I whined to my friends and family for the final months I lived in London for, that it was a money pit (expensive rent, expensive travel, expensive food & drink) and I couldn't wait to move away.
With that being said, I didn't live exactly in the centre. For six months I lived in suburbia on the city outskirts near my university in North London. Forget heading to the local pub or going for a nice jog, I was surrounded by concrete walkways and fast roads which led to the motorway.
I worked in this suburbia land in a huge shopping centre, part-time in a fashion retail shop, selling expensive clothes to rich people.
The feeling of having nothing in a rich land (London) was, without a doubt, challenging. The problem with living in a city is that it makes you want everything, but you can't afford anything.
Standing behind a till selling clothes to successful, rich women, left me feeling frustrated with my own life and empty inside.
I'm a single lady and this outskirts, student lifestyle wasn't helping any romance bloom either.
Guys I dated were already in full-time professions and weirdly this made a divide between us, firstly in how often I could afford to go out and do nice things together in the evening, and secondly when they would have the weekends off, I would be working until 8.30 at night in the shop! By the time I got to them, it would be 9:30pm and I was knackered. How about that for a romance killer?
So my house contract ends early and I feel thrilled to move back to my parents house.
I quit the retail job and prepared myself for commuting once a week into the city for a fashion tutorial at University.
Pre-moving, I was damn excited to move back home and felt sure that it was a good move which would make me a much happier person without the stress of paying high rent and living in an anti-social area.
However, a week into moving away and I already have mixed feelings on moving back to the South Coast.
I love this place for the beaches, the grassy fields and the fresh air. I love the people that make me feel at home in the workplace.
However, I feel the pace of life has completely slowed down, and I'm missing that drive to succeed and the pace of the busy city which I felt pushed me to find my dreams.
So I guess I've figured out already that I truly love and suit the cosmopolitan city lifestyle, and it's only when you're away from it something you feel like you truly miss it.
I don't miss the concrete jungle on the outskirts of London that I called home, but I miss the city centre. I miss the fabric markets, Camden lock and I miss the tube. I miss being able to jump on the tube and visit vintage markets, and I miss being drunk and lost in Soho.
I'll be returning to London on Monday for my lesson.
Feel free to let me know your thoughts on quiet/cosmopolitan lifestyles in the comments below!
Hi everyone! I made the transition from moving out of my London pad back to the family home in Somerset on Thursday (financial reasons - planning on using these few months of no rent to save up for trips abroad so far!).
I don't have to travel back to London for my lessons at uni this week because it's Easter. Hope you all had a great Easter Sunday. As for the chocolate egg tradition, usually I would get loads of easter eggs but people must have realised I'm watching my weight as i only received one this year! One is enough really, I am the biggest "chocoholic" ever.
Hope you enjoy todays outfit! Underneath my roll neck jumper I wore this little Strappy Seam Crop Top from Topshop, totally gone braless today. Slight mess up in London, half the stuff I had to leave at my sisters place and pick up later consisted of most of my black/strapless bras so whatever I'm au natural ;).
Everything else I'm wearing is from Whistles, apart from my Rocket Originals shoes.
Because I worked for Whistles recently, I really accumulated a wardrobe full of Whistles clothing, which I'm not moaning about because the brand is great and they really nail chic for the modern city woman.
Unfortunately my skirt is AW/13 and came out just before the Christmas break so you might have a hard time finding it in store as they have very limited stock. The good news is, there are similar styles of skirts like this they keep bringing out, and you can find it for around £95.00.
My silk roll neck, you will be pleased to know has gone down in the sale to £45.00.
My metallic bag/cluch is also Whistles, but the rose/gold is sold out. However, the Rivington Chain Clutch can be found in multiple different colours in store, for example this lovely bright orange.
Stay foxy!
xx
It's not like I ever fell out shopping with Zara, I just stopped shopping there. The stock wasn't enticing me in anymore. That is until this sunshine yellow coat caught my eye on the mannequins today, and I entered to find the most wonderful array of pastel coats, even better, pastels mixed with tweeds!
There was so much yellow in store, I feared i'd turned into a sunflower by the end of it - but I LOVED it. Zara's new collection is a must-see. Expect cute little pockets, zip detailing and lots of pleather skirts, Barbie-eque shoes and oversized costume neck-wear.
Here are my top 3 light Zara jackets for this season.
1. Yellow coat with pockets - £99.00
2. Round neck coat with zip in salmon - £89.99
3. Jacquard coat with pockets (this looks much prettier on, and a great length!) - £89.99
I am so in love with Miss L Fire's new Autumn/Winter 13 collection!
As soon as I saw these posted on Facebook, I knew I absolutely have to get hold of a pair!
They look like perfect show shoes as well as looking great teamed with a evening dress.
For a beautiful, opulent evening look, try out the black Cinders slippers with Tara Starlet's Classic Evening Dress |
For an elegant daytime look, team with a 1950's day dress such as this beautiful Bombshells & Beatniks dress shown above(only one in stock at Etsy so buy it before its gone!) |