Those of you who follow me on Instagram will already know that I had a whale of a time at carnival this year.
Phoebe and I spent the day wiggling away to reggae, hip hop & dance hall.
We made friends from all over the world and I met a few of my amazing readers.
It only seems right that I kick off my carnival photo diary with The King.
Bob.
We bumped into Ben from Yacht Week, who made quite an impression on Phoebe!
Liz.
My shirt is from Topshop (sold out, similar here), shorts are by Fashion Against Aids (sold out, similar) belt by Mulberry and sunglasses by Ray Ban .
I got arrested for being a snap happy little paparazza.
Sorry Mum!
Thankfully he let me off with a warning.
Phoebe celebrated with back flips.
In Topshop shorts and RI high-tops.
For lunch we lay on a lawn with big ol' plates of jerk chicken and rice... not quite as good as mine, but hey, beggars can't be choosers.
We danced until the sun went down... when the crowds started getting a little lary.
Phoebe and I held hands, ducked down behind a swarm of riot police and ran all the way home.
Yes we're wimps, but having danced since 10am we were ready for pizza and bed.
Now the clouds of Jerk chicken and dope smoke have faded away, leaving The Hill to its yummy mummies and ladies who brunch.
Is Notting Hill Carnival a London phenomenon or are there similar parties where you live?
.
You are the last person in THE WORLD I expected to go to carnival.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. The Londoner lives for this stuff.
DeleteI disagree. The Londoner lives for this stuff.
DeleteIt looks like you had a lovely time! :)
ReplyDeleteYou know all the other "big" bloggers would have said "Carnival! blah blah blah" and included 8 photos of their outfit, no photos of their friends, or ANY of the people IN THE ACTUAL carnival.
ReplyDeleteYours seems to be the only successful blog that actually documents events as well as the obligatory outfit shots.
I'd love to start my own but do you think you could explain how you became so successful? Is it just a fluke? Are you the exception to the fashion blogger "me me me" rule or is there room for more of us?
I'd really appreciate your insight.
Yenna
x
Rose is a fantastic blogger. If you look at the best people, brands or companies with a social media presence you will see they are authentic communicators. Simply talking at their audience doesn't cut it anymore and the best of them will sustain a dialogue just like Rose does. They're open, honest and don't come across as just trying to sell something. You see with some bloggers that their posts are very very obviously PR driven and one-sided: they don't reply to comments, the reader doesn't feel involved and essentially the blog feels like you are reading a glossy mag - it's all so detached. Rose doesn't overly moderate nasty comments, she replies to many of her readers and doesn't underestimate the importance readers place on their "relationship" to her. It works like a friendship - each post is like catching up with a friend, sharing tips and tales but also giving a very privileged look into parts of her world. I think this is authenticity is what makes Rose a superior blogger and why we enjoy reading The Londoner so much. Sorry, Rose, for sharing these observations about you on your own blog - please take it as a compliment and sign of appreciation for your approach to blogging.
DeleteAgreed, and put so much better than myself.
DeleteI really enjoyed the carnival this year - such a happy place!! I had some amazing food - it was mutton something - can't quite remember the name. I am already quite excited for next year.
ReplyDeleteIt looks amazing! Such lovely photos! x
ReplyDeleteI wanted to go to this so much!! Urgg, what I wouldn't give to live in London!!
ReplyDeleteWHITE PEOPLE.
ReplyDeleteLived in London for 2 years and never got round to going to Carnival...sob! If anyone hears about ANYTHING similar in Paris then I NEED to be informed! In the meantime I will seek out what I can and let you know!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had a good time! I would've loved to go this year... The food is just amazing!
ReplyDeleteJoelle
xoxo
Heeey i was wondering if you could give me some advice on how to feel more confident in myslef
ReplyDeleteIm 18 and i am honestly not attractive at all and it really gets me down and makes me feel like people treat me differently.
I know looks arent everything but i feel like everytime my open my mouth i just am saying something useless or annoying that no one wants to hear. I just dont want to feel so worthless anymore its starting to really really get me down.
Please help honesly even if you just give me one little tip it would mean the world
xxx
I know you didn't ask me, but I was the EXACT same way when I was 18! It took me three years to finally be able to tell myself that I WAS worth something and that if I just pretended like I had confidence, it would eventually just come naturally.
