Faded Spring

    Why Newlife Stores Is Reshaping Thrifted Fashion

    Discovering thrifting, was like finding love at first sight. Rails of shirts, dresses, and skirts gleamed enticingly under the glare of the shop lights, imploring me to come closer. Despite the musty smell that emanated, I fell hard. A young teen on a budget, who had just started her first job, taught to be precacious with money. It was like Christmas had come early, aisles full of treasure that sparkled oh so gloriously. 7o's flouncy maxi skirts, and 60's mini's, 50's petticoats, and 90's chokers, a crash course into fashion history. There were vintage fashion accessories too; faux pearl layered necklaces, and chunky belts. Those [at the time] trendy UGG boots, that you waved around like it ... read more

    Free Online Card Games To Play This Summer

    I can't remember a time where games weren't part of my life. It was the glue that kept me going during childhood; I would grapple with my Tamagotchi, and play Super Mario 64 on the Nintendo 64, whittling away the hours. Later came the Game Boy, first ever Playstation, and an obsession with 'retro games' like The Sims, Spyro, and Mario Kart. It wasn't just video games or digital toys either. There were card and board games that stole my heart. Monopoly, Twister, Go Fish, and Snap. Later the card and board games would be more obscure.  There would be free online card games, and physical card game decks for adults. Exploding Kittens and Cards Against Humanity were just some of the 'adult games' ... read more

    Carat London: The Rise Of Sustainable Jewellery

    It's 2022, and the rise of sustainable jewellery is on the tip of everyone's tongue. With the jewellery industry projected to reach $480 billion by 2025, the ethical jewellery market has space to break ground. But why should you choose ethical jewellery like Carat London? Well, it addresses a range of human, and labour right issues, environmental impacts, and supply chain transparency, especially in the fine jewellery market. True, the practice of creating sustainable jewellery is challenging, but our world matters. To create an ethical wardrobe, you need to think about what you are buying, and who it affects. Making ethically sound choices is easier said than done however. Many ... read more

    Loft Bedroom Storage Ideas To Add Space 

    While it wasn't love at first sight, our loft bedroom grew on me. It was the little things that stood out; the fitted wardrobe, the crevices that unlocked a multitude of secrets. The juxtaposition between the high and low ceilings, ladled with character. It was a large double bedroom true, but I kept comparing it to the bedroom I had before, where I had the wardrobe of my dreams. And yet, our loft bedroom was far better than what I had before. There was more space, we just had to know how to use it. It was all about choosing the right bed, curating the perfect furniture, and knowing how to add space in a bedroom with irregular proportions. When I realized that our bedroom had potential, I ... read more

    Why Bounce Ping Pong Bar Is A Couple’s Haven 

    It would be a night where escapism thrived, a world away from the hum-drum of 12+ hour work days, where exhaustation was A's best friend. For A had been working at Wimbledon, awake every morning at 4AM, and home late at night. Yet despite the tiredness that was seeping into A's bones, she carried on, determined to make the most of life. Running on empty was never healthy, true. In fact A made sure that she took time out, especially if she was burnt out and overwhelmed. Taking time out wasn't just about relaxation, but also about doing what made her happy. And nothing made her happier than having downtime with her partner, who was the love of her life. Recently, date nights had been far, and ... read more

    How Hanky Panky Made Me Feel Body Confident

    I peered at myself in the mirror, grimacing at the reflection. Though I had changed, and blossomed over the years, sometimes I still saw that gawky kid in the reflection. The one who was teased for the way she looked, the way she acted, who she was. The girl with the small boobs, who dreamed of having a boob job, to feel more confident in her own skin. The insults would come in thick and fast; they would say that I never ate, that I looked anorexic, and was 'too masculine looking'. They made fun of my crooked teeth, and how I smiled. My zany personality was off limits too.I was seen as the weirdo, the girl who people didn't want to be friends with. For a long time, I had body dysmorphia, ... read more

    Creative Curtain Hacks To Upscale Your Home

    It might seem odd to say, but curtains can say a lot about who you are as a person. From the colours that you choose, to the texture, transparency, and even where you place your curtains, it offers an insight into your personality. Even if you are renting like I am, you can still customize your curtains, and make your home your own. Anyone visiting my flat for the first time would say that I love to bring colour into my home, and am passionate about prints, being bold, and above all quirky. Even my curtains, have been personalized, to match the mood of the room I am in. My living room has shutter blinds that are colourful, in a beautiful shade of teal. This is because I have predominantly ... read more

    Benefits Of Private Health Insurance As A Freelancer

    As a freelancer getting private health insurance can seem impossible. After all, you work unconventional hours, earn a different amount each month, and can sometimes struggle to find financial freedom. That's why I am so grateful to the NHS, for helping me get treatments for my physical and mental health, when I couldn't afford private health insurance. However, I quickly realized that the waiting times to be seen on the NHS is monumental. Even when I was battling mental illnesses like anxiety, depression, and PTSD, as well as a chronic stomach condition, it took what seemed like forever to get help. Considering I wasn't diagnosed with mental health issues until I was 22, but had symptoms ... read more

    The Burnt City: Punchdrunk Returns To Immersive Glory

    The sky washed with fluffy clouds, was by no means an omen for The Burnt City, a dark, cavernous world. Unlike the sun soaked skyline, and the chittering animated queues, Punchdrunk was eerie, and mythical. Nothing was ever as it seemed, and no story was the same. It was an immersive experience like no other, where theatre, debauchery, and exploration of gender exploded riotously. Like 'Mulan Rouge' at The Vaults, the promendade allowed theatre-goers to leave their gender at the door. Here, there were no rights or wrongs as to the way that performers dressed, or gendered language. Instead, there were beautifully choregraphed dances, that were fluid, seamless, yet evocatively ... read more

    Mulan Rouge And Its Exploration Of Gender At The Vaults 

    It was love at first sight, a stunning exploration of gender identity, that was as inclusive as it was tongue in cheek. Drag Kings, Drag Queens, and non-binary performers in a dazzling queer immersive cabaret show, were a heavenly delight. For The Vaults was no ordinary theatre, tucked away in the graffiti scrawled Leake Street Arches, where art, creativity, and culture came to play in one mesmerizing sweep. They would leave their gender at the door and let go of all inhibitions. This was a safe space, where people were free to be their authentic selves. There was no judgement here, only a welcoming hand that plunged you into its LGBTQIA+ friendly multiverse, where labels were eradicated, ... read more