Moving on

Today marks three weeks since I moved away from my University life.

Technically I cheated and moved back into halls for three wonderful days where I got to party with all of my friends, watch them graduate and do some last minute checking off of Reading things I always wanted to do.

The truth is nobody prepares you for what it feels like to leave those three years behind.

I'm in the early stages. Currently, I'm heartbroken.

I've been forcibly removed from some of the greatest people I've ever encountered. Like most, I had more friends and was more popular and found more like-minded people than I'll probably ever have around me again. Now I'm back in my childhood home. With my two happily married parents, my only-slightly younger brother and the girlfriend that he had before I left. Nothing really changes.

Except before I was used to being on my own.

I spent every single day of the last three years in a magical bubble of friends. Now I have to get used to my own company and I tell you what, it sucks.

I guess this is why people go travelling for six months or dive into a job. The sheer discomfort of not having anything to do or to work towards or to achieve is unbearable. After three years (longer if you count all the education before that) of consistently improving oneself in a structured system, being out of that system, having no safety net of education, I feel like I'm free-falling in slow motion, towards absolutely nothing.

It's an overwhelming experience to have to adjust to so much:

• Being back at home for good and trying not to break down over the fact that it's for an indeterminable amount of time. 
• Trying to get on with your family - people you wouldn't necessarily pick to live with if you were given the choice. 
• Not knowing when you're going to see your friends next. Jobs, money, finding a time when everyone can meet up; all problems.

I'm lucky. I found a job and I start in a week's time. I will have been officially unemployed, officially not a student, for a single month before I begin a career. I'm told it's good. It's healthy to have a break.

I guess it'll get worse before it gets better. I'll be tired at work one day and really have to fight off a fit of tears about how I can't just mong out hungover on a questionable sofa surrounded by half empty bottles, bad tv and best friends.

But I expect (and I really, really hope) that there will be a lot of relapses. A weekend or a birthday here and there that gives us an excuse to relive tequila slammers, long lie-ins and five-way spoons.

What I wanted to be told before I left was that it's going to be so unexpectedly hard to accept that the biggest adventure of my life is over. But I guess my future self would probably tell me that there are more adventures ahead. Until then, I'm taking the days as they come. The good with the bad. Slow and steady. One at a time.

Hugo Boss: from student village to Bicester Village

(Disclaimer: it's taken me four months to write this.)

Reading's indoor shopping centre, one of the most successful and well advertised in the south of England recently opened it's doors to a new kind of client with the understated opening of the chic Hugo Boss.

A little out of your typical student budget, the store is set to open the way for many more higher priced retail outlets. Bumping the Oracle up from student village to Bicester Village.

It reminded me of New York's Fifth Avenue stores. Clean lines, empty store. Colour coordinated, little stock. Minimalistic and effective. You want to submurge yourself in glamour, throw your credit card at them and cry for the cheapest thing there as you're still a student with a card limited to 500GBP.

It currently only stocks menswear (talk about limiting your clientele) but I can't help but give the store an idealistic thumbs up. Alongside Pretty Green, The Oracle's menswear options are vastly expanding into higher budget and more middle-class customer based stores. I fully support this movement. It's time there was a wider range of options available for both men and women. Designer stores could very well be the cure to the "high street vs online" crisis. More options, less money.

Idealistic, aspirational and so, so tidy. Let's all cross our fingers and waste use our student loans to great effect and keep this bad boy with us.

Make a bang at bonfire night

With firework night coming up and tickets to Reading Lions Fireworks Extravaganza selling like crazy, it’s only natural to start bringing a little pre-christmas sparkle into our winter wardrobes.

Ditch those studs, we need some real girly shimmer! Sequin shorts are hitting the stores in every colour and every style, from high waisted navy at Missguided to little golden hot pants at Ark.

For a night out on the town wear them with killer stiletto heels, a button down chiffon shirt (bandeau required) and a statement necklace, more glitter is better. Zara’s latest accessories collection is perfect for eye-catching pieces, see the art deco styles for an outfit with a bang.

Alternatively, ankle boots, a fitted blazer, loose fitting vest and tights will ensure explosive style for cocktails with the girls or even a blazing-hot date.

To go all-out disco-ball and achieve some super shimmer, this H&M skirt is the ultimate emerald beauty. A showstopper on all counts, pair it with a leather jacket and whatever else you like, it’s guaranteed nobody will notice anything else about your outfit except your sparkly booty.