DeleteDon't feel like you're not attractive. Of course you are! Everyone was made differently and special. Looks-wise, learn to play up your good features. When you feel more beautiful, you'll be more confident! I'm not trying to advertise for my own blog, but I just started a lifestyle blog for those of us who just want to be comfortable in our own skin. I'll be writing about my own experiences with feeling down on myself and how I overcame them. If you're interested, read it! And don't hesitate to contact me. I was you four years ago, and I would have killed to have some good advice from someone who had also felt what I was feeling!
Sorry, I couldn't read this and not reply. Maybe it's a trolling post or a fake but still.
DeleteI'm sure if Rose saw this she'd reply.
Looks mean very little, certainly if you look at the most successful and intelligent women in this country they are not necessarily considered stereotypically beautiful (Margaret Thatcher is a prime example).
Everyone is attractive to someone and I'm sure you are to many more than you think. Even the women you consider the most beautiful will not be so to at least one person on this earth.
No one is worthless, nothing you say is useless, never be afraid of what other people think. It may take a long time but until then fake it. Pretend you don't care what they think, just try it and eventually you will realise you actually don't as half the people your worrying about are not "better" than you, they are just more confident and hide their insecurities.
Every single person is insecure deep down and at some level has the same worries as you, every girl thinks she's ugly at some point.
Remember every girl you see feels the same as you.
Take it from a guy, a girl is at her most beautiful when she stops hiding these insecurities from a guy and allows herself to be vulnerable, do it with those you trust most only but they are not bad things you just have to learn how to cope with them.
Again, I know you asked Rosie but I felt exactly the same as you when I was 18 - I was incredibly shy and self-conscious. I'm now 23 and I work in Events, where basically all I do is talk to and meet new people, aaallll the time! I still get the odd pang of self-consciousness, like everyone, but nothing like before. Things change, and it gets better, I promise! I just wish someone would have told me that when I was younger!
DeleteJust came bacck and saw these and want to say thankyou soo much just reading them made me feel better, I love how rosies blog attracts such lovely people who give such great advice, again thankyou so much it sounds silly but you really dont know how much you taking time out to reply means to me
Deletexxx
Some great carnival pics. Did you do a blog on Pride this year? (Might have been while you were away actually.) I got a few amazing shots there a few years ago. Another great excuse for a party!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great set of pictures, felt like I was there. Glad you had a great time, and that plate of Jerk chicken looks gooooooood.
ReplyDeletex
Absolutely stunning pictures!!! You and Phoebe look so carefree and happy, it's beautiful to see :)
ReplyDeleteGlasgow's west end festival is not QUITE as lively as this...
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a great time.x
♥ ThankFifi
Its sad that you think Notting Hill is the sole preserve of yummy mummies for 363 days a year - the spirit of Carnival lives here all year round, if you know where to look! There is so much more to our area than 202 and half price cocktails at The Electric. Go to the Globe one night, or check out Strummerville at Jasons Yard. Venture up Ladbroke grove until you get to the Caribbean Jerk joints up there by the big Sainsbury's, or breakfast at the Tabernacle, 'the heart and soul of Carnival' one morning...the people in those places have lived here a lot longer than those bankers whose wives are busy having their Landsdowne Road houses gutted in between trips to Cowshed. Haha. Lovely pictures though! Did you hit up both days?
ReplyDeleteisobelclaudia.blogspot.com
I can not believe I missed it this year. So jealous, looks like you two had an awesome time :)
ReplyDeletexx
Rose you should definitely hit Toronto next year for Caribana it's the biggest Carnival outside of Trinidad a whole week culminating in a mass parade. Not to mention the amazing dress up parties every night!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a blast! We have a carnival in Toronto but London might top ours!
ReplyDeleteI'm so gutted that I didn't make it to Carnival this year Rosie, looks like you had an awesome day and I love the photos.
ReplyDeleteHopefully I'll be there next year!!
L x
Glad to see we have some (good for that matter) taste in common. You and I have the same H&M FAA shorts, and Phoebe and me share the same River Island trainers.
ReplyDeletexXx
http://unspeakablethoughtsunspoken.blogspot.co.uk/
This party looks insane!! So cool! :) I wish we had something like this in Austria! :)
ReplyDeletexo Andrea
Wonderful and Marvelous
Oh god you've made me miss the carnival, I went every year when I was growing up. Looking at your photos I can smell it and hear it and oh it's just amazing, I cant believe some people have never been. It's definitely one of the greatest things about London xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteahhh that looks amazing! i'm organising a carnival for my society at st andrews this year, so i meant to get down & check it out but never found the time. i guess i'll just have to use these photos for my inspiration instead! :) you look lovely!
