RISE AND ALIGN: EARLY MORNING ROOFTOP YOGA IN LONDON

Image c/o Fat Buddha Yoga

"Getting high before work isn't the usual protocol, but here I am..." 

Read the the full article for tmrw magazine here.
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Getting high before work isn't the usual protocol but here I am, in downward dog, 17 floors up. It's 8am on a Wednesday and Fat Buddha Yoga's rooftop class is well underway. 

With fast-paced sun salutations and a beat to match, the Morning Flow session quickly banishes any bleary eyes in the house. We stretch and flex our way through the next 45 minutes, invigorated by the nippy outdoors and city views. Arched over in a way I'd rarely find myself at this hour feels unexpectedly great. 

The White Collar Factory's terrace makes for an impressive location: I stare into the distance for balance and St Paul's stares back. With the Shard in my periphery and London's iconic skyline beyond, I feel centred in the city’s centre, unrushed in rush hour.

As the class comes to an end we take a moment to lay down, palms up. Shoreditch sounds uncharacteristically tranquil below and it's easy to relax, contemplating the day ahead. I welcome the stillness, often rare when you're busy living your best life.  

Old Street station is very literally a hop, skip and jump away, and after grabbing a complimentary cappuccino on the way out I bounce onto the tube, marvelling at all this convenience. I arrive at work feeling spritely and zen.

Scientists say it takes 3 weeks to make or break a habit. Having reaped the benefits of early morning yoga I vow to conquer my daily desire to stay in bed for as long as possible. With a bundle of bookings made, I'm confident about breaking my morning mould to become a bendier, more productive me. 

VISIT VEGAN NIGHTS

The "steak" sandwich I devoured in the name of research

Last week I trotted off to Vegan Nights – London’s meat-free foodie festival rapidly earning itself cult status. 

I indulged in some food porn and wrote about it for tmrw magazine: click here to read my review.
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Back with an "Americana" twist, this month's Vegan Nights event celebrated all things stateside - bar Trump. The hedonistic hub, hailed "Las Vegan", surpassed any expectations of a generic foodie festival with its balmy summer vibe.

Held at The Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane, stalls, bars (and buses) serving sweet and savoury lined the courtyard - leaving plenty of space for revellers to laze on the Astroturf and devour their food. The open-air venue was strewn with lights and studded with American tributes, including a miniature Statue of Liberty clutching a carrot to add the finishing touch.

The game-changing gastronomy would make even the most dedicated carnivores question why they still eat meat. Leading the pack was CookDaily - an established name in London's vegan scene - serving sticky teriyaki "chickn" bites. Wow. Succulent and blissfully gristle-free, the Asian flavours stood out among the hot dawgs and cheese fries.

After chowing down on some "steak" that was peculiar but moreishly spongy, it was time for dessert. Froconut's plant-based ice cream caught our attention served in a coconut half with a glorious hunk of honeycomb. Refreshing and moosey, it satisfied our taste buds and Instagram feeds simultaneously.

From hipster to high street, veganism has gone mainstream - and beyond. A-listers including Daniel Kaluuya OBE, Ben Whishaw and One Direction's Liam Payne were amongst yesterday’s Vegan Nighters, showing their support for cruelty-free food.

BBC 1Xtra’s Melody Kane, Benj + Teaboyz and Becky Tong headlined the DJs and were dotted around keeping the vibe alive. Besides the music and meat-free madness, event organisers were also considerate enough to provide a Hollywood-worthy pink carpet and coordinating backdrop for photo ops. And with that, Vegan Nights evoked every aspect of a millennial’s summer night dream.

TINDER, I’M TURNED OFF

It's a well known fact that you can (more or less) find anything online, and relationships aren't an exception.

With over 7500 dating sites and apps to choose from there's an endless selection of people literally at our fingertips - so what's not to like? Whether you're after a casual bang or the father of your kids, the internet has it all. Or maybe like me, you're just bloody bored.

It's been a couple of weeks since I got back to the U.K. after travelling, and the novelty of sleeping in a bed that isn't mouldy has worn off. I am underwhelmed. After catching up with my nearest and dearest, job hunting and walking the pooch, the monotony of my grey home town has driven me to something I said I'd never go back to: dating apps.