The Reading Lions are holding their Fireworks Extravaganza at Reading Town FC’s ground at Scours Lane, on Saturday November 3rd, so don your sequins, brave the cold (thick coat recommended) and rock your shimmery pins under the starlight.

First published by Spark* Newspaper: http://sparknewspaper.co.uk/fashion-beauty/put-a-bang-into-your-bonfire-night/

A night out at the Oracle Reading

At 8:30PM on Tuesday the 16th of October 2012 the Oracle opened their doors to hoards of excited students.  Wallets bulging with ready-to-spend-cash, feet freezing from the hour long wait in the cold, the floods of teenagers fought the urge to sprint to their favourite stores but instead maintained a “we are British, the British do not sprint, the British walk, very briskly” attitude.

The atmosphere was instantly overwhelming.  Between the low lighting, blaring music and free drinks (courtesy of Lola Lo’s) it was as if the shopping centre had converted into a club for the night, but so much better.  The evening only got better thanks to the deliciously free food that was thrust at us; thank you Tampopo, you’re next on the Riverside list to eat at!

Diving into Topshop first was the best idea of the night.  The sale section was rampant with bargain hunters, tearing through the racks, picking up item after item; I’m sure I saw a fight break out over a cream chiffon top.  It was like feeding time but these shopping animals were not tame.

Half an hour into the Takeover, Topshop and Topman were one in one out, crazy by any standards, as both till points were queued round the store.  New Look received the same treatment not much later on into the evening.

Speaking of queues, hitting the kids section to purchase a super slick blazer from H&M cut a good portion of queuing time, making sure we didn’t miss out on Violet Class killing it in Republic.  The live indie music was a sweet contrast to the club feel of the other stores, Republic nailed its unique selling point for the night and drew a more alternative crowd.

The nifty little purple discount cards given to shoppers added to the ‘exclusive’ feel of the night, while acting as a cute (not to mention free) memento, replacing the space in our purses where our money used to be.

Overall, a successful night at introducing the freshers to the Oracle, getting plenty of new clothes unbelievably cheap and for Reading’s economy.  David Cameron will be so pleased.

First published by Spark* Newspaper: http://sparknewspaper.co.uk/fashion-beauty/a-night-out-at-the-oracle-reading/

The Oracle’s Student Takeover: Be Prepared

Firstly: get informed!

Like “The Oracle Student Takeover” Facebook page and secondly sign up for queue jump by RSVPing to the event. If you don’t you’re guaranteed to be left standing out in the cold while watching all the people who planned ahead snap up the free Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Like a far more glamorous freshers fayre, there are freebies, opportunities to win spot prizes (£10 vouchers? Every little helps!), even complimentary cocktails. Time to get your Carrie Bradshaw on and shop, shop, shop! Do not forget to check in at the HMV entrance to the Oracle, without your exclusive discount card how are you going to get that bag you’ve been eyeing up for weeks?

The ones you need to know:

Topshop and Miss Selfridge (concession in Debenhams) are both offering 20%, which is double their regular discount, so persuade yourself that the jacket you’ve always wanted isn’t that expensive now, what are student loans for anyway?

For ultimate bargains, and topping up your A/W12 wardrobe with trend pieces at rock bottom prices, hit up Republic and New Look. Again, both offering 20% off. The big name and one of the busiest stores on the night, run over to H&M first to ensure you grab the sizes you want before they’re all gone! Cheap, good quality and stylish, we’d buy the whole shop without the extra 20% off but this makes it so much sweeter.

Top tip: queue upstairs?

There’s a till point downstairs in the kids section, swing by that one to avoid any unnecessary waiting; use the time saved enjoying a complimentary facial in Lush. Now onto shoes, my weakness! Office are offering 20% off for one night only. Last year I left with a pair of fringed, suede stilettos which became my favourite statement winter piece. Nothing says Christmas like red fringing! If beauty’s more your thing, Urban Decay are offering 10% off while the Body Shop are offering 20%! Who said we can’t pamper ourselves now that we’re students.

Above all have fun! This is a free event totally different to any freshers activities, with live music and an electric atmosphere it’s a great way to get to know a different side of your new friends as well as their wardrobes. I went with three friends last year who I now live with, so remember, students that shop together stay together.

First published by Spark* Newspaper: http://sparknewspaper.co.uk/fashion-beauty/the-oracles-student-takeover-be-prepared/