ReplyDeletewww.hollyetc.net ♥
Looks like so much fun! wish i could have made it x
ReplyDeleteI'm living in Grenada and we had carnival (also called "mas") two weeks ago! Totally a fun time!
ReplyDeleteFinally some black people in your blog...besides the one girl picture from a party over a year ago, I was starting to think you didn't know anyone
ReplyDeleteDrunk/drugged naked black people who then started riots and stabbed each other through the weekend.
DeleteYea I dunno why rosie doesnt feature them more!!
Who wants to hangout with beautiful people when you can hang out with these guys?
Didn't she have that arab boyfriend? That totally counts.
DeleteAnd a Jew. She dated a jew for ages.
DeleteWow.
DeleteThis Ed character is an idiot.
DeleteEd is a don.
DeleteI'm black and I don't have many white friends, and?
DeleteThis is the most offensive thread I have ever read. Who cares what ethnicity's her boyfriends were?
DeleteI would love to post that to Facebook or some other network (I won't,no worries).
DeleteThis is just too hilarious,yet ridiculous and grotesque.I just cannot decide whether I should cry or laugh.Poor Rosie who has to put up with that...But one must admit that it's quite entertaining!
Who is still hung up on race in this day and age?!! Never noticed any of the races in this blog before & speaking as a black girl, I didn't think it was an issue. If you go looking for issues to do with race you are sure to find them. Both Ed & Anonymous stop getting hung up on these issues life's far too short to waste time dwelling on it.
DeleteWow this looks amazing, there's nothing like this where I live :( Love your outfit, I've been looking for a top like that for ages! xo
ReplyDeletehttp://sleeplesswithsienna.blogspot.com
WHAT IS THIS CARNIVAL ALL ABOUT? OR IS IT JUST SOMETHING THEY DO TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE TOWN?
ReplyDeleteIt's a Caribbean carnival that replicates the Carnival festivities held in major Caribbean nations like Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados (Cropover), Jamaica, etc.
DeleteIt pretty much follows the same format as it does in the islands and was basically designed as a way for the extensive Caribbean population in the UK to experience a little bit of their own culture.
This is the same as Caribana in Toronto, the Labor Day Caribbean parade in New York as well as other Caribbean Carnivals in Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Boston, etc.
Dude the queen is her maj not royal highness! Great post though x
ReplyDeleteIn the USA, we have something called Hash Bash in the northern part of the states. Picture the same thing as the carnival, only subtract the food and multiply the dope smoke by 10.
ReplyDeleteI love reading your blog it makes me want to visit London again very soon and makes want to go Travelling. I love it, along with this it gives me inspiration to get fit and look great and try new foods! Love it, the photos are fantastic looks like you have a fab time. Wish the North East did something like this.
ReplyDeleteKloe x
http://livinglifeinadaydream.blogspot.co.uk/
Your hair is beautiful! I saw your yacht week posts and my hair is a lot like yours when wet, very curly, etc. I was wondering how you style it on a daily basis? Do you use a round brush to blow it out, or do you use a straightener? Or is there a different trick that I'm missing! I'd love to get some tips as sometimes mine is unmanagable! Thanks
ReplyDeletewe went to the carnival last year and i have to say i felt totally overwhelmed by it all--all the colours and music and everything it really was a very special thing to experience.
ReplyDeletelooks like you had an amazing time :)
Arrested.........again..........sigh.....Xxxxxx
ReplyDeleteAGAIN?!!!
Deletewoohoo looks like fun! will try to go next year :) wish i lived in notting hill sometimes. x
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a blast at Carnival!!! I didn’t know London got down like that. The closest event to Notting Hill is for sure the Labor Day carnival in Brooklyn, NYC. They both emulate Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago. Toronto’s Caribana is tons of fun. But I think there’s something special about carnival in the middle of cities like New York and London, on familiar streets that get totally transformed! It’s a special flavor. Your blog has inspired me to head over to BK on Monday (our Carnival is just days away!) and take some snaps myself. Don’t think the NYPD would mind too much. Last year one of our boys in blue took a break from policing to get a little frisky with one of the costumed dancers. What can we say? New Yorkers love a party!!
ReplyDelete-Lenny
Rose,
ReplyDeleteStop being so sexy, just stop it! ;)
~Matt
Sometimes Rose, I love reading the comments you get on your posts just as much as your actual post and the gorgeous photos themselves! Lolz!
