Brick Lane

Brick Lane has a very special place in my heart. It was one of the first places in London I properly explored as a teenager when I used to spends hours rifling through the numerous vintage shops dotted around. I adore the rough and ready vibe of East London and feel much more at home here than other parts in the city.

I always jump off at Liverpool Street and walk down to Spitalfields to cut down past the white church into Brick Lane. With so much eye-catching street art and the amazing smell of the curry houses, it's the perfect place for an afternoon wander. One tip is to not go in the first curry house you see as they all stand outside in the evening shouting numerous deals. Free drinks, poppadoms and starters can all be negotiated. Remember to stand your ground! Alternatively do plenty of research online and pick one with great reviews. I've heard amazing things about Aladin.

Once you get to the end of the road make sure you stop off for a salt beef Beigal. Oh lord they are one of the most amazing things I have ever eaten. At £3.40 they're such a bargain! There are two practically next door to each other but i'd recommend the first one. As they're open 24 hours they're a much better choice than a greasy kebab! I love the way the beef is slightly shredded rather than one big chunk. Be prepared to queue but it's well worth it!

The Old Truman Brewery has some fantastic markets on a Sundays showcasing quirky independant designers. You can pick up some great unusual things! You'll be spoilt for choice in the food markets inside. With cuisines to try from all over the world, it's best to go on an empty stomach so you can sample them all.

If vintage is your thing make a beeline for Beyond Retro in Cheshire Street. It's just off Brick Lane so keep an eye out for the street on your right hand side. It's a massive warehouse style building filling with treasures from top to bottom. It's one of the more reasonably priced vintage shops in the area so you can come away with a bargain.

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On Wednesdays we wear pink

Outfit:
Black grey polo neck jumper - Primark (similar)
Pink scuba midi skirt - Primark (similar)
Leather ankle black heeled boots - Topshop (similar)
Leopard print collar coat - Topshop (similar)
Glass gold statement necklace - Primark (similar)
Bayswater bag - Mulberry

I'm sure you're all groaning at the sight of yet another polo neck jumper. It really does seem to be all that i'm wearing at the moment. This horrible weather has put me in an unwelcomed style rut of a skirt and polo neck jumper. Luckily this pretty skirt softens the blow. After seeing Amy tweet a picture of it and remembering I was kindly given a voucher by my boyfriend's nan for my birthday, I made it my mission to snap it up. It was a complete bargain at only £12 and made a welcome addition to my sea of never-ending skirts. My name is Sophie and I can't stop buying midi skirts.

I wore this for a day up London to see The Bodyguard at the West End with my mum and nan. I gatecrashed the old peoples coach and took the day off work. We had amazing seats and I'd really recommend you try to catch it if you can. I feel like I need a bit of Whitney in my life at the weekend and need to watch the film.

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We'll fly away

Way back in last January one of my new years resolutions was to travel more. I'd always had such grand plans to see the world but I'd never really had the chance - or the money - to put it into practise. Boy did I make the most of my annual leave at work in 2013! I took mini breaks to Berlin, Paris, Warsaw, Bristol, Derry and Cardiff with a week long trip to Bodrum, Turkey.

Now that I'm in my second year of having a proper job - not being an intern is still a novelty! - I'm looking to broaden my horizons and splash the cash. I'm keen to take a lot more luxury holidays next year to see much more of the world and Emirates Holidays offers such an amazing range of holidays if you're looking to go further afield! After all, I work hard for my money so why shouldn't I be globe-trotting in style?! There's no point heading off to exotic places like Mauritius or Dubai if you're going to scrimp getting there. I'm always on the look out for places that have a lot of history - geek alert - and something out of the ordinary. A bit of a culture shock can be a good thing at times. This is why city breaks appeal so much to me at the minute. A beach isn't always a necessity for me personally - although it's nice to have a cheeky week away in the sunshine! Barcelona can kill two birds with one stone as you'll be able to see the city sights and soak up the rays on the beach. One beach i'd love to visit would have to be based in the Caribbean. I'm not that fussed as those pure white sandy beaches and crytsal blue seas are what dreams are made of.

My bucket list seems to get longer by the minute. At the moment finally heading to of Europe is priority. Luckily i'm doing that with this years trip to the Big Apple. I have such a huge fascination with the US. It's just feels so loud, massive and brash - no two places in the country seem the same. High on the top of my list of places to visit include San Francisco, Miami and Chicago. Other than America i'd love to explore Japan, Hong Kong and the Caribbean. Two weeks in Cuba sounds like my type of heaven - not least because of the rum!

This new years resolution looks set to be the same. This year I'm off to New York, Glastonbury festival and hopefully will have the Christmas markets in Bruges and a mini UK break for my boyfriends birthday. Looks like I better start saving my pennies pronto! It's my first time flying outside of Europe so to say i'm excited is an understatement.

Have you got any snazzy holidays planned for this year?

This post was written in collaboration.

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