

It’s such a charming way to say ‘Thank you,’ ‘I miss you’ or ‘Let’s meet for a cuppa’ – and far more personal than a speedy tweet or text could ever be.

www.postcardteas.com

109 Mile End Road is possibly the most fashionable address in London.

The locale for dozens of glamorous fashion and décor shoots, this 300-year-old townhouse has housed plenty a celebrity from Helen Mirren to Orlando Bloom.

It’s also a gorgeous guesthouse for visiting models, photographers, actors and other creative types.

Homeowner David Carter (an interior designer) has allocated two rooms for guests, both chicly appointed with vintage trunks, mannequins and whimsical furnishings.

Consider it a home away from home (no check-in, no staff etc.) in a great location with your own parking spot and use of a washer/dryer and a kitchen.

Now, if only home were this grand.

40 Winks, from $100-$130 per night. 011 44 020-7790 0259, www.40winks.org

We’re always impressed with chicas who can shimmy in 5-inch stilts, especially as we can barely manage a kitten heel.

Truthfully, we’re happiest in flats, and with brogues being the flat for fall we can’t wait to get our tootsies into a pair from F-Troupe.

We’ve got our eye on patent leather star cutout oxfords—a favourite among celebrities and fashion editors. Other foppish styles ($155-$215) from this UK-based cobbler include ankle boots, saddle shoes, and gorgeous Navajo-inspired ballerinas in various colours.

So pretty and so comfy, we can’t wait to shimmy into fall.

Available at Robber, 863 Queen St. W., Toronto, 647-351-0724, www.robberstore.com