Moving away from London to pursue my dream of becoming a high flying Journalist or a top Pr professional was also a move away from a terrible temptress who had fuelled an addiction and drained me of my savings. Before you go thinking that this temptress involves illegal substances and back street dealings, you can check my arm for track marks and think again. This substance is completely legal and over the counter transactions take place on a daily basis. Walking the streets of London I am constantly at threat of being tempted. The bright lights, the welcoming faces and...the spandex. Yes that's right, my addiction is American Apparel.
There was a time in my life when I was happy mooching around in baggy skater jeans and a Paul Frank t shirt. There was also a time earlier to this when I was happy donning a Nike tracksuit and gelling my hair back but the less said about that fall from grace the better...
Over a year ago I accepted a job working in Oxford Circus. I'd always lived in London but around the outskirts where the fashion was more watered down and success was not defined by style. Central London acts as a catwalk for the typical 9 to 5 worker not to mention the fashion students who run riot on the streets in between lectures. It's safe to say that my Primark pencil skirt and crisp white blouse didn't exactly cause an uproar in the fashion stakes and like many young London women before me, I succumbed to fashion and bid farewell to financial savings.
University in Southampton was a fresh start, my new life as a budget living student who only splashes on stationery and the occasional pot noodle. Sure the high street shops were still looming but I could hold myself back from spending. I had a wardrobe full of dresses and contrary to any thought I'd ever had before, maybe there was such a thing as too many. Then I become charitable.
Save the Children on East Street. On the outside it masks itself as a charity, helping needy children and inviting me in with the promise of doing good for others and bettering myself. However, inside it accepts second hand items from American Apparel, piles of the stuff, boxes on certain days. As soon as I walked through the door I saw it. The rainbow of colours, the all in one suits....the spandex. The experience was a blur and I came out later armed with bags of discounted guilt. It was discount bingeing . It was hard enough to escape at the actual retail price but now I'm faced with the temptation at a third of the price AND I'm helping charity. It's an unbeatable combination.
So the moral of the tale goes like this. Addiction is not something you can run away from. It will always find you, sometimes in the places you least expect it. And if anyone asks, I do it for the children.
There was a time in my life when I was happy mooching around in baggy skater jeans and a Paul Frank t shirt. There was also a time earlier to this when I was happy donning a Nike tracksuit and gelling my hair back but the less said about that fall from grace the better...
Over a year ago I accepted a job working in Oxford Circus. I'd always lived in London but around the outskirts where the fashion was more watered down and success was not defined by style. Central London acts as a catwalk for the typical 9 to 5 worker not to mention the fashion students who run riot on the streets in between lectures. It's safe to say that my Primark pencil skirt and crisp white blouse didn't exactly cause an uproar in the fashion stakes and like many young London women before me, I succumbed to fashion and bid farewell to financial savings.
University in Southampton was a fresh start, my new life as a budget living student who only splashes on stationery and the occasional pot noodle. Sure the high street shops were still looming but I could hold myself back from spending. I had a wardrobe full of dresses and contrary to any thought I'd ever had before, maybe there was such a thing as too many. Then I become charitable.
Save the Children on East Street. On the outside it masks itself as a charity, helping needy children and inviting me in with the promise of doing good for others and bettering myself. However, inside it accepts second hand items from American Apparel, piles of the stuff, boxes on certain days. As soon as I walked through the door I saw it. The rainbow of colours, the all in one suits....the spandex. The experience was a blur and I came out later armed with bags of discounted guilt. It was discount bingeing . It was hard enough to escape at the actual retail price but now I'm faced with the temptation at a third of the price AND I'm helping charity. It's an unbeatable combination.
So the moral of the tale goes like this. Addiction is not something you can run away from. It will always find you, sometimes in the places you least expect it. And if anyone asks, I do it for the children.
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