In 2010 I found myself in London working for a month. Came back after 5 more times until November 2011 and returned in 2016. I was in the biggest open plane office on the 12th floor, right next to Paddington station, I had new people around me, from all over the world and I was scared. I was sent alone, I knew nobody there and I always dreamed, since 6th grade, to live in London. Not just visit, live there. I was dropped by the Green Line bus and met by two of my Romanian colleagues at Marble Arch station, right in front of Primark. As I entered the offices a future colleague greeted and asked: “Are you from the BBC?“. I had my luggage with me and seemed official, I guess. “No, I’m not“, I answered.
I settled in and thought that day was never going to end. I had been up since 4am that day, went back 2 hours behind, had a full day of work and by the time found my hotel (which was just 2 minutes away from the office, but I kept going around it), it all seemed like an eternity. I had so much to take in. I could not breathe and only by my 3rd day in realized my dream was coming true: I was in front of Big Ben. “I truly AM here!” thought to myself.
In the mean time life happened, I missed my friends and although my experience there was special I found the people around me could not understand. I was unrelatable because it was my own personal experience. I was having my dream but never fully getting to experience it. Something was missing. Now I really admire those who move away from home, because it is hard. Maybe it’s easy for some, it was not for me.
Now I go back only to visit and although I know the places, I now look at people. I mostly look at women like me and admire their style. I go to Marks and Spencer, Dorothy Perkins, Primark and search for that perfect London trench. I look for that classic British style.
Every morning I had my laptop with me, in my backpack, I would commute for 50 minutes into the city (because I moved into a house with other colleagues, to Greenford in zone 4). We had to take a bus and then the commuter train straight into Paddington Station and after just cross the street. I read Metro every morning (it was on a morning in February 2010 that the news about Alexander McQueen broke, he had been found hanged in his London apartment) and had my Costa coffee to go in Paddington station. Somehow I WAS a Londoner: I had an office to go to, I was a commuter, I was part of the city. I would see all these people going to work, and me along with them.
Because back then was back then and I was being comfortable most of the time and certainly didn’t know what to pack for a month so I was all over the place style wise, today I re-imagined myself going to work if I were to go back. A very cool trench, a comfortable pair of heels (certainly not high), a good medium bag, jeans and the most beautiful long scarf I own. In 2016 had similar looks visiting, you can check them here, here and here.
As always,
Wearing: Trench Coat // Zara (thrifted), Scarf // Louis Vuitton, Jeans // H&M, Heels // Zara, Chevron Bag // Dresslily, Earrings // Dresslily, Cat Pom-Pom // Dune London.
Before I end, my vintage LV make-up bag has, starting now, these cute, travel and everyday use new make-up brushes. They are fantastic, especially because I’ve been missing a brush only for the corner of my eyes to highlight. This set has it.
.
Thank you for reading and watching.
I’m a social girl, follow me 🙂
Facebook // Instagram // Twitter
.
No Comments