Admittedly I dabbled with Tinder while I was away. A mixture of curiosity and a lot of free time led to hours of entertainment with my friends as we swiped absent-mindedly. I went on a few dates, which proved my original theory that I will not find the love of my life online... Or perhaps I am too picky.

Having a swipe in Nicaragua

Back in London with a spring in my step, I vowed to stop wasting time swiping through distasteful men with their pecks out. 

Then the week of blizzards and nipple-shrivelling temperatures happened, and I caved. As another house-bound day passed I sheepishly downloaded Bumble with my tail between my legs, hoping for some amusement that wasn't my Dad doing circuits in the front room.

You might be thinking, what's with this girl's dating app shame? I'm sure you can tell that I'm a little reluctant, bordering on sneery. But the fact is I'm not judging anyone but myself. The notion of swiping people based on their looks is all fun and games until you meet up with someone who has the personality of a fish. (Don't get me wrong, I have met some goodens, but there's never been a real "spark".) Trawling through the likes of Rodger, 28, who is clearly in his 50's becomes depressing surprisingly quickly and I am back to square one.  

I'm not doubting that dating apps can lead to love, because a lot of my friends are evidence of this. But I can't help but wonder what Tinder/Bumble/Bristlr (an app for beard lovers) etc. says about us as a society. It seems odd that we have progressed so much in certain aspects - see the body positivity movement or growing acknowledgement of non-binary genders for example - and yet recent research says 50 million of us are still active on Tinder and therefore judging people on the way they look.

Incognito in London. Photo by Serge Kabanda

A profile picture can't condense character. This week I'm going on a date with someone who I've already met in real life, who I might not have swiped yes for on an app. At the rate that I flick through and disregard people online, it's a split-second change of destiny that could cost me my soulmate! 

I think it's time to hang up my dating app shoes as quickly as I put them on. While browsing the human catalogue of online profiles is undoubtedly fun, I've realised that subjective attraction doesn't necessarily equal chemistry. 

UPROOTING, REBOOTING

I’ve quit my job and booked a flight to Costa Rica. In a couple of weeks my comfy little life as I know it will be upturned, but the uncertainty of what’s ahead is (for the most part) exhilarating!

I have questioned myself a few times – am I really sacking it all off to fly 11 hours away on my larry? But 2017 has been an itch I can’t quite scratch. It’s been so good, and so bad. A lot has happened, changed but also stayed the same this year, and with this my perspective has shifted. Plodding along stopped being an option, and since I’ve always said I want to do a proper “gap yah”, it became obvious that the time was now.

Corcovado National Park, via costarica.org

I chose Costa Rica within the hour. As the most indecisive person on earth it was a first to make such a swift decision, but something drew me to this country instantly. Of the little knowledge that I had, in my mind Costa Rica equaled nature. Your idyllic, white-sand beaches are nice and all, but what I really wanted was wildlife and greenery. Since doing more research, I’ve found out that Costa Rica really is the epitome of these 2 things in particular: nearly a quarter of the country is protected jungle and it’s inhabited by more than half a million species. Woah mama.

Inspired by a successful trip through Workaway last year, I logged on again to see what opportunities I could find in Costa Rica. Here I found Dreamsea, who were looking for a social media co-ordinator. I applied there and then – who wouldn’t want to create content at a surfing and yoga retreat in the jungle? After going back and forth via email they offered me the position, and it felt like everything had fallen into place. I booked my flight back in July and haven’t looked back since.

Accommodation at Dreamsea, via dreamseacostarica.com

Apart from knowing that I’ll be at Dreamsea to begin with, I really have no idea where the next few months will take me – both physically and mentally. I want to shake things up to see where the dust resettles. While it’s played on my mind that I’m leaving some good things at home, I’ve learnt to relax and just trust the way of the world.

POOR VS PIMPIN

Options for both the paupers and the prosperous among us.

Above: Stella McCartney's Lug Platforms - £550 

Lookalikes below by Jeffrey Campbell - £95

SEEING DOUBLE

Fluffy bomber in teal - Topshop

Unitard - American Apparel 

Leather Belt - Topshop 

Shoes - Office

@JENNYNAILS

My favourite Instagram account at the moment @jennynails has reignited my questionable taste in arty nails...