ReplyDeleteErm yes we do have a carnival here in Leicester, but I can't say it's half as fun or fabulous as the Notting Hill Carnival looks, think more 'done on a fraction of the budget' kind of look! I.e cheap but not chic! ;)
Sarah xx
www.thegirlabouttown.co.uk
I miss London so much. My brother was at the Carnival over the weekend and made me really jealous by posting pics all over facebook. I currently live in Munich, the next fun occasion I'm looking forward to: Oktoberfest! I'm sure it will be equally as crazy and fun as the notting hill carnival, just with beer bellies and dirndls :)
ReplyDeleteHi there!
ReplyDeleteI'm in the process of setting up a blogger myself, and I was wondering if you could give me any tips/hints on how you created a custom follow-all button for your sidebar that includes a pinterest, twitter and bloglovin link over your photo. Advice for a newbie would be much appreciated!
xx
My family's in it every year yet I STILL haven't been to carnival!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures for me to live carnival through!
an-accidental-discovery.blogspot.com
Ohhhhhhhh! This looks like SO much fun. And you're right, your chicken looked a bit more scrumptious than theirs......
ReplyDeletexo
Nicole
www.hourglassandbloom.wordpress.com
That photo of the two carnival girls in red is amazing. What's going on? It looks like the cheeky one of the left is backing up on the other girl to annoy her, and the girl on the right is turning around to let a string of her finest four letter words out.
ReplyDeletelooks amazing - feel like I've experienced it now, in a way (I end up having to work every year :S) Great post as ALWAYS xxxx
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun post Rose! Although I'm gutted that we didn't get to see you and Phoebe in some of the head-dresses!
ReplyDeletezoearevaloking.wordpress.com
utterly brilliant post. felt as if I was there. thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis looks incredible! I'm going to London next week and I'm sad this will be over!
ReplyDeleteLovely! :)
ReplyDeleteVal
http://valentinaduracinsky.blogspot.com/
So I have a fairly open question to everyone who reads this Blog, as well as the High Lady herself. I'm an american college student and after 3 years of saving I'm going to France for the month of January. I have about 27 days (flight arrives on the 4th) during which I'd like to see.. as much as possible, honestly. I land in Paris, and have friends in Germany who I'll be staying with, for a few days (Berlin and Hamburg) but I'd love any recommendations you all could give me on where to go around France, Germany, the UK and Dublin.
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of art in every form (architecture, paint, sculpture, landscape, etc) but I'm working on a broke college student budget. What MUST I see?
Rosie! I'm Brazilian and I love your blog!! i'm going to London in October and your blog is very helpful!
ReplyDeleteYou shoould come to Brazil during our carnival (february)! you'd love it!
Hello Rose, I have been searching for boots like the ones in these pictures for months now and wondered where you got yours? I love your blog. Thank you! x
ReplyDeleteaw it looks like fun! i headed up there in the evening to go to a houseparty on portobello, but i was such a wimp & was way scared of the crowds & the broken glass everywhere! i think if i go again, it will have to be in the daytime :)
ReplyDeletekatie x
Oh wow, I just LOVE the color in these pics!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I can't hear the music, I can feel it!
Beautiful!
what an amazing post, loved reading this xx
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of a great time of year here in London :) and you look fabulous (and yet so simple) shame it got a bit out of control though.
ReplyDeleteI imagine carnival in Brazil must be like the Notting Hill atmosphere times a million. I am crazy about going there in the next couple years.
melanie
Oh, and there is a festival/celebration in Valencia, Spain for 5 days in March called fallas (falles in English) and it's like five days of solid partying with religious/cultural processions. It looks like so much fun! melanie
ReplyDeleteWhile it's not quite the same as carnival, nothing beats Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone wants Rose's awesome short I am selling a size 12 pair on ebay -
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180991172390?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_500wt_1288
(Hope its ok to post the link on here!)
Any chance you remember where you got that wonderful pineapple bikini (or bra?) top? I swear I've seen it somewhere else on your blog but now I can't track it down!
ReplyDeleteThanks a bunch
- becks
Love your blog, Rosie!! I just re-launched my own thanks in part to your delightful inspiration... Did you seriously almost get arrested for photography? I had no idea there were such laws.
ReplyDeletehttp://thejoyousliving.blogspot.com
This is my new favorite blog! NYC has a similar carnival in August in Brooklyn
ReplyDelete