Rain, rain go away come again another day.
That phrase is potentially going to sum up my entire study abroad trip in London. In the States, I'd probably find myself saying that a couple of times a month but here, it's practically everyday! Days like yesterday catch me by surprise. You know, the days where the weather is fairly decent on your way to work, school/class, cinema, wherever but upon departure, the rain sneaks up on you and you're without an umbrella? Yeah, that was yesterday for me. The weather has always been a pretty standard way of depicting my mood. In this case, rain causes me to be sluggish, lazy, miserable and sleepy. Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely despise travelling in the rain. Because I had already gone to class in decent weather and was surprised by the rain afterward, I figured what the hey? There, I decided to be completely uninhibited and treat myself to a mini shopping spree -- my first since I've been here. This is quite baffling for me because I have the most whirlwind relationship with fashion and a love affair for shopping. Whenever I have money to spend, it burns a hole in my hand, pocket, wallet, mom's pocket, wherever! Bad. I know. But I am completely surprised - not to mention proud - of myself for waiting three weeks into the program (and in the British hub for fashion) to shop. Anyone who's anyone who knows anything about London knows that Oxford Street is laced with shopping for men, women and kids from accessories to shoes and even food! Here's my sort of "review" for the stores that I visited.
Where to: Oxford Circus.
First up, Schuh. Pronounced "shoe", this place is the UK's largest shoe shop and it is agreed by the dozens of shoe addicted women (and men). I walked into what appeared to be a shoe frenzy. There were plenty of patrons oogling shoes and dozens more hunting down sales associates requesting a particular shoe in their size. The associates seemed to be going in and out of the stock room as if it were a revolving door and coming back with heaps of shoes. This store has a pretty wide selection from a low heel for the fashionable working woman or Vans and Converses for the skateboarder in you. Whatever your taste may be, this store has it. The price range is relatively bearable. You may run into a few pricey items but if there is room in your budget, don't be afraid to live a little, invest and treat yourself to a nice pair. Though it isn't shoe heaven, you are most likely to find at least a pair that you'd be willing to purchase on the spot. Total spending here: £119.99 for two pairs of boots.
Directly next door: Office.
Office is another place for shoe lovers. It's relatively smaller than Schuh and is more intimate. There isn't much of a difference in shoe styles but there is more focus on boots and heels and less on casual shoes. I'm not a huge shoe shopper and always dread having to buy a new pair but I gave this shop a fighting chance. I tried on a few pairs and walked away with a cute pair of ankle boots. I also took a risk with the color choice since I normally stick to black or brown. I happened to walk away with a taupe color pair. Shoes will be shoes and the price will always remain constant, in my opinion. Therefore, you won't be shocked by the amount of money you will wind up spending. On the plus side, this shop also offers a 10% discount for students. Total spending here: £58.50 for a pair of boots.
Next up, Uniqlo.
I must say that the window display is appealing from the curb with its merry-go-round of mannequins. This store is for the simplicity in you. I, for one, am very attracted to solid colors and though it could be a little bland, the trick is playing up the solids with some cool patterns and accessories. Here, you can find some really key pieces to everyday outfits: solid v and crew neck tops for a steal (2 for £11.99 - limited offer of course but regularly priced at about £10), mounds of colorful skinny jeans, blue denim, cardigans, and flannels. There's also a section for the businesswoman. Here, she can find simple dresses, trench coats, and blazers. Items in this store are extremely reasonably priced. Jeans will run you about £15 and the store even offers an alteration service, sometimes free of charge. Total spending here: £31.98 for a thick, belted, cardigan sweater and two longed sleeve v-neck tops.
Neext. Bik Bok.
Perhaps what attracted me to the store was the name. It's a quaint two floor boutique with a little bit of everything. Similarly to Uniqlo, this store has numerous key pieces but in addition, you can also find floral prints. I almost missed out a few hidden treats in the lower portion of the store. Items were marked off by 50% and if you were lucky, 75%. This is another good store to visit if you're on a budget but still would like to have the latest looks. Oh, and if you're a student, you can get a 10% discount by showing your NUS card or proper identification. Bonus! My total spending here: £39.77 for three tops, a skirt, and a dress.
Lastly, H&M.
Well, H&M is widely known and for that reason I told myself that I wouldn't shop at a store that is accessible in the states but I took a peek anyway. This two level H&M has everything from ruffles to corsets. It doesn't leave much room for individuality because it is very popular and the pieces are very distinct but there are some pieces that are worth adding to your wardrobe. I was pretty pleased with the skirt that I purchased so I got it in two colors: black and grey. It is a simple, form fitting, spandex-cotton blend, pencil skirt that is really versatile in any situation. I could easily wear a nice, fitting top with a blazer or vest, simple necklace and a nice pair of boots (ankle or calf) to work or I could jazz it up with a ruffle top (my favorite) and heels for a night at a club. The price range is completely manageable and is heaven for the chic chick in you. Total spending: £5.98 on two skirts
Your fashion passport has officially been stamped for today. Today's stamp, an amazing pair of Louboutins. Hope you love! Ciao, my fashionistas!
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