 

All photos above: @jennynails on Instagram 

and below: experimenting with my nails today

DEAD COLD

Coat - ZARA

Joggers with leather look trim - F&F

Nike trainers

Palm leaf bodycon dress (worn as a top) - Motel

Nottingham's got absolutely fureeezing so I finally get to wear this coat I bought back in the summer. I went with my friend to get his tattoo drawn up today and we walked through this graveyard - obviously I snapped up the photo op.

HEAR AND NOW

If you read my last post you'll know I've just had my ears pierced, and now I keep getting sidetracked from life to scour the internet for earrings. These are me faves. 

UFO Earrings - ASOS

Rose Gold Studs - Gemma Redux

"Forget Me Not" Silver Earrings - Wue

Silver and Gold Loop Earrings - Otis Jaxon

Silver "Scroll Ball" Hoops - Vioella

Gold Twisted Hoop Earrings - Nina B

Walter Earrings in Tortoiseshell - Tory Burch

Petite Leaf Studs - Jamie Wolf

Premium Triangle Stone Earrings - Topshop

CAWFFEE CALL

On bleary-eyed (hungover) mornings I am so grateful for the Costa opposite my halls. I got my ears re-pierced today and met my friend Charlotte here for a caffeine boost before lectures. Check out her rings! I love em.

Rings - shoplumo.com, Mor Jewellery, Links of London

OOTD

T-shirt - vintage shop at Bestival

Cross-back bra - American Apparel

Black riding pants - American Apparel

Bag - Russell and Bromley

Shoes - charity shop

First outfit post in ages! 

These pictures were taken in a quiet town just outside Notts, where I went for an Italian with my Italian this weekend.

BUYING FOR THE BOY

Camouflage Beanie - Hype

Tie Dye Watch - ASOS

Gel Saga Trainers - Asics

Shearling Coat - Brioni

Colour-Block Sweatshirt - Neil Barrett

French Bulldog Cufflinks - Foundwell

Backpack - Herschel

Morning y'allll. 

Today I realised that as well as being more comfortable, men's clothes are also highly enjoyable to browse online. I want it all. After finding an endless amount of things I'd buy for myself I did start looking again with my boyfriend in mind. Check out the £4595(!!!!) doggy cuff links.

UNI PREP

I've been so ridiculously busy sorting everything out for uni and I just can't wait to move now! 

Here are a few bits and bobs based on the things I've packed. I've got a scarf very similar to this one for room decorating purposes and literally hundreds of fairy lights, and a lot of mooch wear. Next post from Nottingham...

Bow top loafers - Walter Steiger

Transparent mug - Leonardo

Printed Scarf - Liberty London

Parrot corkscrew - Alessi

Statement necklace - J. Crew

Cashmere joggers - The Elder Statesman

Flower fairy lights - notonthehighstreet.com 

Tiger face egg cup - Liberty London

INT SHOOT

I've never been asked to model a ton of vintage clothes before, so when clothing brand "Ink, Needles and Thread" asked me to do so I was more than happy to oblige. 

Dani and Sadie (the co-owners) make handmade two-pieces, customize vintage jackets and rework vintage clothes that are now available to buy online. 

If like me you're a fan of unique and one-off items, keep an eye on the website for new stock, which should be up soon. You can use promo code "Sophie20" at the checkout for 20% off!

Me at the shoot ^

GETTING FESTIVE FOR BESTIV(AL)

My room is currently a bomb site of fancy dress and boots as I embark on the mission that is packing for Bestival (yayyyyy!) The coolest all in one mermaid tail was my initial choice for a costume, but sadly none of my friends agreed to tow me along in a dingy. I'm looking online for inspiration and an alternative option at the moment - see below.

SLOPPY SECONDS

Not long now 'til I'm off to uni and start living that broke ass life. Considering student budgeting n all I thought I'd share my recent/best charity shop find, which was a steal at £30. 

HAZY SHOP

Nike Satire Trainers

Cross-back bra - American Apparel 

I met my gorgeous cousin Emily in Soho today, and after a catch up that turned a littttle boozy we hit the shops. I've been pining for Nike SB Janoski's since birth but have never been able to find them in a small enough size, so I snapped up these lookalikes in Office straight away. Also bought this cute triangle bra. Perfect day!